Authorizing the Exercise of Authority Under Public Law 85-804

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 75 (Friday, April 17, 2020)]

[Presidential Documents]

[Pages 21735-21736]

From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[FR Doc No: 2020-08394]

Presidential Documents

Federal Register / Vol. 85 , No. 75 / Friday, April 17, 2020 /

Presidential Documents

[[Page 21735]]

Memorandum of April 10, 2020

Authorizing the Exercise of Authority Under

Public Law 85-804

Memorandum for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs

By the authority vested in me as President by the

Constitution and the laws of the United States of

America, I hereby direct the following:

Section 1. On March 13, 2020, I declared a national

emergency recognizing the threat that the ongoing

outbreak of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel

(new) coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2 (``the virus''),

poses to the Nation's healthcare systems. I also

determined on the same day that the COVID-19 outbreak

constitutes an emergency, of nationwide scope, pursuant

to section 501(b) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster

Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C.

5191(b)). On March 18, 2020, I declared that health and

medical resources needed to respond to the spread of

COVID-19 meet the criteria specified in section 101(b)

of the Defense Production Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C.

4511(b)), including that they are essential to the

national defense.

e Act (42 U.S.C.

5191(b)). On March 18, 2020, I declared that health and

medical resources needed to respond to the spread of

COVID-19 meet the criteria specified in section 101(b)

of the Defense Production Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C.

4511(b)), including that they are essential to the

national defense.

Sec. 2. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is authorized

to exercise authority under Public Law 85-804, as

amended (50 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.), to the same extent

and subject to the same conditions and limitations as

the head of an executive department or agency listed in

section 21 of Executive Order 10789 of November 14,

1958 (Authorizing Agencies of the Government to

Exercise Certain Contracting Authority in Connection

with National-Defense Functions and Prescribing

Regulations Governing the Exercise of Such Authority),

as amended, with respect to contracts performed in

support of efforts by the Department of Veterans

Affairs to combat the virus. This authority may only be

exercised with regard to transactions directly

responsive to the COVID-19 national emergency.

Sec. 3. The Department of Veterans Affairs is

exercising functions in connection with the national

defense in the course of contributing to the Nation's

response to the ongoing outbreak of COVID-19. I deem

that the authorization provided in this memorandum and

actions taken pursuant to that authorization would

facilitate the national defense.

Sec. 4. This memorandum shall terminate on September

30, 2020.

the course of contributing to the Nation's

response to the ongoing outbreak of COVID-19. I deem

that the authorization provided in this memorandum and

actions taken pursuant to that authorization would

facilitate the national defense.

Sec. 4. This memorandum shall terminate on September

30, 2020.

Sec. 5. (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.

[[Page 21736]]

(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.

Sec. 6. You are authorized and directed to publish this

memorandum in the Federal Register.

(Presidential Sig.)

THE WHITE HOUSE,

Washington, April 10, 2020

[FR Doc. 2020-08394

Filed 4-16-20; 11:15 am]

Billing code 8320-01-P