Government

Bill to Supplement Trump's $300 Unemployment Extension Among Measures Approved During Two-Day Session

Virgin Islands lawmakers on Wednesday reconvened their 2020 legislative session to consider the remaining bills from Tuesday. Among the measures was Bill No. 33-0416, which appropriates up to $3 million from the Unemployment Insurance Fund to the Department of Labor.  To ease the economic weight for those struggling with unemployment due to Covid-19, President Trump, by executive order, created a Lost Wages Assistance program. This program authorized FEMA to expend up to $44 billion from the Disaster Relief Fund for lost wages payments. This means states/territories may provide eligible claimants with a Lost Wages Supplemental payment of up to $400.  The money comprises a $300 federal contribution from the Disaster Relief Fund and an additional amount of up to $100 from state/territory funds. Each eligible applicant will receive $400 a week for four weeks.  FEMA is tasked with obligating the funds to the state/territory, which then administers the lost wages payments in conjunction ...