$48 Million In New Federal Funding Heading To Hawai"i To Help Fight Pandemic, Support Hospitals, Keep Families Healthy

Press Release

U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai"i) today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will provide Hawai"i with a $47.9 million grant to support local hospitals fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, hire nearly 1,000 new nurses and medical staff, and keep Hawai"i families healthy.

"As we continue fighting the pandemic, it's critical that our hospitals have the resources and staffing they need to provide high-quality care to families across Hawai"i," said Senator Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. "This new federal funding will help hospitals hire more nurses and medical staff and keep people healthy."

The funding from FEMA will be used to hire 955 temporary medical staff for hospitals across Hawai"i for three months, including nurses, case managers, pharmacists, therapists, and other medical staff. Additional FEMA grant funding to support this temporary medical staffing is expected in the coming months.

Today's funding follows last month's announcement of more than $37 million in federal funding under the American Rescue Plan for 391 health care providers to provide care for families across the state.

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