WASHINGTON ­­­– Today, Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05), and members of the Georgia Congressional Delegation sent a letter to Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) Commissioner Mark Butler urging GDOL to share its plan to address backlogged unemployment benefits for Georgians.

Co-led by Representatives Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Carolyn Bourdeaux (GA-07), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Lucy McBath (GA-06) and David Scott (GA-13), the letter builds on previous calls by the Members for GDOL to address the backlog since the onset of the pandemic.

“The GDOL has a responsibility to do everything in its power to ensure that the citizens of Georgia receive the assistance they applied for in times of hardship,” wrote the lawmakers in part. “While we acknowledge that factors such as initial understaffing and limited technology may have prevented GDOL from processing claims, there remain questions for how your agency plans to identify solutions to address the backlog that currently exists.

“A system that penalizes workers by preventing them from accessing federally guaranteed unemployment benefits will plunge families across our state further into poverty,” the letter continued. “Georgians who lack access to affordable childcare, have lost employer-sponsored health insurance, and have concerns for the health and safety of their families, are entitled to the benefits they applied for. They are also entitled to complete transparency and accountability from their government. We must do more to help our constituents during these uncertain times.”

Contact: PressGA05@mail.house.gov