1、CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress INSIGHTINSIGHTi i Stafford Act Assistance for Public Health Incidents Updated March 22, 2021 This Insight provides a brief overview of presidential declarations under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (here
2、inafter the Stafford Act42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) in response to public health incidents. It also provides examples of previously issued Stafford Act declarations that address public health hazards, including the unprecedented declarations for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Overview
3、 The Stafford Act authorizes the President to issue two types of declarations that could provide federal assistance to states and localities in response to a public health incident: an “emergency declaration” or a “major disaster declaration.” Emergency Declarations An emergency is defined broadly,
4、and arguably may include public health incidents. The Stafford Act defines an emergency as Emergency declarations can be issued before an incident when a threat is detected (for example, before a hurricane makes landfall) to supplement and coordinate local and state, tribal, or territorial response
