Letter to Local Leader - Rep. Craig Presses FEMA to Clarify Reimbursement Rules for Local Governments Investing in COVID-19 Related Expenses

Letter

Dear Local Leader,

As we enter the tenth month of combatting COVID-19 and its complex repercussions, I want to thank you for your continued leadership and dedication to providing essential services in your community. By continuing to work together, we will get through this difficult chapter.

One of my top priorities in Congress is to ensure our cities and counties have the necessary funds and resources to mitigate the unexpected costs of the COVID-19 pandemic.

That is why I recently signed onto a letter to the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in response to their careless guidance on the process by which COVID-19 related expenses are deemed eligible for reimbursement under the Stafford Act and 44 CFR, the implementing regulation.

Under FEMA's current guidance and new definitions of "emergency protective measure" and "public facility," many necessary purchases such as masks, plexiglass partitions, gloves and additional maintenance staff shifts for cleaning will be disqualified from reimbursement. I am requesting clarifying guidance to broaden reimbursable expenses and to centralize the reimbursement process.

In addition, I cosponsored H.R. 8266, the FEMA Assistance Relief Act of 2020 which passed the House on November 17th. This bill would require FEMA to provide full federal funding for virus-related emergency aid. This will save recipients money as they continue to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and its many repercussions.

I will continue to push for relief to ensure our communities withstand this pandemic and your budgets do not take massive hits. Please feel free to reach out to my office with any questions or concerns.

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