THE CNMI government is now working on the list of eligible recipients for the federal Lost Wages Assistance program, Finance Secretary David DLG Atalig said.
The CNMI Department of Labor started working on the list following the announcement that President Joe Biden has approved the CNMI’s request to waive the local matching requirement of the program.
“We are excited that President Biden waived our local matching share and that our unemployed residents will be getting additional relief from the Lost Wage Assistance program,” Atalig said in an email interview.
He said he is aware that CNMI Labor is working hard this week to get the list of recipients finalized, “and we hope to send it out by the end of next week.”
Atalig added that the funds will be provided through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, adding that in coordination with the CNMI Department of Labor, the Public Assistance Office and Finance, “we are positive these funds will be transferred soon.”
U.S. Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan broke the good news in his recent e-newsletter.
“President Trump created the Lost Wages Program administratively last year, after the Republican controlled Senate refused to extend federal unemployment benefits nationwide,” Kilili said.
“The Commonwealth was unable to use the money, however, because it required a 25 percent local match. Governor Torres asked for a waiver; President Trump would not provide it. So, $7,721,288 in federal funds sat idle. On Monday [last week], the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced President Biden had decided to approve the Governor’s request. The Commonwealth estimates 8,500 individuals will now be eligible for this additional cash assistance,” Kilili said.
David Atalig
