The members of the House Minority - Reps. Franklin Babauta, Edmund Villagomez, Sheila Babauta, Richard Lizama, Donald Manglona and Tina Sablan - are hosting a town hall on the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program Wednesday, December 9 at the Multipurpose Center in Susupe, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
"We will receive oral and written testimonies from constituents on their experiences with the PUA program," Ms. Sablan said. "We are aware of many questions and concerns, and our goal is to better understand the issues affecting implementation and the delivery of services, and how these issues can be resolved going forward. This is especially important in the event that federal unemployment assistance is extended beyond December 31, and as we consider establishing a CNMI unemployment insurance program."
Several thousand CNMI residents still are waiting for the Commonwealth government to pay out millions in PUA claims since the federal government released the money months ago.
"Our colleagues in the Legislature, Labor Secretary Vicky Benavente, Finance Secretary David Atalig, the Office of the Public Auditor, and Congressman Gregorio Kilili Sablan have been invited to attend as well," Ms. Sablan said.
