Letter to Pete T. Gaynor, Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator - Congressman Neguse, Colorado Delegation Members Request Continued and Expanded PPE for Colorado Senior Living Facilities

Letter

Dear Administrator Gaynor,

We write today to urge the Federal Emergency Management Agency ("FEMA") to continue
delivery of personal protective equipment ("PPE") to senior living facilities in Colorado through
June and July 2020, and to include assisted living residences and intermediate care facilities, in
addition to nursing homes, in your distribution plans.

Since the beginning of the novel Coronavirus ("COVID-19") pandemic, senior living facilities
have been the epicenter of both outbreaks and deaths in Colorado and across the country.
COVID-19 linked deaths in Colorado's senior living facilities continue to be the single largest
contributor to COVID-19 fatalities in our state, representing approximately 61% of total deaths.
According to some reports, Colorado has experienced as many as 105 deaths in senior
congregate living facilities in just one single week.

We understand that FEMA is delivering two rounds of PPE to Colorado nursing homes on May
18th and again the following week. We greatly appreciate this much needed support, and we
thank you for your efforts to expand the availability of PPE to our seniors and front-line workers
who support them. Given the unique and devastating effects the COVID-19 outbreak has had on
these facilities and the citizens they serve, we request that FEMA regularly continue delivery of
PPE supplies to nursing homes in Colorado throughout June and July 2020. It is also critically
important to expand the criteria governing which facilities receive these supplies to include
assisted living facilities and intermediate care facilities, which also care for Medicaid enrollees,
because they too have faced staggering infection and death rates and are in desperate need of
these resources.

We understand the immense task before you and FEMA as you work to ensure all communities
have the resources they need to combat this crisis, and we appreciate the supplies you have
distributed to Colorado thus far. Thank you for your consideration, and we request an immediate
response to this inquiry.