Inslee and other governors send letter urging Trump to expand unemployment benefits

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Gov. Jay Inslee joined the governors of Alaska, Illinois and Ohio today in urging the Trump administration to expand access to unemployment benefits as the impact of COVID-19 continues to disrupt the economy.

The letter reads, in part:

"We request that you immediately unlock existing federal funding in the Disaster Unemployment Account by declaring a major disaster quickly for those governors as they request it, or by working with Congress to make this funding available, leading to critically needed and prompt relief.

"As the far-reaching impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have begun to touch each of our states, we know we all are seeking every possible remedy to mitigate its impacts to our people. Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) will enable hard working Americans to make ends meet until this emergency passes."

Read the full letter here.

Background: Inslee letter to Trump requests federal major disaster declaration (March 20, 2020)

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