WASHINGTON – “Yesterday, the nation’s governors joined Vice President Pence for a teleconference to discuss the coordinated federal-state response to the 2019 novel coronavirus.
We appreciate the vice president’s commitment to ensuring that states have the resources we need to protect the health and safety of our citizens, and we urge the Administration and Congress to reject partisanship and work together as they negotiate emergency supplemental appropriations for the national coronavirus response.
States and localities are at the forefront of health crises, and novel coronavirus is no exception. Indeed, many of the confirmed cases in the United States have been identified due to the vigilance and dedication of state and local health departments. It is critical that we are reimbursed for costs already incurred in assisting the federal response to the coronavirus outbreak, and any appropriation must fund the ongoing and future preparation and response efforts by our states.
The nation’s governors will stay in close contact and hold weekly calls as we work together to tackle this public health threat.”
