D.C. Council Announces Public Roundtable on Unemployment Insurance

Councilmember Elissa Silverman, Chairperson of the Committee on Labor and Workforce Development, and Councilmember Robert C. White, Jr., Chairperson of the Committee on Government Operations and Facilities, will hold a joint public oversight roundtable on the District’s unemployment compensation programs and related contracts.  The roundtable will be held over two days:  May 5, 2021, at 9 a.m. for public witness testimony and May 12, 2021,  at 9 a.m. for government witness and contractor testimony. The Committees have invited leadership of On Point, which operates the claimants’ online portal, and Codice and Capitol Bridge, which have been contracted to augment the UI call center, to attend.

Tune in on DC Cable Channel 13 and online at www.dccouncil.gov.

Witnesses may use their phone or computer to participate in this virtual roundtable. Those who wish to testify must sign up no later than 12 p.m. on Monday, May 3 by providing their information using the form at this link.   

Witnesses must provide their name, email address, telephone number, organizational affiliation (if any), and job title (if any), as well whether they require language interpretation or sign language interpretation. Witnesses who require language interpretation or sign language interpretation are asked to complete the form linked above or email the Labor Committee at [email protected] as soon as possible, but no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 27, stating their need for interpretation and requested language. The Council’s Office of the Secretary will fulfill timely requests for language interpretation services; however, requests received later than April 27 may not be able to be fulfilled due to vendor availability.

Those planning to testify are encouraged to submit an electronic copy of written testimony by 12 p.m. on Tuesday, May 4, 2021, so that staff may distribute testimonies to Committee members and staff before the hearing. On Tuesday, May 4, the Committee will email witnesses who signed up by 12 p.m. on Monday, May 3 to provide them with details about how to participate in the roundtable via the Zoom platform. Only witnesses who have signed up by the deadline will be permitted to participate. Witnesses representing organizations will have five minutes to present their testimony, and other individuals will have three minutes to present their testimony; less time will be allowed if there is a large number of witnesses.

If anyone is unable to testify at the roundtable, written statements will be made a part of the official record. Written statements should be submitted by email to [email protected].  Additionally, the public may provide testimony by voice mail by calling (202) 455-0153, stating and spelling the witness’s name, stating any organizational affiliation, and speaking slowly to provide a statement to be transcribed and included in the record. The record will close at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 26, 2021.