On January 5, 2011, members of the Virginia General Assembly from Arlington held a public hearing of ideas from Arlington residents for possible legislative changes in the General Assembly session this year. Green member Steve Davis testified on behalf of Arlington Greens who have been working with unemployed people in Arlington, the vast majority of whom are ineligible for unemployment insurane (UI).
Support for the Unemployed
Good evening. My name is Stephen Davis, and I have lived in Arlington County for 33 years. I’m here tonight to speak on behalf of the Arlington Green Party in support of certain administrative and legislative actions designed to address the needs of the Commonwealth’s unemployed citizens.
As you may know, among the U.S. states and territories, the Commonwealth now ranks 52nd in the level of support and assistance provided to its unemployed citizens. Despite this dismal record, Virginia has Federal funding available through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) mechanism that would help address its dire unemployment situation. These funds have been made available to all states and local jurisdictions yet the Commonwealth has only applied for these resources in a very limited approach that has generated only about 350 jobs. An expanded application for these funds would require no additional revenue contribution from the Commonwealth and apart from the humane benefits that the TANF funding provides, there is a pragmatic, fiscally sound reason for pursuing this funding as other states have done.
Moreover, applying for the TANF funding requires no legislative action. Instead, it simply requires an administrative decision by the Department of Social Services to apply for this resource and direct the available funding toward local jurisdictions. I therefore request that your respective offices contact the appropriate officials in the Department of Social Services to urge that agency to apply for these available funds. As key legislators and members of important committees, I am certain that a recommendation from you would carry great weight, especially if such an initiative was a group recommendation.
In addition I urge you to support modernization of the unemployment insurance system in the upcoming legislative session. Among other things, this proposed legislation would expand unemployment insurance coverage to include new workers and part-time employees. Not only will such action provide relief to the families of the unemployed, this additional coverage will support the local economies synergistically so that the social pathologies of increased unemployment, such as homelessness, increased drug use, and rising crime, can be avoided.
We fully understand that as legislators in Richmond you are fighting some lonely battles against entrenched, affluent, and established interests. We ask that you continue to fight for those who need a voice and that you use your legislative skills and strength to advocate for those living at the margin, not just in Arlington, or Northern Virginia, but throughout the Commonwealth.
