#Schumer urges Trump admin to renew coronavirus emergency declaration

Sen. Chuck Schumer on Sunday urged the Trump administration to renew the coronavirus emergency declaration before it expires at the end of next month, in order to preserve billions of dollars in healthcare funds for New York to fight the pandemic.

“If we have learned anything from COVID-19 it is that a ‘stitch in time saves nine,’ and the more we can do to be proactive, the better off the public will be,” the New York Democrat said.

“This past winter there was delay and dismissal towards those urging HHS to officially declare a public health emergency as it relates to the coronavirus. Well, we cannot — and we must not –have that kind of inaction and uncertainty now, especially with what we know and with the sustaining needs of New York,” Schumer said, referring to Health and Human Services.

“The clock is ticking as July dawns, so we need this action now,” he added.

The Senate minority leader said $300 million in federal healthcare funds were distributed to the Empire State last week, part of the $2.5 billion in the Families First Coronavirus stimulus package that is linked to the emergency declaration that expires on July 25.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, which obligated $1.1 billion to the state, is also looking at the emergency declaration to decide how much longer it will need to reimburse New York State and New York City for related expenses.

Without the public health emergency declaration, dollars from the disaster relief fund would stop flowing, Schumer said.

“New York is by no means out of the woods with the coronavirus, especially given the upticks we are seeing in other states and the risk those upticks pose here when you take travel into account,” Schumer said. “Extending this declaration will keep New York positioned to both respond and to keep fighting.”