Jan 31

Jan 31 Lawmakers Announce More Aid

Maryland Department of Health Receives More Than $560 Million to Help Boost COVID-19 Response and Aid Vaccine Distribution Efforts

Maryland delegation members announced on Jan. 26, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will financially support states to boost response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie Raskin, and David Trone announced that the Maryland Department of Health will receive federal funding to expand COVID-19 vaccine distribution, contact tracing, and testing capacity.

This latest funding from FEMA comes after President Joseph Biden authorized the full reimbursement of states for COVID-19 related emergency expenses. This includes $341,166,647 to purchase PPE, ventilators, cleaning supplies and other medical equipment, along with $219,525,891 to help distribute the COVID-19 vaccine and support emergency medical services statewide.

“This latest infusion of federal funding for Maryland will support state and local governments, hospitals, health care providers, first responders and other frontline workers who have carried the financial burden of purchasing equipment and supplies necessary as they work to care for coronavirus patients, administer the COVID-19 vaccine and bring the virus under control,” Hoyer office in said. in a press release “Team Maryland will continue working tirelessly to provide our communities with the resources they need to eliminate COVID-19 and keep Marylanders safe as we fight this pandemic.”

This recent round of federal emergency assistance comes after Maryland Delegation successfully obtained swift approval of a major disaster declaration for the state. Throughout this now nearly year-long pandemic, the delegation has worked to secure funding and resources to help Maryland Health Department and other state and local entities across Maryland to respond to the public health crisis.

This comes after it was announced that nearly $350 million in funds for the Maryland Department of Health to expanding testing, contact tracing, and vaccination efforts.