[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 63 (Wednesday, April 1, 2020)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 18411-18412]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-06989]
Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 63 / Wednesday, April 1, 2020 /
Presidential Documents
[[Page 18411]]
Memorandum of March 30, 2020
Providing Federal Support for Governors' Use of
the National Guard To Respond to COVID-19
Memorandum for the Secretary of Defense [and] the
Secretary of Homeland Security
By the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States of
America, including the Robert T. Stafford Disaster
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121-
5207 (the ``Stafford Act''), and section 502 of title
32, United States Code, it is hereby ordered as
follows:
Section 1. Purpose. It is the policy of the United
States to take measures to assist State Governors under
the Stafford Act in their responses to all threats and
hazards to the American people in their respective
States and territories. Considering the profound and
unique public health risks posed by the ongoing
outbreak of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel
(new) coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2 (``the virus''),
the need for close cooperation and mutual assistance
between the Federal Government and the States is
greater than at any time in recent history. In
recognizing this serious public health risk, I noted
that on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization
announced that the COVID-19 outbreak can be
characterized as a pandemic. On March 13, 2020, I
declared a national emergency recognizing the threat
that SARS-CoV-2 poses to the Nation's healthcare
systems. I also determined that same day that the
COVID-19 outbreak constituted an emergency, of
nationwide scope, pursuant to section 501(b) of the
Stafford Act (42 U.S.C. 5191(b)). All States have
activated their Emergency Operations Centers and are
working to fight the spread of the virus and attend to
those who have symptoms or who are already infected
with COVID-19. To provide maximum support to the
Governors of the States of Connecticut, Illinois, and
Michigan as they make decisions about the responses
required to address local conditions in each of their
respective States and as they request Federal support
under the Stafford Act, I am taking the actions set
forth in sections 2 and 3 of this memorandum:
Sec. 2. One Hundred Percent Federal Cost Share. To
maximize assistance to the Governors of the States of
Connecticut, Illinois, and Michigan to facilitate
Federal support with respect to the use of National
Guard units under State control, I am directing the
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of the
Department of Homeland Security to fund 100 percent of
the emergency assistance activities associated with
preventing, mitigating, and responding to the threat to
public health and safety posed by the virus that these
States undertake using their National Guard forces, as
authorized by sections 403 (42 U.S.C. 5170b) and 503
(42 U.S.C. 5193) of the Stafford Act.
Sec. 3. Support of Operations or Missions to Prevent
and Respond to the Spread of COVID-19. I am directing
the Secretary of Defense, to the maximum extent
feasible and consistent with mission requirements
(including geographic proximity), to request pursuant
to 32 U.S.C. 502(f) that the Governors of the States of
Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Michigan
order National Guard forces to perform duty to fulfill
mission assignments, on a fully reimbursable basis,
that FEMA issues to the Department of Defense for the
purpose of supporting their respective State and local
emergency assistance efforts under the Stafford Act.
[[Page 18412]]
Sec. 4. Termination. The 100 percent Federal cost share
provided for in this memorandum shall terminate 30 days
from the date of this memorandum.
Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this
memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise
affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or
the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent
with applicable law and subject to the availability of
appropriations.
(c) This memorandum is not intended to, and does
not, create any right or benefit, substantive or
procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any
party against the United States, its departments,
agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or
agents, or any other person.
(d) The Secretary of Defense is authorized and
directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal
Register.
(Presidential Sig.)
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, March 30, 2020
[FR Doc. 2020-06989
Filed 3-31-20; 11:15 am]
Billing code 5001-06-P