Press Releases

WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman James P. McGovern (D-MA), Chairman of the House Rules Committee, joined the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation in sending a letter to President Trump urging him to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to waive all of the traditional cost-share requirements for major disaster assistance.

The lawmakers’ letter follows the Trump Administration’s approval of Massachusetts’ request for a major disaster declaration due to the ongoing novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

“On behalf of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and its residents, we respectfully urge you to direct FEMA to increase the federal cost-share to one hundred percent and waive all applicable cost-sharing requirements related to the COVID-19 pandemic disaster,” the lawmakers wrote.

While federal disaster funding typically requires a 25% state and local cost-sharing match, the growing public health costs and accelerating economic collapse caused by the COVID-19 pandemic will undoubtedly result in dramatic shortfalls to state and municipal revenues. The federal government has waived these matching costs during other national emergencies, including the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Additionally, recent studies projected a "dramatic collapse" in revenue for Massachusetts, estimating a tax revenue shortfall of $1.8 billion to $3 billion over the next 15 months. 

“The scope and costs of the COVID-19 disaster is unparalleled and our state desperately needs more federal assistance,” the lawmakers continued. “Waiving the federal cost share will allow Massachusetts to continue to devote precious resources towards our health care infrastructure.”

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Congressman McGovern has pushed the Trump Administration to respond to the coronavirus crisis with the scale, scope, and urgency necessary to protect the health, safety, and economic welfare of the American people. He has helped introduce emergency legislation to prevent families from going hungry, demanded an end to the Trump Administration's attempts to cut food assistance, and called on Congress to prioritize nutrition assistance programs. He has secured personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline healthcare workers in Massachusetts, and helped secure $4.9 million dollars for COVID-19 relief in Central and Western Massachusetts. He successfully passed legislation creating a new investigative panel to make sure hard-earned taxpayer dollars are spent on the small businesses and workers who need help because of the coronavirus, and he has come up with a plan to ensure that Congress can keep working on behalf of the American people during this crisis.