Letter to Pete Gaynor, Administrator of FEMA - Grijalva Sablan Letter to FEMAon COVID Response in U.S. Territories April 1 2020

Letter

Dear Administrator Gaynor:

We are writing to seek information regarding the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA)'s planned response to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the U.S. Territories of
American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Guam, Puerto
Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI).

The U.S. Territories face unique COVID-19 challenges due to their geographic location, unequal
treatment under federal programs, and dire financial situation. Most of the islands have recently
been impacted by severe natural disasters - such as Hurricane Maria, Hurricane Irma, Super
Typhoon Yutu, Super Typhoon Mangkhut, and the earthquakes in Puerto Rico - that have further
weakened their health care infrastructure and limited their ability to effectively respond to new
emergencies.

Last week, the President signed Major Disaster Declarations for Guam and Puerto Rico for
additional support in the COVID-19 response. To assist the Committee's oversight of this
emergency in the U.S. Territories, please provide the following documents and information as
soon as possible, but no later than April 15th:

1. What is your agency doing to ensure the U.S. Territories remain a top priority in FEMA's
plan to address COVID-19?
2. What are FEMA's plans for addressing COVID-19 in the U.S. Territories given high rates
of older adults and constrained health care resources?
3. Will FEMA work to establish the coordination of safe transportation of a presumptive or
positive COVID-19 patient from a U.S. Territory facility to another facility equipped to
treat a COVID-19 patient if necessary?
4. Is FEMA willing to waive funding match provisions for the U.S. Territories in need of
immediate emergency federal aid to address COVID-19 cases?
5. What are FEMA's plans for ensuring the U.S. Territories have food in case there is a
disruption in the maritime commerce or supply chain?
6. What are FEMA's plans to continue aiding individuals affected by prior disasters, such as
hurricanes, typhoons and earthquakes?
7. Is FEMA considering deploying emergency power generators to hospitals and treatment
centers in U.S. Territories with unreliable power infrastructure?

Given the evolving nature of this pandemic, we welcome a conference call with Members of the
Committee as soon as feasible in response to this inquiry. Please contact Margarita Varela-Rosa
with the Committee's Office of Insular Affairs at Margarita.Varela-Rosa@mail.house.gov or (202)
748-2828 with any questions about this request.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to a timely response.

Sincerely,

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