From: North Carolina House Representative John Szoka
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Marshall Conrad
Date: March 25, 2020
REPRESENTATIVE JOHN SZOKA PARTICIPATES IN HISTORIC FIRST-EVER REMOTE MEETING OF NORTH CAROLINA LEGISLATIVE CRISIS WORKING GROUP RALEIGH, N.C. – NC House Representative John Szoka and members of the bipartisan North Carolina House Select Committee on COVID-19 Economic Support Working Group met Wednesday, remotely, to begin their work of addressing the current COVID-19 crisis. The House Select Committee was formed and appointed last week to assist the administration with its response, identify critical reforms that can be taken now to assist the people and businesses of North Carolina in this economic turbulence and begin work on another strong disaster recovery response from the legislature.
The Working Group met remotely using an online meeting platform. This represents the first time in the history of North Carolina that a Working Group of the General Assembly was able to meet remotely from their homes and businesses. This unprecedented action was required due to current concerns related to the spread of COVID-19. Today, the Working Group heard briefings from the General Assembly’s nonpartisan staff detailing the developing federal disaster legislation, executive actions that have been taken and potential legislative changes that will need to be made. The Working Group also received a lengthy update from the Assistant Secretary of the Department of Commerce on unemployment insurance issues facing the State.
“While the current situation and the remote meetings are challenging, the People’s work must go on. It is times like these that the residents of North Carolina and Cumberland County need strong leaders the most,” said Rep.
Szoka on Wednesday. “I look forward to continue working with all my colleagues in the General Assembly to find legislative solutions to the unique challenges that the State and Cumberland County face with the current COVID19 Crisis.”
Over the next few weeks the Economic Support Working Group will look at addressing issues facing businesses and the workforce, including unemployment insurance, taxes, and other economic concerns facing North Carolinians during this crisis.
The Working Group plans to meet again next week to continue their work. The public can livestream the Working Group meetings via https://www.ncleg.gov/Audio/1228. Public Comment can also be summited to the committee via https://www.ncleg.gov/RequestForComments/33. The public can access meeting documents on the committee website.
