WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) announced the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is awarding the State of North Carolina a supplemental grant of $119,680,800 under FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund to provide financial assistance to Americans who have lost wages due to the COVID-19 pandemic. FEMA’s grant will allow North Carolina to provide those unemployed due to COVID-19 an extra $300 per week on top of their regular unemployment benefits.

On August 8, 2020, President Trump made available up to $44 billion from FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund to provide financial assistance to Americans who have lost wages due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On August 21, 2020, North Carolina agreed to administer a lost wages program for its citizens who are unemployed due to COVID-19.

“Out of work North Carolinians are struggling to get by while Democratic leaders in Washington continue to put partisan politics ahead of the American people and are demanding a take it or leave it approach on their left-wing proposal,” said Senator Tillis. “While we keep pushing for bipartisan compromise on another relief package that would extend the unemployment benefits for those who have lost their job due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I want to thank DHS and President Trump for awarding this grant to help North Carolinians who have fallen on hard times.”

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