Numbers can be twisted many ways. But it is hard to understand how some fail to see the assistance President Donald Trump’s administration has provided to Iowa as it helps the Hawkeye State maneuver through the COVID-19 crisis.
When the people of Iowa needed him most, President Trump delivered in a big — OK, fine — huge, way.
Let’s look at the numbers, provided by a White House Official to The Iowa Standard:
*As of April 23, FEMA delivered 119,062 N-95 masks, 351,234 surgical masks, 47,365 medical gowns, 1,876 coveralls, 56,107 face shields and 345,442 gloves from the Strategic National Stockpile. This is in addition to the Project Air Bridge efforts.
*As of April 23, FEMA obligated $62.4 million for COVID-19 response efforts in Iowa and will continue to obligate additional dollars per validated State requests.
*As of April 23, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provided more than $13.4 million to Iowa through the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act and the CARES Act.
*HHS has awarded over $11.7 million in CARES Act funding to 14 health centers across the state to assist in the fight against COVID-19.
*Through the first round of funding from the Provider Relief Fund, medical providers were allocated more than $297.9 million in Iowa.
*Iowa has received more than $361.5 million from HHS through the Provider Relief Fund, CDC State and local funding, HRSA health centers and other HHS grants.
*The Indian Health Service has distributed $724,000 in COVID-19 supplemental appropriations for Iowa. Those dollars benefit IHS and Tribal Health Programs within the IHS Great Plains Area.
*The Iowa Department of Public Health was awarded more than $7.5 million to support small rural hospitals and promote telehealth in rural communities.
*The Small Business Administration issued more than $4.3 billion in loans to more than 29,000 Iowa small businesses.
Impressive no matter how one spins it.
“To support the state-managed and locally-executed response to COVID-19, President Trump has directed his Administration to provide an unprecedented level of resources to Iowa’s responders, small businesses, medical professionals, and citizens across the state,” said John Horstman, White House Deputy Director of Media Affairs. “The President is committed to continuing these efforts to protect the health and safety of Iowans, and all Americans.”
Vice President Mike Pence and President Trump have appreciated the exceptionally strong State-Federal partnership with Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds.
Trump declared a national emergency on March 13. On March 19, Reynolds submitted a major disaster declaration request to FEMA. Five days later the request was approved by Trump.
This pandemic marks the first time in American history that every State and territory has a presidential disaster declaration at the same time.
There is no precedent.
Through Project Air Bridge, which was mentioned earlier and is a coordinated public-private partnership, 57,800 N9-95 masks were delivered to Iowa entities, along with 792,800 surgical and procedural masks, 15,300 eye and face shields, 360,900 isolation and surgical gowns and 18,175,800 surgical and exam gloves.
While numbers may be twisted, they cannot be ignored.
There is no doubt that the Trump Administration has done everything in its power to assist Iowa through an unprecedented situation.
One can only wonder what the federal government’s response would have looked like without Trump’s leadership and experience from his success in the private sector.
Thankfully, we don’t have to worry about that.
