Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and U.S. Senator Charles Schumer (Wikipedia)
April 15, 2020 By Michael Dorgan
U.S. Senator Charles Schumer and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are calling on the federal government to help cover the funeral costs for low-income families who have lost a loved one to COVID-19.
The legislators said that the government needs to help these families and urged FEMA to release funds immediately as part of the “Disaster Funeral Assistance” program.
Ocasio-Cortez’ district covers the Elmhurst, Corona and Jackson Heights neighborhoods– the epicenter of the Coronavirus outbreak. Many residents in the area have limited means and are new immigrants. Around 20 percent of Corona residents – the city’s hardest-hit neighborhood – live below the poverty level.
The pair want FEMA to help pay for expenses including casket costs, mortuary services, death certificates, and cremation or interment.
“Families across New York, and right here in Queens, are already paying the ultimate price with the tragic loss of their loved ones to the coronavirus,” they said at a press briefing in Corona yesterday.
“That is why FEMA must do the right thing during this crisis, exactly what they did after Hurricane Sandy, and deliver special funds to New York families faced with mounting funeral and burial costs they simply cannot afford,” they said.
The legislators said that an existing FEMA program – the Individuals and Households Program – is already available to help with relief but the federal agency needs to approve special funeral assistance.
The appeal comes a week after Council Member Francisco Moya called for the creation of an emergency relief fund last week to cover the cost of death arrangements for the families of COVID-19 victims of limited means.
Featured Events
8 Comments
Jeff Bezos was willing and able to invest in Western Queens. The richest man in the world would have covered death expenses. But the local clowns chased him away! Sadly, we have Hart island for the poor. Financially the future of Queens looks bleak.
None of the dead need to worry about paying rent in two weeks….
now she is out proclaiming with Schumer that feme to pay meantime she was in her apt in Washington where they have a supermarket on the lobby no need to go out and walk we the people meantime Jackson heights people are dying what type of leadership are this let not forget
AOC should host a zoom meeting bake sale to raise the funds.
This is an article about helping with funeral costs for low-income families. You’re…actually against that.
Thank you AOC for listening to our needs and cries. This is why people will vote for you.
we all you respect I don’t think that the people in Jackson heights are going to vote for her a person that doesn’t show herself went we need her only spending her time on twitter talking about others thing that is not important to us people are dying in queens no one shows up from her offices just to give us hope in my building we lost 3 people in one week she is not going to be reelected again mark my words
From your lips to God’s ears!!!