2020 -- S 2770

========

LC005308

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020

____________

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THAT PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP DECLARE A

NATIONAL EMERGENCY FOR THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

     Introduced By: Senators Ruggerio, McCaffrey, Goodwin, Algiere, and Miller

     Date Introduced: March 12, 2020

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     WHEREAS, The World Health Organization most recently declared the Coronavirus

outbreak to be a global pandemic; and

     WHEREAS, As of March 12, 2020, there have been approximately 133,065 Coronavirus

cases worldwide, with approximately 4,947 deaths. In the United States, according to the Centers

for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been 1,319 Coronavirus cases and 38 deaths. All

of these numbers are expected to increase exponentially; and

     WHEREAS, The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approximately

$42.643 billion in the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) that would instantly be available, if the

President declared a national emergency, to assist state and local governments in their efforts to

mitigate the Coronavirus Pandemic; and

     WHEREAS, Declaring a national emergency would also allow FEMA to deploy

personnel to states and local communities to assist with planning and on-the-ground activities to

contain the Coronavirus; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby respectfully requests that the President of the United States declare a national emergency

for the coronavirus and urges the President and the Federal Government to work and consult

closely with State Governors and local leaders as we all work together to contain the Coronavirus

Pandemic; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable Donald J. Trump, President of

the United States, and the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation, Senator Jack Reed, Senator

Sheldon Whitehouse, Representative James R. Langevin, and Representative David N. Cicilline.

========

LC005308

========

LC005308 - Page 2 of 2