Sununu calls on congressional delegation to support emergency coronavirus funding
Sen. Shaheen's office says plans requested from Trump administration
Sen. Shaheen's office says plans requested from Trump administration
Sen. Shaheen's office says plans requested from Trump administration
Gov. Chris Sununu called on Congress to act and support emergency funding intended to help control any potential outbreak of the coronavirus Wednesday.
In an interview with News 9, Sununu said he supports President Donald Trump’s decision to put Vice President Mike Pence in charge of the country's coronavirus response.
“I think that’s a very smart idea, actually, given that Vice President Pence was a former governor,” Sununu said. “He understands how to coordinate these logistics at a very localized level and that’s really where, if there were to be an incident, that’s where you need things to click the most.”
Sununu sent a letter to New Hampshire’s congressional delegation and urged them to approve emergency funding to deal with a potential outbreak. The money could go to emergency management plans.
“Any funds the federal government can give, the more they can give, the more opportunity you’re going to provide. Not just states, but cities, towns, local municipalities,” Sununu said.
Sununu said the coronavirus risk to New Hampshire is low, but the state is still taking preventive steps, such as working with local health experts and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as screening people who had recently traveled to China.
U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s office said over the past month, the senator and delegation have called on the Trump administration to put forth a robust plan, as well as emergency funding, to combat the coronavirus.
Shaheen also called on the secretary of health and human services to hold open briefings with the public.