[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 78 (Wednesday, April 22, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22515-22516]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-08441]
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DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS
Delegation of Authority
AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: On March 13, 2020, the President 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. On April 10,
2020, the President of the United States issued a Memorandum for the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs, ``Authorizing the Exercise of Authority
under Public Law 85-804.'' The Memorandum authorizes the Secretary to
exercise authority with respect to contracts performed in support of
efforts by the Department of Veterans Affairs to combat COVID-19. The
President authorized and directed the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
publish this memorandum in the Federal Register. The text of the
memorandum is set out below.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Signing Authority
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs approved this document and
authorized the undersigned to sign and submit the document to the
Office of the Federal Register for publication electronically as an
official document of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Pamela Powers,
Chief of Staff, Performing the Delegable Duties of the Deputy
Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs, approved this document on
April 16, 2020, for publication.
Jeffrey M. Martin,
Assistant Director, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, Office of
the Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs.
MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
SUBJECT: Authorizing the Exercise of Authority Under Public Law 85-804
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.
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.
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.
(c) This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any
right or benefit, substantive or procedural,
[[Page 22516]]
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.
DONALD J. TRUMP
[FR Doc. 2020-08441 Filed 4-21-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P