Katko, NY contingent request Trump approve home-state disaster declaration

U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) and members of Congress representing New York on March 18 requested that the president support their home state’s emergency disaster declaration due to the coronavirus pandemic.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on March 16 requested that the major disaster declaration be issued for the state, which as of March 18 reported 2,382 confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to a letter Rep. Katko and his colleagues sent to President Donald Trump.

“Recorded cases will soon overwhelm public health resources, with the state’s intensive care unit (ICU) beds currently at 80 percent capacity,” the members wrote. “Although resources have been deployed within New York State to increase testing capabilities and increase the availability of telehealth services, the state’s ability to respond effectively is already facing significant strains as confirmed cases rise exponentially.”

Rep. Katko and his colleagues also noted “the imminent and acute threat” to their state’s economic security and asked that non-federal share requirements be waived for such assistance “due to the magnitude of the pandemic’s impact across New York State,” according to their letter.

“Disruptions facing our business, government and community activities are likely to continue in the coming weeks, leaving millions of Americans without work and placing a significant strain on public resources,” wrote Rep. Katko, who was joined in signing the bipartisan letter by 13 other lawmakers, including U.S. Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Anthony Brindisi (D-NY).