R 184
2020 -- S 2770
Enacted 03/12/2020

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

     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.
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LC005308
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