Public Health and Disaster Response Task Force

Federal Priorities

• Ensure Governors are consulted, and their gubernatorial authorities are maintained, in the areas of defense, homeland security, emergency management, health, and human services, including those outlined in U.S.C. Title 10 and 32 pertaining to National Guard readiness and structure;
• Advocate for flexibility and support for a robust health and human service system including safety net programs, such as Medicaid and SNAP, and oppose shifting essential federal funding obligations to states and territories without adequate planning;
• Ensure the National Guard is equipped with sufficient resources and capabilities to fully recruit and man a force ready to support domestic emergencies and fulfill its role as the operational reserve for national security missions;
• Enhance emergency response and disaster recovery by ensuring federal programs, such as Disaster Relief Fund, National Flood Insurance, and Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery, are sufficient, adaptable, and streamlined to meet the diverse needs of states and territories, and easier to navigate for individuals, businesses, and all levels of governments;
• Strengthen preparedness efforts by fostering both inter-state and federal-state collaborations to maintain resilient supply chains and stockpiles for critical infrastructure before, during, and after emergencies;
• Support federal initiatives that provide tools and flexibility to states and territories to ensure safe communities for all Americans in areas such as malicious unmanned aircraft systems, cyberattacks, border security, trafficking, substance use disorder, justice-involved re-integration, crisis response systems, and comprehensive safety measures.

Examining the Current Status and Anticipated Plans for Borders and Ports of Entry

At the 2025 National Governors Association Winter Meeting, Public Health and Disaster Response Task Force Co-Chairs Hawai`i Governor Josh Green and Vermont Governor Phil Scott led a discussion on “Examining the Current Status and Anticipated Plans for Borders and Ports of Entry.” Joining Governors were Major General Win Burkett, Director of Operations, National Guard Bureau; David BeMiller, Deputy Chief, U.S. Border Patrol; and Selwyn Smith, Deputy Assistant Director​, Homeland Security Investigations​.