[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]


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  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