U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund approved $6,779,366 for the State of Montana to provide financial assistance to Montanans who have lost wages due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Daines announced earlier this month that the State of Montana would be accepting funds from the $44 billion President Trump made available through executive action in the Disaster Relief Fund.
“This critical funding will help thousands of Montanans who lost their jobs due to COVID-19 and give them the much needed boost to get through these challenging times,” Daines said. “I’m grateful the Administration acted swiftly in making these funds available for struggling Montanans. I will continue working to ensure Montanans have the help they need during these tough times.”
Daines first suggested using funds from the FEMA Disaster Relief Fund at the beginning of the pandemic, calling on Senate leadership to expand and utilize Disaster Unemployment Assistance for workers impacted by COVID-19. Daines introduced the bipartisan Coronavirus Worker Relief Act, which would provide unemployment assistance through the Disaster Relief Fund to people who were unable to work due to the initial outbreak.
Additionally, in late March, Daines sent a letter urging Senate leadership to provide a robust expansion of unemployment insurance to support Montana workers who have been impacted by the pandemic, through no fault of their own.
Daines is committed to supporting Montana workers and helping those who lost their jobs because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
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