Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that Maine has received an additional $5,570,755 to reimburse the purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE) including KN95 surgical masks for frontline responders, as well as disposable non-sterile isolation gowns and disposable isolation suits.  This funding was awarded to the Maine Department of Administrative and Financial Services through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). 

“As we continue to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, it is imperative that health care professionals across Maine are properly equipped to treat individuals who contract the virus and prevent further transmission,” Senators Collins and King said in a joint statement.  “We welcome this continued critical support, which helped provide PPE to our frontline workers and ensure the safety of individuals, families, and communities throughout Maine.”

In the midst of the pandemic, Senators Collins and King have fought hard to secure federal funding for PPE for Maine.  Last month, the Senators announced that Maine received nearly $2.3 million for such medical supplies.  In April, the Senators urged Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and FEMA Administrator Peter Gaynor to help Maine more easily access PPE secured by the COVID-19 Supply Chain Stabilization Task Force.  As of November 13, FEMA has obligated more than $163 million in federal support to Maine, and as of November 18, FEMA and the Strategic National Stockpile have provided Maine with more than 1,498,514 gloves, 43,525 face shields, 41,290 surgical gowns, 204,393 surgical masks, and 566,775 N95 respirators.