Wednesday, April 8, 2020

1600 Daily The White House • April 8, 2020 President Trump’s Message to America’s Big Banks

1600 Daily
The White House • April 8, 2020

President Trump’s message to America’s big banks


President Trump called on CEOs from America’s largest financial institutions to join him for a conference call yesterday. His message: Keep doing everything you can to support our nation’s small businesses during this pandemic.

“We’re grateful for the many ways in which your companies have answered the call to join our national endeavor,” he said. “Thank you for donating tens of millions of dollars.”

Millions of Americans are doing their part by staying home to slow the spread of Coronavirus. They deserve all the support they can get. On Friday, President Trump’s Small Business Administration launched the Paycheck Protection Program, which authorizes $350 billion in forgivable loans for companies that keep workers on payroll.

🎬 Ivanka Trump: “We’ll keep fighting for you.”

As of yesterday, the SBA has processed more than $70 billion in guaranteed loans for these qualifying small businesses. More loans are being approved every hour.

Small business owners have already told the SBA what this financial relief means for their companies and their workers:
  • “This is a game-changer for us. Our employees will be so excited to hear they will still be getting paychecks,” a coffee shop owner in North Carolina says.
     
  • “Because of this help, we can get through with a minimal amount of pain and suffering for something that wasn’t [our employees’] fault,” the owner of an A/C and heating installation service in Nebraska said.
     
  • “This SBA loan came at the perfect time, because I wouldn’t have been able to make payroll or mortgage,” said an auto repair center owner in Oklahoma.
     
  • “Now we can give back to the community in a meaningful way. Our espresso kiosks are giving away thousands of dollars in free coffee to frontline workers–first responders, health care workers, and law enforcement,” the owner of a drive-thru espresso business in Montana said.
America’s 30 million small businesses together employ more than 60 million people. Their survival is essential to our economy. Given the overwhelming success of the Paycheck Protection Program so far, President Trump is asking Congress for additional support to help these businesses and their workers.

🎬 President Trump: Share your stories with #AmericaWorksTogether

Photo of the Day

The Full Pink Moon, the largest full moon of 2020, rises above the White House | April 7, 2020

President Donald J. Trump Announces Additions to White House Staff

Office of the Press Secretary
President Donald J. Trump Announces Additions to White House Staff
Today, President Donald J. Trump announced the additions of Kayleigh McEnany and Alyssa Farah to the White House staff.  McEnany, currently the National Press Secretary for Donald J. Trump for President, will serve as the White House Press Secretary.  Farah is joining the White House as Director of Strategic Communications from her current role as Press Secretary for the Department of Defense.  In addition, Ben Williamson, currently Senior Advisor to the White House Chief, will work with McEnany and Farah as Senior Communications Advisor. 

Memorandum on Providing Federal Support for Governors' Use of the National Guard to Respond to COVID-19

Office of the Press Secretary

April 7, 2020
 

MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
               THE SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY

SUBJECT:       Providing Federal Support for Governors' Use of
               the National Guard to Respond to COVID-19


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.  Policy.  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.  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 Arizona, Colorado, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, Wisconsin, and West Virginia as they make decisions about the responses required to address local conditions in each of their respective jurisdictions 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:

     Sec2.  One Hundred Percent Federal Cost Share.  To maximize assistance to the Governors of the States of Arizona, Colorado, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, Wisconsin, and West Virginia 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.

     Sec3.  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 Arizona, Colorado, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, Wisconsin, and West Virginia 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.

     Sec4.  Termination.  The 100 percent Federal cost share for National Guard forces pursuant to this memorandum, and in my prior memoranda dated March 22, 28, and 30, 2020, and April 2, 2020, each titled "Providing Federal Support for Governors' Use of the National Guard to Respond to COVID-19," is effective for orders of duty of a duration of 31 days or fewer.  These orders of duty must be effective no later than 2 weeks from the date of this memorandum.

     Sec5.  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.

 


                              DONALD J. TRUMP