Congressman Cleaver’s Statement on Governor Parson Canceling Unemployment Benefits For Working Class Missourians

(Kansas City, MO) – Today, United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) released the following statement after Governor Mike Parson announced he would cancel federal unemployment benefits for 144,000 Missourians provided by the American Rescue Plan next month.

"As we begin to emerge from the grips of the worst pandemic in a century, our focus must remain on combatting COVID-19 through vaccination efforts, providing support to our communities, and ensuring the American people feel safe to return to work. The Governor‘s decision to withdraw from six temporary federal unemployment programs that provide necessary, critical relief to 144,000 families across the state is a dangerous risk to our economic recovery during a time of uncertainty.

"As evidenced by strong job growth in the leisure and hospitality sector, numerousanalyses from the private sector, and the understandable hesitancy to return to work until more Americans are vaccinated, the unemployment provisions from the American Rescue Plan are not the driving force behind a singular jobs report that didn't reach expectations. As for me, I will continue to focus on defeating COVID-19 through vaccinating Missourians, which embarrassingly remains in the bottom fifteen states in terms of vaccination rates.

"The best way to get people back to work is by ensuring the vast majority of Missourians are vaccinated. I support the extension of unemployment benefits as a means of providing vital lifelines for working class families in my Congressional district who are struggling every day just to stay afloat."

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee; Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development, and Insurance; member of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress; member of the Committee on Homeland Security; and a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. For more information, please contact Matt Helfant at 202-590-0175 or matthew.helfant@mail.house.gov