Over $2 Billion in Delayed COVID Relief Funds Released for New York by Lawler and Garbarino

By Y.M. Lowy

More than $2 billion in federal funding has been released to New York State after being delayed for several years.

The money comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is meant to reimburse hospitals and local governments for expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds were part of the federal disaster relief program covering costs that New York organizations and communities faced during the pandemic.

Representatives Mike Lawler and Andrew Garbarino said they pushed for the release of the money after what they described as long delays under previous federal administration processing. They said New York hospitals and local governments should not have had to wait years to be reimbursed for pandemic-related expenses.

The announcement is part of ongoing efforts to complete review and payment of remaining reimbursement claims related to COVID-19.