Today, Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) celebrated a $44,000,000 obligation of funds by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to the State of Iowa for response efforts to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
The funding will cover 75% of the State of Iowa’s projected Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) purchases in March and April, covering supplies such as masks, face shields, disinfecting wipes, respirators, and ventilators.
“During this public health crisis, one of our top priorities continues to be ensuring our health care workers and their patients have access to the medical supplies they need,” said Rep. Axne. “This assistance from federal partners will help the State of Iowa provide our hospitals, medical clinics, local governments, and other health partners with critical protection and care.”
“I want to commend Iowa emergency management officials for the thoroughness of their project justification, and the speed in which they were able to get submitted,” said Paul Taylor, Administrator of FEMA Region VII. “The entire federal family is working day and night to assist state, local and tribal partners in our shared work to combat the effects of COVID-19.”
The funding is obligated under a major disaster declaration for the State of Iowa that was approved on March 23. The funds are provided to Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department (HSEMD).
Last month, the House of Representatives unanimously passed the bipartisan Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) Act, which provides $1.25 billion for the State of Iowa to cover additional expenses due to COVID-19.
Rep. Axne also voted to pass bipartisan legislation that provided $8.3 billion to reinforce federal, state, and local efforts to combat COVID-19 across the United States. That legislation has already produced multiple investments to build Iowa’s capacities to fight COVID-19 totaling $6.5 million.
