Sen. Portman Announces $1.2 Million FEMA Grant to Help Ohio Combat Coronavirus

CINCINNATI, Ohio, April 11 -- Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, issued the following statement:

U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) applauded the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for awarding a $1.2 million grant to help Ohio combat coronavirus. FEMA is awarding this grant from funds accessible thanks to the major disaster declaration approved by the president.

Last month, Portman and Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), along with the entire Ohio delegation in the House of Representatives, sent a letter urging President Trump to act swiftly on Governor Mike DeWine's request for approval of a major disaster declaration for the state of Ohio in response to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. The president approved the disaster declaration the following day. Portman released the following statement:

"I appreciate FEMA's quick action to distribute this disaster relief funding that Ohio's local governments desperately need during this ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

This pandemic has created significant and unprecedented challenges for local governments across Ohio and this funding will provide much-needed additional support for our response and recovery efforts."

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March 29, 2020

Dear Mr. President:

We write to urge you to act swiftly on the request by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for the state of Ohio.

COVID-19 has created significant and unprecedented challenges for state and local governments, businesses, individuals, and families in Ohio. The State and local governments do not have the capacity to sufficiently respond to this major disaster, and therefore, additional Federal assistance is necessary to supplement response and recovery efforts.

We fully support Governor DeWine's request, and urge your prompt consideration. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

Thank you,

See signatures here: (https://www.portman.senate.gov/sites/default/files/2020-04/20200329%20-%20COVID-19%20Ohio%20Del%20MD%20Support%20Ltr.pdf)