Joint resolution authorizing the District of Columbia to enter into interstate civil-defense compacts
PL 83-343 (S.J.Res.63), enacted 04/22/1954

68 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 343-APR- 22, 1954 
Whereas these games will afford an opportunity of bringing together 
young men and women representing more than seventy nations, of 
many races, creeds, and stations in life and possessing various habits 
and customs, all bound by the uniAersal appeal of friendly athletic 
competition, governed by rules of sportsmanship and dedicated to 
the principle that the important thing is for each and every partici-
pant to do his very best to win in a manner that will reflect credit 
upon himself or herself, and the country represented; and 
Whereas the peoples of the Avorld in these trying times require above 
all else occasions for friendshm and understanding, and among the 
most telling things which influence people of other countries are 
the acts of individuals and not those of governments; and 
Whereas experiences afforded by the 01ymi:)ic and Pan American 
Games make a unique contribution to common understanding and 
mutual respect among all peoples; and 
Whereas previous Olympic and Pan American Games have proved 
that competitoi-s and spectators alike haA'e been imbued with ideals 
of friendship, chivalry, and comradeship and impressed with the 
fact that accomplishment is reward in itself; and 
Wliereas the United States Olympic Association is presently engaged 
in assuring maximum support for the teams representing the United 
States at Mexico City, Melbourne, and Cortina d'Ampezzo; and 
Whereas a day set aside by this Nation for a rededication to the ama-
teur ideal could accomplish great good in encouraging good will 
for these games: Therefore be it 
Resolved hy the Senate and House of Refresentatives 
of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, Tliat the President of the 
United States is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation 
designating the 16th of October 1954 as National Olympic Day and 
urging all citizens of our country to do all in their power to support 
the XVIth Olympic Games, the Winter Games to be held in 1956, and 
the Pan American Games to be held in 1955, and to insure that the 
United States Avill be fully and adequately represented in these games. 
Approved April 22, 1954. 
National 01 y m-
pic Day, 1954. 
Public Law 343 
CHAPTER 172 
JOINT RESOLUTION 
Authorizing the District of Columbia to enter into interstate civil-defense 
conipat'ts. 
April 22, 1954 
[S. J. Res. 63] 
Whereas several States have heretofore entered into interstate civil 
defense comjiacts with other States in form substantiallj' as follows: 
"IXTEKSTATE CiVIL D E F E X S E AXD DISASTER CoMPACT 
"The contracting States solemnly agree : 
"Article 1. The purpose of this comijact is to provide mutual aid 
among the States in meeting any emergency or disaster from enemy 
attack or other cause (natural or otherwise) including sabotage and 
subversive acts and direct attacks by bombs, shellfire, and atomic, 
radiological, chemical, bacteriological mertns, and other weapons. 
The prompt, full, and effective utilization of the resources of the 
respective States, including such resources as may be available from 
the United States Government or any other source, are essential to 
the safety, care, and Avelfare of the people thereof in the event of 
enemy action or other emergency, and any other resources, including 
j)ersonnel, equipment, or supplies, shall be incorporated into a ])lan 
60 
PUBLIC LAW 343-APR. 22, 1954 
[68 ST 
A T . 
or plans of mutual aid to be developed among the civil-defense 
agencies or similar bodies of the States that are ])arties hereto. 
The 
Directors of Civil Defense of all i)arty States shall constitute a com-
mittee to formulate plans and take all necessary steps for the im-
plementation of this compact. 
"Article 2. It shall be the duty of each party State to formulate 
civil defense plans and programs for application within such State. 
There shall be frequent consultation between the representatives 
of the States and with the United States Government and the free 
exchange of information and plans, including inventories of any 
material and equii)ment available for civil defense. 
In carrying out 
such civil-defense plans and programs the party States shall so far 
as possible provide and folloAv uniform standards, practices, and 
rules and regulations including— 
"(a) Insignia, arm bands, and any other distinctive articles to 
designate and distinguish the different civil-defense services; 
"(b) Blackouts and practice blackouts, air-raid drills, mobiliza-
tion of civil-defense forces, and other tests and exercises; 
"(c) Warnings and signals for drills or attacks and the mechan-
ical devices to be used in connection therewith; 
"(d) The effective screening or extinguishing of all lights and 
lighting devices and appliances; 
"(e) Shutting off water mains, gas mains, electric power connec-
tions, and the suspension of all other utility services; 
"(f) All materials or equipment used or to be used for civil-de-
fense purposes in order to assure that such materials and equipment 
will be easily and freely interchangeable when used in or by any 
other party State; 
"(g) The conduct of civilians and the movement and cessation of 
movement of pedestrians and vehicular traffic, prior, during, and 
subsequent to drills or attacks; 
" (h) The safety of public meetings or gatherings; and 
"(i) Mobile support units. 
"Article 3. Any party State requested to render mutual aid shall 
take such action as is necessary to provide and make available the 
resources covered by this compact in accordance with the terms 
hereof; provided, that it is understood that the State rendering aid 
may withhold resources to the extent necessary to provide reasonable 
protection for such State. 
Each party State shall extend to the 
civil-defense forces of any other party State, while operating within 
its State limits under the terms and conditions of this compact, the 
same powers (except that of arrest unless specifically authorized by 
the receiving State), duties, rights, privileges, and immunities as 
if they were performing their duties in the State in which normally 
employed or rendering services. 
Civil-defense forces will continue 
under the command and control of their regular leaders but the 
organizational units will come under the operational control of the 
civil-defense authorities of the State receiving assistance. 
"Article 4. Whenever any person holds a license, certificate, or 
other permit issued by any State evidencing the meeting of qualifica-
tions for professional, mechanical, or other skills, such person may 
render aid involving such skill in any party State to meet an emer-
gency or disaster and such State shall give due recognition to such 
license, certificate, or other permit as if issued in the State in which 
aid is rendered. 
"Article 5. No party State or its officers or employees rendering 
aid in another State pursuant to this compact shall be liable on ac-
count of any act or omission in good faith on the part of such forces 
while so engaged, or on account of the maintenance or use of any 
equipment or supplies in connection therewith. 
68 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 343-APR. 22, 1954 
"Article 6. Inasmuch as it is probable that the pattern and detail 
of the machinery for mutual aid among two or more States may dif-
fer from that appropriate among other States party hereto, this 
instrument contains elements of a broad base common to all States, 
and nothing herein contained shall preclude any State from enter-
ing into supplementary agreements with another State or States. 
Such supplementary agreements may comprehend, but shall not be 
limited to, provisions for evacuation and reception of injured and 
other persons, and the exchange of medical, fire, police, public utility, 
reconnaissance, welfare, transportation, and communications per-
sonnel, equipment, and supplies. 
"Article 7. Each party State shall provide for the payment of 
compensation and death benefits to injured members of the civil-
defense forces of that State and the representatives of deceased 
members of such forces in case such members sustain injuries or are 
killed while rendering aid pursuant to this compact, in the same 
manner and on the same terms as if the injury or death were sus-
tained within such State. 
"Article 8. Any party State rendering aid in another State pur-
suant to this compact shall be reimbursed by the party State receiv-
ing such aid for any loss or damage to, or expense incurred in the 
operation of, any equipment answering a request for aid and for the 
cost incurred in connection with such requests; provided, that any 
aiding party State may assume in whole or in part such loss, damage, 
expense, or other cost, or may loan such equipment or donate such 
services to the receiving party State without charge or cost; and pro-
vided further, that any two or more party States may enter into sup-
plementary agreements establishing a different allocation of costs as 
among those States. The United States Government may relieve 
the party State receiving aid from any liability and reimburse the 
party State supplying civil-defense forces for the compensation paid 
to and the transportation, subsistence, and maintenance expenses 
of such forces during the time of the rendition of such aid or as-
sistance outside the State and may also pay fair and reasonable 
compensation for the use or utilization of the supplies, materials, 
equipment, or facilities so utilized or consumed. 
"Article 9. Plans for the orderly evacuation and reception of the 
civilian population as the result of an emergency or disaster shall be 
worked out from time to time between representatives of the party 
States and the various local civil-defense areas thereof. 
Such plans 
shall include the manner of transporting such evacuees, the num-
ber of evacuees to be received in different areas, the manner in which 
food, clothing, housing, and medical care will be provided, the regis-
tration of the evacuees, the providing of facilities for the notification 
of relatives or friends, and the forwarding of such evacuees to other 
areas or the bringing in of additional materials, supplies, and all 
other relevant factors. 
Such plans shall provide that tlie party 
State receiving evacuees shall be reimbursed generally for the out-
of-pocket expenses incurred in receiving and caring for such 
evacuees, for expenditures for transportation, food, clothing, medi-
cines, and medical care and like items. Sucli expenditures shall 
be reimbursed by the party State of which the evacuees are residents, 
or by the United States Government under plans approved by it. 
After the termination of the emergency or disaster the party State 
of which the evacuees are resident shall assume the responsibility 
for the ultimate support or repatriation of such evacuees. 
"Article 10. This compact shall be available to any State, terri-
tory, or possession of the United States, and the District of Colum-
bia. 
The term 'State' may also include any neighboring foreign 
country or province or state thereof. 
62 
PUBLIC LAW 343-APR. 22, 1954 
[68 ST A T . 
"Article 11. The committee establislied pursuant to Article 1 of 
this compact may request the Civil Defense Agency of the United 
States Government to act as an informational and coordinating body 
under this compact, and representatives of such agency of the 
United States Government may attend meetings of such committee. 
"Article 12. This compact shall become operative immediately 
upon its ratification by anj" State as between it and any other State 
or States so ratifying and shall be subject to approval by Congress 
unless prior Congressional approval has been given. Duly authen-
ticated copies of this compact and of such supplementary agree-
ments as may be entered into shall, at the time of their approval, be 
deposited with each of the party States and with the Civil Defense 
Agency and other appropriate agencies of the United States Gov-
ernment. 
"Article 13. This compact shall continue in force and remain bind-
ing on each party State until the legislature or the Governor of such 
party State takes action to withdraw therefrom. 
Such action shall 
not be effective until 30 days after notice thereof has been sent 
by the Governor of the party State desiring to withdraw to the Gov-
ernors of all other party States. 
"Article 14. This compact shall be construed to effectuate the pur-
poses stated in Article 1 hereof. 
If any provision of this compact 
is declared unconstitutional, or the applicability thereof to any per-
son or circumstance is held invalid, the constitutionality of the 
remainder of this compact and the applicability thereof to other 
persons and circumstances shall not be affected thereby."; and 
Whereas the District of Columbia has been requested by several of the 
States to enter into such compacts with such States; and 
Whereas the Commissioners of the District of Columbia are without 
authority to enter into such compacts: Therefore be it 
Resolved hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the TJiiited 
lumwl'^*^* °' ^ ° ' ^^^^^^ of America in Congress asse^nhled, That the Commissioners of 
the District of Columbia are authorized to enter into and execute on 
behalf of the District of Columbia interstate civil-defense compacts 
with the States, substantially in the form set forth in the preamble of 
this Act. The form of compact set forth in the preamble of this Act 
may include, in lieu of the second sentence of article 3 thereof, the 
following: "Each party State shall extend to the civil-defense forces 
of any other party State, while operating within its State limits under 
the terms and conditions of this compact, the same powers (except that 
of arrest unless specifically authorized by the receiving State), duties, 
rights, privileges, and immunities as are extended to the civil-defense 
forces of such State." 
SEC. 2. Notwithstanding the provisions of the Federal Civil Defense 
5ous^app.l225i "^^^ ^f 1950, the consent of Congress is hereby granted to each com-
note. 
pact entered into by the District of Columbia with any State pursuant 
to the provisions of this Act. 
SEC. 3. Whenever any such compact becomes operative by ratification 
of the parties thereto, such compact shall have the force and effect of 
law. 
SEC. 4. As used in this Act the word "State" includes the Territories 
and possessions of the United States and the District of Columbia 
and with respect to the District of Columbia the word "Governor" 
means the Commissioners of the District of Columbia. 
Approved April 22, 1954. 
Civil- d e f e n s e 
contacts.