Gov. Hogan, National Governors Association call for immediate action on coronavirus

ANNAPOLIS — Gov. Larry Hogan and the National Governors Association is calling on the Trump administration to take immediate action on five areas related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Hogan, who chairs the NGA, issued the following statement Monday:

"First, we continue to call on the administration to extend the public health emergency, which is set to expire this Saturday, July 25.

"Second, more than half of governors have already requested an extension of Title 32 authorization past the current expiration date of Aug. 21. The National Guard remains a critical part of our public health response.

"Third, we are pressing for a 30-day delay of any changes to new hospital reporting requirements, which impose an undue burden on hospitals and state health departments. To demand these changes be made in a matter of 48 hours is unreasonable, and threatening to jeopardize life-saving supplies of remdesivir for not complying is unconscionable.

"Fourth, the nation's governors and education leaders have appealed to Congress for education funding that prioritizes both learning and safety. We are specifically calling on Congress to prohibit any conditions being placed on relief funding that would mandate specific models of K-12 or higher education reopenings.

"Lastly, and most importantly, we continue to stress the need for Congress to pass a coronavirus relief package that provides the funding desperately needed by state and local governments. Millions of state and local government jobs depend on this aid."