Submitted by Patrick Cassidy.
WASHINGTON, DC—Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) announced this evening that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will increase support to towns in Connecticut and across the country by providing 100% federal funding for the costs of pandemic-related activities that have previously been determined eligible, from January 2020 to September 30, 2021. The new support comes following a directive from the Biden Administration to allow FEMA to provide additional support to state, local, tribal, and territorial partners through additional federal funding.
“The Biden Administration is wasting no time in getting more support out the door to our local schools and small towns,” said Congressman Courtney. “This isn’t just a smart and decisive step by President Biden—it’s follow-through on his promise to support our towns through this pandemic. President Biden’s directive means that our schools, child-care centers, and so many others will no longer be forced to fight for strained state resources. Instead, they’ll have new freedom and resources backed by the federal government to kick our response into higher gear, and to help keep Connecticut safe. I am glad that President Biden kept his word, these resources will make a big difference for our towns.”
The new directive from the Biden Administration means that all work eligible under FEMA’s existing COVID-19 policies—including increased medical capacity, emergency feeding distribution, and more—will be reimbursed at 100% federal share. The funding will prove particularly important for eastern Connecticut public schools, who in 2020 had to increasingly rely on strained state resources to help keep schools, teachers, and students safe. The Biden Administration’s new directive will ensure that FEMA is able to cover the full costs of safely opening and operating eligible schools, child-care facilities, and more throughout Connecticut.
For projects that have already been approved, FEMA will amend the existing awards to adjust the federal funding amounts, and no further action will be required by applicants. For more information, click here.
