The representatives asked that any eligible work paid for through the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) be paid for by the federal government rather the New York taxpayers, as was done by Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama after 9-11 and Superstorm Sandy.

“With New York State at the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States, it is imperative that New York receive all the federal resources available to save lives and protect public health and safety. The costs associated with responding to this public health crisis are astronomical,” the jointly signed letter stated. “New York State expects to request billions of additional funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through the DRF in the coming months. If New York State must shoulder the cost of even 25 percent of this massive bill, it could deal a devastating blow to New York’s vibrant economy.”

The complete 28 member New York delegation that joined the letter were Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Representatives Lee Zeldin (NY-1), Pete King (NY-2), Thomas Suozzi (NY-3), Kathleen Rice (NY-4), Gregory Meeks (NY-5), Grace Meng (NY-6), Nydia Velazquez (NY-7), Hakeem Jeffries (NY-8), Yvette Clarke (NY-9), Jerry Nadler (NY-10), Max Rose (NY-11), Carolyn Maloney (NY-12), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Jose Serrano (NY-15), Eliot Engel (NY-16), Nita Lowey (NY-17), Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18), Antonio Delgado (NY-19), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Elise Stefanik (NY-21), Anthony Brindisi (NY-22), Tom Reed (NY-23), John Katko (NY-24), Joe Morelle (NY-25), and Brian Higgins (NY-26).

A copy of the letter sent to President Trump can be found below:

Dear President Trump: 

We write today to urge you to expeditiously grant New York a waiver that provides 100 percent federal funding for all FEMA emergency work in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. Any eligible work paid for through the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) should be paid for by the federal government, not New Yorkers.

On March 13, you issued an Emergency Declaration for New York, as well as for 55 other states, territories, and the District of Columbia. On March 17, Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York requested a Major Disaster Declaration (MDD), the first in the country, to aid the state’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak. On March 20, you granted the first-in-the-nation COVID-19 MDD for New York after a strong push from the New York Congressional Delegation. Both of these declarations allow New York State to receive reimbursement for eligible work from the DRF. On March 25, the Senate passed H.R.748, the CARES Act, which more than doubled the DRF by adding $45 billion. The March 20 MDD now grants New York State access to Public Assistance, Category B – Emergency Protective Measures and the Crisis Counselling program for individuals. While this is an incredibly important step in combating the COVID-19 outbreak, this assistance comes at a 75 percent federal and 25 percent state cost share.

As of April 13, the New York State Department of Health reported over 195,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New York State, with over 104,000 in New York City alone. Tragically, our home state has already experienced at least 10,000 deaths from this outbreak and experts anticipate this number will continue to rise. 

With New York State at the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States, it is imperative that New York receive all the federal resources available to save lives and protect public health and safety. The costs associated with responding to this public health crisis are astronomical. New York State expects to request billions of additional funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through the DRF in the coming months. If New York State must shoulder the cost of even 25 percent of this massive bill, it could deal a devastating blow to New York’s vibrant economy.

As New York continues to address the escalating outbreak of COVID-19, we urge you to expeditiously grant a waiver that adjusts the current DRF cost-share to provide 100 percent federal funding for New York State’s response to this outbreak. We thank you for your time and attention to this matter, please do not hesitate to contact our staff members with any questions.

April 04, 2020- Albany, NY- Governor Andrew Cuomo delivers daily COVID-19, Coronavirus Press briefing in the Red Room of Capitol (Darren McGee- Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo)

ALBANY – Governor Andrew Cuomo Friday said he will issue an Executive Order allowing the state to redistribute ventilators and personal protective equipment (PPE) from in-state institutions that don’t currently need them and redeploy the equipment to other hospitals with the highest need.

The governor’s office said that up to 20 percent of a hospital’s unused ventilator stock could be moved to areas of higher need, as deemed by his office.

Cuomo said the executive order will allow the National Guard to transport the ventilators and PPE. He also said the equipment will be returned to the hospital or the hospital will be reimbursed for the equipment in the future.

“We are still challenging the issue of ventilators. We don’t have enough period. This situation is very simple now. People come in and they are almost all COVID people,” the governor said during a press conference on Friday. “Many of them go right to the ICU. In the ICU, you need a ventilator. And if you don’t have a ventilator, the process stops and we don’t have enough ventilators.”

According to the Governor’s Office, there were 10,000 new cases reported on Friday, bringing the statewide total to 102,000 In addition, 14,000 people are hospitalized with 3,700 in ICU. The state also saw the highest single increase in the number of deaths, going from an estimated 2,300 to 2,900.

More than half of the statewide total involves cases in New York City, which has 57,000+ confirmed cases. Long Island has another 22,000+ confirmed cases and Westchester County has 12,000+ confirmed cases.

“The hot spots we now track on a nightly basis. How many people go into what facility, so we can track the increase in what’s happening? You see an increase in New York City as we knew… But you also see an increase on Long Island which is something we’re concerned about. Long Island does not have as elaborate a health care system as New York City. We don’t have the same amount of resources on Long Island and we see an increase in the number of cases on Long Island and that has us very concerned,” Cuomo said.

The move has drawn heavy criticism from several upstate Republican lawmakers.

George Borrello

“With COVID-19 rapidly increasing in several upstate cities and communities, I was shocked to hear the Governor announce that he has signed an executive order allowing ventilators and personal protective equipment from upstate hospitals to be seized for distribution in downstate facilities,” said Sen. George Borrello (R-Irving), who was sworn in the senate at the start of this year.

Borrello also pointed to the rapid spread of the virus across Upstate New york, including Western New York.

“Next door in Erie County, which borders the northernmost portion of the 57th District, cases are multiplying at lightning speed. Surrounding counties are also seeing sharp upticks in cases. Taking lifesaving ventilators and PPE from any of our hospitals creates the very real danger that residents and health care workers in the region could see their health, and even their lives, threatened by the lack of necessary equipment.”

The governor’s office listed the number of confirmed cases currently in Erie County at 720 as of Friday. Meanwhile nearby Monroe County has 464 confirmed cases. However, as most health officials have acknowledged, the virus is most likely far more widespread than what the confirmed case count indicates. That’s mainly because of a shortage of testing, meaning many people who have symptoms are still unable to be tested for confirmation.

Borrello was also one of 14 upstate Republicans to sign off on a joint statement denouncing the executive order, calling it “reckless.”

APRIL 3, 2020  -A new website announced by Gov. Andrew Cuomo features a map providing daily updates of COVID-19 cases in NY State.

“We have been watching the situation in New York City and we have an increase in cases, hospitalizations and deaths in other parts of New York,” The group wrote. “Taking our ventilators by force leaves our people without protection and our hospitals unable to save lives today or respond to a coming surge. We stand together opposing the Governor’s very dangerous and reckless action. He is leaving our communities in a terrible position which will cost lives.”

The group of 14 also included House Representatives Tom Reed (R-Corning, NY 23) and Elise Stefanik (R-NY 21) and State Assemblyman Andy Goodell (R-Ellicott, 150th District).

Later on Friday,  Rich Azzapardi, advisor to the governor, responded to the criticism and concerns expressed by the upstate representatives. He also clarified that it would only be up to 20 percent of a hospitals unused ventilator.

“In addressing the coronavirus pandemic, it is essential that we all work together,” Azzapardi said. “While the pandemic is primarily in downstate New York now – it is projected to peak and reduce in downstate and the increase in upstate. It is essential that we all help each other and the Governor is asking upstate hospitals to loan 20 percent of their unused ventilators to struggling downstate hospitals.”

Azzapardi also said that the life-saving ventilators will be returned or reimbursed to those hospitals.

“Moreover, when the pandemic wave hits upstate New York, the Governor will ask downstate hospitals for similar help,” he added. “We are not upstate or downstate we are one state and we act that way.”

Meanwhile, Gov. Cuomo also announced the state is seeking local businesses to help in the production of PPE.

“Supplies, PPE are in short supply as they are across the country. We need companies to make the materials,” Cuomo said. “It is unbelievable to me that in New York State, in the United States of America, we can’t make these materials and that we are all shopping China to try to get these materials and we’re all competing against each other. These are not complex materials and will work with New York manufacturers. We’ll finance the transition necessary to make these materials.”

The governor also announced a New Website that provides daily tracking of COVID-19 for each county in the state.