DeLauro Announces More Than $21 Million in FEMA Grants to Support COVID-19 Relief Efforts

Press Release

House Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) today announced $21,688,126 in federal grants through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to cover COVID-19 expenses in Connecticut's Third Congressional District. To reimburse for coronavirus-related costs such as testing, medical equipment for first responders, personal protective equipment (PPE), emergency communications, and operating emergency facilities, the following received funds from FEMA's Public Assistance Grant Program:

Yale New Haven Hospital, $15,582,953
Connecticut Office of the State Comptroller, $2,152,253
Griffin Hospital, $2,078,108
City of New Haven, $1,874,811
"Connecticut is leading the way in vaccinations and COVID-19 recovery, but we cannot leave our hospitals and state and local governments to cover the costs incurred during the pandemic," said Congresswoman DeLauro. "That is why I fight tirelessly each Congress to ensure FEMA has the funds it needs to cover emergency expenses like those that have skyrocketed because of the pandemic. A return to normal is not enough. We must continue our work to ensure those who protect and serve our community during the pandemic can stay afloat and continue their work to care for the people of Connecticut."

"We are very pleased that FEMA has recommended Yale New Haven Hospital be reimbursed for costs incurred due to the pandemic," said Yale New Haven Hospital President Keith Churchwell, MD. "I am extremely proud of how our hospital and health system rallied to care for an enormous volume of patients when COVID hit last year as well as standing up multiple drive through testing sites, developing the first COVID-19 laboratory-developed test to receive FDA Emergency Use Authorization and converting existing patient rooms to accommodate the large influx of patients."

"At the onset of the pandemic, states were left to fend for themselves to build the infrastructure and capacity to adequately test for COVID-19," said Comptroller Kevin Lembo. "This grant from FEMA supports the residents of Connecticut by fully funding the testing agreements between my office, local hospitals, and laboratories. I'm grateful to FEMA as well as Congresswoman DeLauro and the other members of the Connecticut delegation that worked to bring this grant to fruition."

"Griffin Health is grateful to receive this funding that supports the work that has been performed throughout the pandemic by Griffin's courageous caregivers," said President and CEO of Griffin Health Patrick Charmel. "At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Griffin quickly took action to ensure our community and state would be protected, and that those infected with the virus would receive the best care possible. We quickly converted a hospital wing and renovated part of our Emergency Department into isolation units for COVID-19 patients to create a safe environment for patients and caregivers alike. When testing became a critical component of the fight against the virus, Griffin opened four drive-through community testing centers to help contain the spread of infection. At Griffin, we take pride in leading the effort to improve the health of the communities we serve. The COVID-19 pandemic presented many imposing challenges, and we are thankful to receive the resources needed to care for our patients and caregivers."

"In the midst of the pandemic we knew we had to respond quickly, and having a Representative like Congresswoman DeLauro who will fight for us in Washington gave us the confidence that we could protect people's health without worrying about how we'd afford it," said New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker. "I'm thankful to Congresswoman DeLauro and excited about what this FEMA reimbursement means for our residents."

As of June 2, FEMA has obligated more than $511.2 million related to the coronavirus pandemic in Connecticut. As Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, DeLauro led her colleagues in securing these federal funds and worked to ensure this grant program covers 100% of the costs of the recipient's COVID-19 emergency response. These costs were associated with procedures conducted through April 30, 2020, under the major disaster declaration issued for the State of Connecticut.

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