John "Larry" Mitchell 13th District September 2021 Newsletter

 

September 20, 2021

Dear Neighbor,

I hope you are enjoying these final weeks of summer. I’m sending this newsletter to provide some updates on hiring at the new Amazon facility, the of end of federal pandemic unemployment benefits, and to look back at important legislation passed during the first half of the 151st General Assembly.    Please do not hesitate to reach out with any issues or concerns. You can email me at John.L.Mitchell@delaware.gov or call at 302-744-4351. You can also reach my aide, Brandon Williams, at BrandonF.Williams@delaware.gov or 302-744-4022.

Sincerely, Larry John "Larry" Mitchell 13th District

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Now Hiring At Amazon

The new Amazon facility on Boxwood is now hiring. The starting pay is $16.25 and a $3,000 bonus is available. To apply, visit https://amazon.com/dehourlyjobs or text DELJOBS1 to 77088 to sign up for alerts from Amazon.

End Of Federal Pandemic Benefits

Per the American Rescue Plan Act, federal pandemic benefit programs including Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), and Mixed Earners Unemployment Compensation (MEUC) expired on Monday, September 6, 2021. The duration of these federal benefit programs was determined by Congress, and Delaware does not have the power to extend them.   The final week that benefits were paid for these federal programs in Delaware is the week ending Saturday, September 4, 2021. Claims already filed and currently pending adjudication will continue to be reviewed. If determined eligible they will be paid accordingly.   The U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) requires DDOL to continue to accept new PUA applications for 30 days after the program expires. We will backdate these new claims to the first eligible week during the Pandemic Assistance Period in accordance with all eligibility requirements. Payments on PUA claims filed during this 30-day period will be held until the claim is manually reviewed to confirm eligibility.   The Division of Employment and Training can assist with training and job seeking resources. Delaware JobLink (DJL) is an easy-to-use tool where you can post or create a resume, search for jobs, training opportunities, and additional resources and events. To use this tool, visit https://joblink.delaware.gov/ With the end of these programs, DOL wants to ensure that Delawareans know how they can get additional support services. The Division of Social Services has issued emergency benefits and updated its program rules for Food Benefits, Child Care, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and General Assistance. Individuals and families are encouraged to apply for appropriate programs using Delaware ASSIST and calling 2-1-1 to get connected to support.

A Look Back At The First Half Of The 151st General Assembly In June, my colleagues and I wrapped up the first half of the 151st General Assembly. This year we were presented many challenges. Despite this, we saw record participation in committee meetings in their virtual format and were able to pass significant legislation aimed at improving the lives of Delawareans, making it a better state in which to live, work, and raise a family.    Here are just some of the bills I was proud to sponsor:                 SB 15: Increases the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025                 HB 214: Reduces the amount of property taxes a 100% disabled veteran has to pay   HB 249: Establishes a tuition reimbursement program for our Volunteer Firefighters   HB 100: Expands mental health services in Delaware schools   SS 1 for SB 65: Creates the Focus on Alternative Skills Training (FAST) Program to assist Delawareans in completing non-degree credit certification programs   SB 12 & SB 95: Expand the DelTech SEED and DSU Inspire scholarships   HB 86: Increases K-3 special education funding   SB 33: Raises targets for renewable energy in the Renewable Portfolio Standard   HB 200: The Clean Water for Delaware Act will rebuild Delaware’s drinking water infrastructure, prevent flooding in vulnerable communities, and keep contamination out of our waterways with an initial investment of $50 million.    The General Assembly will reconvene in the coming months to complete its constitutional obligation of redistricting with the new data from the 2020 census.