The original documents are located in Box 50, folder “1976/07/12 HR13069 Loans to the Unemployment Fund of the Virgin Islands” of the White House Records Office: Legislation Case Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. Copyright Notice The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald R. Ford donated to the United States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections. Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. Exact duplicates within this folder were not digitized. THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON July 9, 1976 ACTION Last Day: July 17 MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT FROM: SUBJECT: JIM H.R. Fund Loans to the Unemployment Virgin Islands Attached for your consideration is H.R. 13069, sponsored by Representative Corman and eight others. The enrolled bill extends from June 30, 1976 to September 30, 1977 and increases by $10 million the authorization for loans to the unemployment fund of the Virgin Islands. The bill also extends for one year until January 1, 1979 the interest-free repayment period on loans. P.L. 94-45, the Emergency Compensation and Special Unemployment Assistance Extension Act of 1975 had made available up to $5 million for loans until June 30, 1976, with interest-free repayment until January 1, 1978. Additional information is provided in OMB's enrolled bill report at Tab A. OMB, Max Friedersdorf, Counsel's Office (Lazarus) and I recommend approval of the enrolled bill. RECOMMENDATION That you sign H.R. 13069 at Tab B. Digitized from Box 50 of the White House Records Office Legislation Case Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET WASHINGTON, D.C. 20503 JUL 8 1976 MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT Subject: Enrolled Bill H.R. 13069 - Loans to the unemploy- ment fund of the Virgin Islands Sponsor - Rep. Corman (D) California and 8 others Last Day for Action July 17, 1976 - Saturday Purpose Recommend early action since loan authority expired on June 30, 1976. Extends from June 30, 1976 to September 30, 1977 and increases by $10 million the authorization for loans to the unemployment fund of the Virgin Islands; extends for one year the interest- free repayment period on the loans. Agency Recommendations Office of Management and Budget Department of Labor Department of the Interior Discussion Approval Approval Approval P.L. 94-45, the Emergency Compensation and Special Unemployment Assistance Extension Act of 1975, authorized the Secretary of Labor to lend up to $5 million to the Virgin Islands from general funds for benefit payments under the Islands' unemployment compensation law. No loans could be made after June 30, 1976, and repayments were to be interest-free until January 1, 1978. P.L. 94-93 made available up to $5 million of appropriations for the loans. The enrolled bill, which was supported by the Administration, would amend P.L. 94-45 to: increase the aggregate amount of the loans from $5 million to $15 million, 2 extend the time during which loans can be made through fiscal year 1977, and extend to January 1, 1979 the date by which the loans can be repaid without interest. The Virgin Islands is not included in the State-Federal unemploy- ment insurance system. Therefore, unlike a State, it cannot borrow from the Unemployment Trust Fund in order to pay unemploy- ment insurance benefits when its own unemployment funds are depleted. The continuing high unemployment rate in the Islands has resulted in a deficit in its unemployment trust fund, despite increases in the employer-paid tax. None of the $5 million originally appropriated for Federal loans remains. Therefore additional loans are necessary if the Virgin Islands is to continue to make payments under its unemployment compensation program. You have already requested, and the Congress has provided in P.L. 94-303, authority to use appropriations already available for unemployment compensation for these additional loans. The Administration has proposed bringing the Virgin Islands into the State-Federal unemployment insurance system, thereby making it eligible for loans like any State. This provision is contained in H.R. 10210, which is scheduled for House floor action after the July recess. Upon its enactment, it would supersede the temporary provisions in H.R. 13069. Enclosures THE WHITE HOUSE ACTION MEMORANDUM WASHINGTON LOG NO.: Date: Jily FOR ACTION: David Lissy Max Fri*dersdorf Ken arus. FROM THE STAFF SECRETARY DUE: Date: July 9 SUBJECT: Time: 600pm cc (for information): Jack Marsh Jim Cavanaugh Ed Schmults Time: 500pm H.R. 13069-Loans to the unemployment fund of the Virgin Islands ACTION REQUESTED: -- For Necessary Action __ For Your Recommendations -- Prepare Agenda and Brief __ Draft Reply -X- For Your Comments __ Draft Remarks REMARKS: please return to judy johnston,g round floor west winq PLEASE ATTACH THIS COPY TO MATERIAL SUBMITTED. If you have any Cflestiona or if you anticipate a delay in .the rsquireq material, please telephone the : 1 ry imme.diately. K. R. COLE, JR. For the President U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY Honorable James T. Lynn Director WASHINGTON JUL 7 1976 Office of Management and Budget Washington, D.C. 20503 Dear J).1r. Lynn : This is in response to your request for the Department of Labor's views on an enrolled bill, H.R. 13069, which authorizes additional loans to the unemployment insurance fund of the Virgin Islands. H.R. 13069 would extend the temporary loan authority provided in P.L. 94-45 until the end of Fiscal Year 1977; it would also authorize an addi- tional $10 million for such loans during that period and extend the interest free repayment date from January 1, 1978 to January 1, 1979. Under present law (P.L. 94-45, Title III), the Secretary of Labor was authorized to loan up to $5 million to the unemploy- ment insurance fund of the Virgin Islands to enable it to continue to pay benefits under its unemployment compensation program. No loans were to be made after June 30, 1976. These loans were interest free until January 1, 1978. After that date, interest will be charged on any outstanding loans. Loans to the Virgin Islands from the $5 million appropriation provided under P.L. 94-45 are now depleted. Accordingly, extension of the temporary loan authority, as provided in H.R. 13069, is required if the Virgin Islands is to continue to make payments under its unemployment compensation program. The Virgin Islands on January 1, 1975 raised the tax rate applicable to all covered employees from 1.5 percent to 2.7 percent of taxable payrolls and increased the annual taxable wage base per employee from $4,200 to $4,800. However, despite these efforts to maintain a fiscally sound system, the continuing high unemployment rate has left the Virgin Islands in great difficulty. Since the Virgin Islands is - 2 - not part of the Federal-State unemployment system, it is not eligible, as the States are, for loans from that system. Recognizing this, Congress passed P.L. 94-45 authorizing $5 million in loans through June 30, 1976. H.R. 10210 (the Unemployment Compensation Amendments of 1975), which includes a provision bringing the Virgin Islands within the Federal-State system (and thereby eligible for loans), is still pending in Congress. H.R. 13069 is nec- essary to cover projected borrowing needs of the Virgin Islands unemployment system for another 15 months. We hope that·the Virgin Islands will have been included in the Federal-State system before the end of that period. The Department urges that the bill be signed as soon as possible. Sincerely, United States Department of the Interior Dear Mr. Lynn: OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240 JUL 6 -1976 This responds to your request for the views of this Department on the enrolled bill H.R. 13069, "To extend and increase the authorization for making loans to the unemployment fund of the Virgin Islands." We recommend that the President approve the enrolled bill. As enrolled, H.R. 13069 amends section 301 of the Emergency Compensation and Special Unemployment Assistance Extension Act of 1975 (Public Law 94-45) which authorizes the Secretary of Labor to make loans to the Virgin Islands for purposes of paying unemployment compensation. The bill extends the temporary loan authority provided in Public Law 94-45 from June 30, 1976 to September 30, 1977, and authorizes an additional $10 million for such loans during that period. It also extends the interest free repayment date from January 1, 1978 to January 1, 1979. While the u.s. Virgin Islands has had its own unemployment com- pensation program for several years, under Federal law the Virgin Islands is not considered a "State" for the purpose of participating in the Federal-State unemployment insurance system. Therefore, the territory cannot borrow from the Federal Unemployment Insurance loan fund when it has depleted its own unemployment insurance fund. Due to the fiscal crisis confronting the territorial government of the Virgin Islands in fiscal year 1976, a severe curtailing of government services was necessary, and a corresponding personnel reduction occurred. The government is the primary employer in the Virgin Islands and the rate of unemployment prior to the government layoff already exceeded 9% of the work force. The high level of unemployment caused a heavy drain on the unemployment insurance fund. Despite increases in the employer-paid unemployment insurance tax, the Virgin Islands has depleted its unemployment insurance funds as benefit payments have exceeded unemployment insurance revenues. For the purpose of enabling the Virgin Islands to continue making unemployment compensation payments, Congress last year enacted in Public Law 94-45 a Title III, containing a temporary program whereby the Secretary of Labor was authorized to loan until June 30, 1976, up to $5 million in general revenues as needed by the Virgin Islands for unemployment compensation, with outstanding loans to bear no interest until January 1, 1978. This temporary authority would be extended by the enrolled bill. The Virgin Islands has formally requested, through its Legislature and Governor, to be included in the Federal-State unemployment insurance system. The Administration supports this inclusion, and last year the Department of Labor transmitted a proposal to the Congress to include the Virgin Islands in the Federal-State system. However, since this proposal has not yet been enacted, the temporary loan authority provided in Title III of Public Law 94-45 must be extended if the Virgin Islands is to continue making unemployment compensation payments to its large number of the unemployed. Honorable James T. Lynn Director, Office of Management and Budget Washington, D. C. Assistant Sec etary of the Interior 2 - - . • Ju)y 8 \ ...... i David Lissy Max Friedersdorf Ken Lazarus ' (\ I • l • CC! ( .. ---- ------------------ --------- , . >v • SUBJEC'.:.': July 9 ------·----·--- 600pm r.n•ror. t.li' .): 'l'ime: Jack Marsh Jim Cavanaugh Ed Schmults SOOpm II.R. 13069-Loans to the unemployment fund of the Virgin Islands !~CTIOl·! REQUESTED: __ For N~ceszo.ry Action ____ For Your Recommendo.Hons -- D.:o.ft Reply ~-For Your Comment; ___ Draft Rcmo.rkt; REIV!AHKS: please return to judy johnston,g round floor vlest wing PI~El'~SE ATTACH; THIS COPY TO J\U:.TERIAL SUB~:!ITTED. ·u ha c': :\~.y ·i:;.1 £" f~ LO .. ~ "': a ~ ' ,t"< _ :: ..>r if yon c 1 · ::ipa!:c u , ( .... , 1 ,.~ • !.... ..!i - c: ...... ~ ~ · -1, plou ._ie! c: .~ .l · ! r!IlC~dClteJy. ~~ ~ ··'· "'0 ,, tlJ.' (. ' .. , 1.CTION ~1 OR HH 1 WI\ 1! 'GTO July 8 FROM Tl DUE: D UBJEc•.r: David Lissy Max Friedersdorf Ken Lazarus RY July 9 T cc 600pm " mal J.'ime: 0.: '': Jack Marsh Jim Cavanaugh Ed Schmults SOOpm H. R. 13069-Loans to the unemployment fund of the Virgin Islands ACTION REQUESTED: --For Necessary Action __ For Your Recommendations __ Prepcue Agenda and Brie£ -- Draft Reply -X- For Your Comments __ Draft Remarks REMARKS: please return to judy johnston,g round floor west wing No objection. Ken Lazarus PLEASE ATTACH; THIS COPY TO MATERIAL SUBMITTED. you have a y at: ··o d · oy ·in s~ t ielephona t . to Sec . or if you ui cd ... plaas ir, 1neci c tel . J OJ. t ' c ('\ ~ll NEMORANDUM FOR: FROM: SUBJECT: THE WHITE HOUSE July 9, 1976 JIM CAVANAUGH MAX L. FRIEDERSDORF H.R. 13069 - Loans to the unemployment fund of the Virgin Islands The Office of Legislative Affairs concurs with the agencies that the subject bill be signed. Attachments t MEMORANDUM 3977 NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL July 9, 1976 MEMORANDUM FOR: JAMES M. CANNON FROM: '" Jeanne W. Dav~ H. R. 13069 SUBJECT: The NSC Staff concurs in the proposed Enrolled Bill H. R. 13069 - Loans to the unemployment fund of the Virgin Islands. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET WASHINGTON, D.C. 20503 JUL . 8 1976 PRESIDENT Subject: Enrolled Bill H.R. 13069 - Loans to the unemploy ... ment fund of the Virgin Islands Sponsor - Rep. Corman (D) California and B others Last Day for Action July·l7, 1976- Saturday Purpose Recommend early action since loan authority expired on June 30, 1976. Extends from June 30, 1976 to September 30, 1977 and increases by $10 million the authorization for loans to the unemployment fund of the Virgin Islands: extends for one year the interest- free repayment period on the loans. Age~cy Recommendations Office of Management and Budget Department of Labor Department of the Interior Discussion Approval Approval Approval P.L. 94-45, the Emergency Compensation and Special Unemployment Assistance Extension Act of 1975, authorized the Secretary of Labor to lend up to $5 million to the Virgin Islands from general funds for benefit payments under the Islands' unemployment compensation law. No loans could be made after June 30, 1976, and repayments were to be interest-free until January 1, 1978. P.L. 94-93 made available up to $5 million of appropriations for the loans. The enrolled bill, which was supported by the Administration, would amend P.L. 94-45 to: increase the aggregate amount of the loans from $5 million to $15 million, 94TH CoNGRESS } HO ITS]jJ 01!' REPRESENT A 'I'IVES { REPoR'r ~d Session No. 94-1018 LOANS TO UNEMPLOYMENT FUND OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS APRIL 8, 1976.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. ULLl\IAN, from the Committee on Ways and Means, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H.R. 13069] The Committee on ·ways and Means, to whom was referred the bill (H.R. 18069) to extend and increase the authorization for making loans to the unemployment fund of the Virgin Islands, having con- sidered the same, report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill do pass. OONTEN'TIS I. Purpose. II. Explanation and comparison with present law. III. Revenue estimate and other matters required to be discussed under House rules. IV. Analysis of H.R.13069. V. Changes in existing law made by Bill, as reported. I. PURPOSE The purpose of H.R. 13069 is to extend the existing temporary au- thority provided in title III of Public Law 94-45 for the Secretary of Labor to make general revenue loans to the unemployment insurance fund of the Virgin Islands as is necessary to enable the Virgin Islands to continue to make payments under its unemployment compensation program. II. EXPLANATION AND CoMPARISON WrTH PRESENT LAw The Virgin Islands has had an unemployment compensation pro- gram similar to State unemployment compensation programs for 15 years. Under existing Federal law, however, the Virgin Islands is not considered a "State" for the purposes of participating in the Federal- State unemployment insurance system. It cannot, therefore, borrow 117-006 2 from the Federal Unemployment Insurance loan fund as can States that have depleted their State unemployment insurance fund. Because of the extraordinary high unemployment in recent months as o£ March 15, 1976, nineteen States and the District of Columbia had depleted their own unemployn;ent insurance f~nds and ':ere bor.rowing from the Feder~l loan fund m orde~ t