[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 50 (Monday, March 16, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S1760]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          PRESIDENTIAL MESSAGE

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REPORT RELATIVE TO THE ISSUANCE OF A PROCLAMATION DECLARING A NATIONAL 
 EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO THE OUTBREAK OF CORONAVIRUS DISEASE (COVID-
19) THAT INVOKES SECTION 1135 OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT, TO ALLOW THE 
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO EXERCISE AUTHORITY UNDER THAT 
  SECTION TO TEMPORARILY WAIVE OR MODIFY CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS OF THE 
MEDICARE, MEDICAID, AND STATE CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAMS AND 
OF THE HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT PRIVACY RULE 
THROUGHOUT THE DURATION OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY, RECEIVED DURING 
           ADJOURNMENT OF THE SENATE ON MARCH 13, 2020--PM 53

  The PRESIDING OFFICER laid before the Senate the following message 
from the President of the United States, together with an accompanying 
report; which was referred to the Committee on Finance:

To the Congress of the United States:
  Pursuant to section 201 of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 
1621), I hereby report that I have exercised my authority to declare 
that the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the United 
States constitutes a national emergency. This declaration invokes 
section 1135 of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. 1320b-5, to allow 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services to exercise the authority 
under that section to temporarily waive or modify certain requirements 
of the Medicare, Medicaid, and State Children's Health Insurance 
programs and of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act 
Privacy Rule throughout the duration of the public health emergency 
declared in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
  I am enclosing a copy of the proclamation I have issued.
                                                     Donald J. Trump.  
The White House, March 13, 2020.

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