South Carolina General Assembly
123rd Session, 2019-2020

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Bill 3544


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A HOUSE RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR CHERYL MARIE STANTON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND WORKFORCE, FOR HER YEARS OF EXEMPLARY SERVICE AND TO WISH HER THE BEST IN HER FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

Whereas, appointed by then-Governor Nikki Haley in 2013, Cheryl Marie Stanton has served with great distinction as Executive Director of the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce where her leadership and policies have been successfully focused on providing quality, customer-driven workforce services that promote financial stability and economic growth to individuals, businesses and communities; and

Whereas, under her leadership, the number of working South Carolinians is now at an all-time high of more than 2.2 million people while the state's unemployment rate remains at historically low levels of 3.9 percent, due to her vision of identifying the workforce needs of South Carolina's growing business community and preparing individuals with the education and skills training required to meet those needs in the immediate and long-term future; and

Whereas, Stanton realigned the Workforce and Economic Development division to better serve customers and spearheaded the state's first workforce Memorandum of Understanding, fostering partnerships with other agencies to identify and adopt workforce opportunities while sharing resources and assets. These partnerships include initiatives for veterans, returning citizens, individuals with disabilities, youth, and the homeless, as well as programs to enhance soft skills, address training for industry clusters and effectively match job seeker to business; and

Whereas, one of her enduring visions, the S.C. Talent Pipeline project, was implemented by the alignment of a significant partnership of DEW, the Department of Commerce, the Technical College System, and the Department of Education to create a long-term talent development system to study data and define needs at the regional level and then implement system change, processes and best practices that will create a pipeline of skilled labor for South Carolina businesses; and

Whereas, her expertise and policies have resulted in significant economic and financial gains for South Carolina, as under her leadership DEW paid off a nearly one billion dollar loan used to help pay state unemployment insurance benefits between 2008 and 2011, ensuring that South Carolina businesses did not pay federal unemployment insurance surcharge taxes, saving businesses more than $12.5 million; and

Whereas, Stanton has worked with the General Assembly and business community to rebuild the trust fund reserve in a measured, responsible way that does not overly burden businesses, but ensures South Carolina does not return to a borrowing status. Further, due to her guidance, individuals receive unemployment insurance benefits faster than ever before, even as she has reduced fraud and overpayments while the Unemployment Insurance (UI) division consistently meets and surpasses federal regulations, saving South Carolinians millions of dollars. These enhancements, combined with other revised business processes, have enabled DEW to reduce UI taxes for three consecutive years for an average cut of 30 percent across the tax tiers, putting nearly $200 million dollars back into the state's economy; and

Whereas, Stanton's exceptional work has attracted the attention of those around her. In 2016 she was awarded the Order of the Palmetto, the highest civilian honor in South Carolina. She also was nominated by President Donald Trump to lead the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor, returning her to Washington, D.C. after serving as Associate White House Counsel for President George W. Bush. Forever thankful for her leadership and mission to keep South Carolinians working, it is only fitting to pause to recognize her many accomplishments and extend many thanks for her years of dedicated service. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor Cheryl Marie Stanton for her years of exemplary service and to wish her the best in her future endeavors.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Cheryl Marie Stanton.

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This web page was last updated on January 15, 2019 at 2:02 PM