Maryland Delegation Announces More Than $67 Million For COVID-19 Testing Reimbursement | U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland

October 18, 2022

U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone (all D-Md.) right this moment introduced $67,724,611 in U.S. Division of Homeland Safety Federal Emergency Administration Company (FEMA) funding to reimburse the Maryland Division of Well being and Psychological Hygiene for earlier COVID-19 testing prices.

Funding is permitted by Part 403 of the Robert T. Stafford Act. The federal {dollars} will likely be used to pay for greater than 1.3 million COVID-19 PCR assessments that had been administered to Maryland public faculty college students and workers between July 20, 2021 and Might 31, 2022.

“Testing has been a important step in curbing the unfold of COVID-19 all through the pandemic. This federal reimbursement will enable our colleges to proceed prioritizing the well being of our college students and campus communities,” mentioned the lawmakers.

Workforce Maryland urged and advocated for each the Trump and Biden administration to waive the usual 25 p.c non-federal value share of FEMA help through the pandemic. This funding is now 100% coated by the federal authorities. To this point, Maryland has acquired greater than $260 million in pandemic aid from FEMA.

The Robert T. Stafford Catastrophe Reduction and Emergency Help Act permits FEMA to take actions and distribute funding in emergency conditions.