With States Facing 'Impossible' Budget Shortfalls, King, Colleagues Push to Waive FEMA Cost-Sharing Requirements

BRUNSWICK, Maine, April 28 -- Sen. Angus S. King Jr., I-Maine, issued the following news release:

U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined twenty-six of his colleagues in calling on President Trump to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to waive all cost-share requirements for states responding to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The senators' letter comes as states across the nation are facing severe budgetary limitations due to reduced revenue, and growing costs associated with the public health and economic responses to support citizens in the face of the pandemic. The Senators' letter reiterates continued calls for the President to increase the federal cost share from 75 to 100 percent for emergency work associated with pandemic response.

"As the pandemic continues to spread, however, states are increasingly being put in impossible positions. Many state governments are slashing budgets and implementing layoffs at a time when Americans need support more than ever. These reductions are unsustainable and dangerous, and only the federal government has the capability to alleviate these concerns," the Senators wrote. "Therefore, we urge you to increase FEMA's cost-share to the full 100 percent, to remove financial burdens from the states and enable them to maximize response effort,"

Senator King has strongly advocated for increased federal action to support states in the fight against the coronavirus, including a drastic increase in our national testing infrastructure and increased financial support for states. Earlier this month he joined a bipartisan group of former governors urging the federal government to provide increased financial flexibility to states by allowing them to allocate federal funds to address budget shortfalls caused by the pandemic.

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Dear President Trump:

We write to urge you to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide 100 percent cost-share for all states, tribes, territories, and the District of Columbia for the emergency declaration issued on March 13, 2020, and under any subsequent major disaster declaration for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. States and territories across the country are currently assuming overwhelming costs for COVID-19 response while coping with massive reductions in revenue due to economic slowdown. It is the federal government's duty to aid these states in this critical hour. We cannot let them down.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a disaster of unparalleled scale for our nation, and FEMA must adapt their response accordingly. For the first time in our nation's history, every state in the union has been issued a major disaster declaration, accompanied by your national emergency declaration on March 13. These issuances give FEMA the ability to assist and empower states in response to the crisis and support initiatives on the on the ground. We are encouraged by these efforts thus far, and know that they make a difference in our communities.

As the pandemic continues to spread, however, states are increasingly being put in impossible positions. Many state governments are slashing budgets and implementing layoffs at a time when Americans need support more than ever. These reductions are unsustainable and dangerous, and only the federal government has the capability to alleviate these concerns. Therefore, we urge you to increase FEMA's cost-share to the full 100 percent, to remove financial burdens from the states and enable them to maximize response efforts.

You have stated that our country is engaged in a fight against an "invisible enemy." This battle we face has presented unprecedented challenges, and therefore merits unprecedented actions from the federal government in response. We must come to the aid of our states as soon as possible, to combat the destructive impacts the virus will have on our public health and economy. Thank you for your consideration of our request.