Public Health and Disaster Response Task Force

Federal Priorities

• Ensure the National Guard has the resources and authorities necessary to serve as an operational force to respond to domestic emergencies;
• Secure appropriate resources for states and territories to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters;
• Strengthen federal, state, territorial, local and private sector partnerships to enhance cybersecurity;
• Advocate on behalf of states and territories for adequate resources and guidance during the unwinding of the COVID-19 emergency declarations;
• PREVENT Pandemics Act implementation and Bipartisan Safer Communities Act implementation (provide guidance on implementation, including fair and appropriate use of funding);
• Improve the supply chain infrastructure; and
• Work with the U.S. Congress and the Administration on addressing telehealth, mental health, substance use, health care workforce, health care infrastructure, equity, human services issues, and nutrition.

Task Force Letter on FY 2023 Appropriations

Preparing For Potential Energy Disruptions

At the 2023 NGA Winter Meeting, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont and Vermont Governor Phil Scott, Co-chairs of the Public Health and Disaster Response Task Force, hosted a discussion on how Governors can prepare their states and territories for potential largescale, sustained energy disruptions, through leveraging federal resources available to build resiliency, establish best practices and strengthen response efforts. The session featured conversations with: Jason Bordoff, Founding Director, Center for Global Energy Policy, Columbia University; Allison Clements, Commissioner, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; and Puesh Kumar, Director, Office of Cybersecurity, U.S. Department of Energy.

Learn More and Watch the Full Session