I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6980 
To extend the period in which Governors of States may order members 
of the National Guard to active duty in connection with the Coronavirus 
Disease 2019 (COVID–19), and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 22, 2020 
Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire (for herself, Mr. PAPPAS, Mr. MCGOVERN, 
Ms. NORTON, Mr. HASTINGS, Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, Mrs. CAROLYN 
B. MALONEY of New York, Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER, Mr. SEAN PATRICK 
MALONEY of New York, Ms. UNDERWOOD, Ms. BONAMICI, Mr. RASKIN, 
Mr. KENNEDY, Mrs. DINGELL, Ms. ESHOO, Ms. WEXTON, Mr. ROUDA, 
Ms. SA´NCHEZ, Mr. BROWN
of Maryland, Mr. SCHNEIDER, Ms. 
VELA´ZQUEZ, Ms. SLOTKIN, Mr. KILMER, Mr. KILDEE, Mr. COHEN, Mr. 
TRONE, Ms. SEWELL of Alabama, Mr. RUSH, Ms. BROWNLEY of Cali-
fornia, Mr. CASTRO of Texas, Ms. MUCARSEL-POWELL, Mr. DANNY K. 
DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. WELCH, Ms. PINGREE, Ms. HOULAHAN, Mr. 
O’HALLERAN, Mr. CISNEROS, and Ms. CRAIG) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services 
A BILL 
To extend the period in which Governors of States may 
order members of the National Guard to active duty 
in connection with the Coronavirus Disease 2019 
(COVID–19), and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:37 Jun 14, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6980.IH
H6980
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Guard 
COVID–19 Response Stability Act’’. 
SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF PERIOD IN WHICH GOVERNORS OF 
STATES MAY ORDER MEMBERS OF THE NA-
TIONAL GUARD TO ACTIVE DUTY IN CONNEC-
TION 
WITH 
CORONAVIRUS 
DISEASE 
2019 
(COVID–19). 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The period in which the Governor 
of a State may order members of the National Guard to 
active duty under section 502(f) of title 32, United States 
Code, for duty in connection with the Coronavirus Disease 
2019 (COVID–19) public health emergency in accordance 
with, and in a manner covered by, the Memoranda on Pro-
viding Federal Support for Governors’ Use of the National 
Guard to Respond to COVID–19 shall extend through the 
date that is 30 days after the termination of that public 
health emergency. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘Coronavirus Disease 2019 
(COVID–19) public health emergency’’ means the 
public health emergency under section 319 of the 
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d) that 
was declared on January 31, 2020, and renewed on 
April 21, 2020, in connection with the Coronavirus 
Disease 2019 (COVID–19). 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:37 Jun 14, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6980.IH
H6980
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
(2) The term ‘‘Memoranda on Providing Fed-
eral Support for Governors’ Use of the National 
Guard to Respond to COVID–19’’ means the memo-
randa of the President on the provision of Federal 
support for Governors’ use of the National Guard to 
respond to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID– 
19), including such memoranda issued on March 22, 
March 28, March 30, April 2, April 7, April 13, 
April 20, April 28, and May 8, 2020, and any suc-
cessor memorandum. 
(3) The term ‘‘Governor of a State’’ means the 
following: 
(A) The Governor of a State or the Com-
monwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, or the Virgin 
Islands. 
(B) The commanding general of the Dis-
trict of Columbia National Guard. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:37 Jun 14, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H6980.IH
H6980
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS