KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly testified virtually Thursday in from of the House Committee on Financial Services.
Kelly spoke of states’ needs for federal financial assistance as they deal with the continued consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The governor has repeatedly requested action on a national level since the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program expired July 31.
The program had provided unemployed citizens with an additional $600 weekly to help make ends meet as they were out of work.
Without congressional movement toward renewing FPUC, Kelly enacted some state measures to try to alleviate some of the burden placed on Kansans by COVID-19.
That included signing a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures, in addition to applying for and obtaining entrance into the Lost Wages Assistance program, which will bring $400 weekly to unemployed Kansans already receiving at least $100 in unemployment benefits.
Tuesday, Kelly announced Kansas received $63 million in funding through that program.
Thursday’s testimony gave Kelly an opportunity to make her point directly to legislators.
“We need the federal government to support states and support Kansans who are struggling,” Kelly said.
Kelly told legislators that Kansas was on the right track to sound financial footing when COVID-19 struck.
She also noted that “this pandemic is different, and the fix isn’t as simple as just tightening our belt buckle. Our federal partners must step in and help.”
Kelly urged the committee to consider “strategic investments” to stop the spread of the coronavirus and “reassure businesses and Americans that our government has a plan to keep our economy stable until a vaccine is available.”
The governors of New Mexico, Minnesota, and Guam also testified Thursday, as well as the president the American Action Forum.
