ASSEMBLYMEN COLIN SCHMITT AND BRIAN MILLER JOINT LETTER TO COMMISSIONER OF LABOR ON SMALL BIZ STAFFING ISSUES
Washingtonville, NY — This morning Assemblyman Colin J. Schmitt (R,C,I,LBT,SAM-New Windsor) and Assemblyman Brian Miller (R,I,C-New Hartford) sent a letter to the Commissioner of the NYS Department of Labor at the request of the Orange County Chamber of Commerce and local business owners regarding staffing issues impacting local businesses.
On June 22nd the Assemblymembers participated in a roundtable hosted by the Orange County Chamber and organized by local business owner Jay Presutti of East Coast Industrial Services to discuss solutions to unemployment issues including the lack of workers available for jobs across industries and unemployment fraud and abuse.
To help ease the workforce pressures placed on local employers, now that Governor Cuomo has ended the COVID-19 state disaster emergency, New York needs to join a majority of states and discontinue the enhanced federal COVID-19 unemployment benefit.
Assemblyman Colin J. Schmitt stated, “Our local small businesses are facing a staffing crisis, unable to fill critically needed jobs across every local industry sector. Now that the COVID-19 state of emergency has officially ended, we need to fully reopen and it is time for New York State to join the majority of states and discontinue enhanced COVID-19 unemployment benefits. The opportunities exist to ensure a full economic comeback and now is the time to do it.”
Schmitt continued, “I want to thank the countless local businesses and community leaders who have reached out on this staffing crisis. I would like to especially acknowledge Jay Presutti of East Coast Industrial Services who has led the charge with the Chamber of Commerce in Orange County to put together a roundtable of government and community leaders to address the problems caused by staffing shortages. Working together as a community is what keeps us strong and prosperous.”
See full text of the letter below and attached:
Dear Commissioner Reardon:
Our state has come through a very difficult period during the COVID-19 pandemic that impacted all of us. The recent action by Governor Cuomo to officially end the COVID-19 state disaster emergency on June 24, 2021, was welcome news for all New Yorkers.
Now that New York is formally out of the emergency and back open for business, we need to make sure all statewide policies reflect that reality. New York businesses and employers need to be able to operate normally and fully. Our offices have been inundated with outreach regarding the lack of available labor from all sectors of the economy. This shortage is hurting businesses in New York and hurting our economy.
The staffing issues can be resolved by joining with the majority of states in this country that have discontinued the enhanced federal COVID-19 unemployment benefit. No matter the job or the pay rate, companies simply cannot get people to work. It is time to fill all our available critical roles across every industry and in every corner of this state.
New York State is ready for a roaring economic comeback and growth following the last year of emergency and shutdowns. Let us do everything to cut the unemployment rate, fill jobs that are open in every sector and industry, and get our Empire State fully back to business!
We stand ready to support you and the Department of Labor in all ways possible. Please do not hesitate to contact our offices where we are happy to connect you with local businesses who can directly share with you the ongoing staffing shortages and difficulties they are facing.
Sincerely,
Colin J. Schmitt
Member of Assembly, 99th District
Brian Miller
Member of Assembly, 101st District
Colin Schmitt is committed to public service. Colin is a member of the U.S. Army National Guard and Assemblyman for the 99th NYS Assembly District which includes the Town of Stony Point in Rockland County and The Towns of Wawayanda, Goshen, Hamptonburgh, Chester, Blooming Grove, New Windsor, Cornwall, Highlands, and Woodbury in Orange County. Colin lives in the Town of New Windsor with his wife Nikki and their beloved adopted Catahoula Quincy!
- Press Information provided by the Office of Assemblyman Colin J. Schmitt 6.29.21Schmitt letter to DOL 2021Schmitt letter to DOL 2021