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COVID-19 Response Must Reflect Critical Infrastructure and Essential Business Guidance

Updated: Jun 17, 2020



(NABI News Release) | National Association of Beverage Importers, Inc. | Washington, DC


COVID-19 Response by the State Governors Must Reflect the Critical Infrastructure and Essential Business Guidance from the Cyberinfrastructure and Security Infrastructure Agency, DHS

As States move to "shelter in place" mandates, the Governors must decide on what is the critical infrastructure in her/his State and what are the essential businesses that facilitate and support that critical infrastructure. Transportation of goods both within the State and between the States need uniformity in the approach here.

NABI is a member of the Critical Infrastructure Supply Chain Council (CISCC) and joined more than 80 other trade associations in sending letters to the Governors of the States that had not yet adopted these uniform positions. The letter is below.

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Letter to Governors

Critical Infrastructure Supply Chain Council

April 3, 2020

Office of Governor _________________________

P.O. Box

State Capital

Governor __________________________ :

Thank you for your leadership as we face the COVID-19 virus and its impact throughout STATE. As representatives from manufacturing, importing, distribution, supply chain, and labor, we share your desire to ensure public health and safety. Our members are working hard to provide the products, manpower, and raw materials needed during this global pandemic, which is why we need your help to protect our workforce, their families and our communities.

We are writing to you and other Governors to respectfully request your proactive leadership in providing nationally uniform recognition of core critical infrastructure. Many states already adopted this common definition, which is based on guidance developed by the DHS Cyber and Infrastructure Security Agency. As you weigh what other measures you may take in the fight against COVID-19, this step will enable the smooth flow of essential products and services within your state and across state lines required to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and maintain public health and well-being in Texas.

Specifically, to the extent you have not already done so, we request that you issue appropriate directives to:

  • Adopt the definition of “critical infrastructure” as defined by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a floor (with additional critical infrastructure designations that the unique characteristics or needs of your state may warrant) and prohibit state and local authorities from impeding the lawful operation of business operations that supply, operate, distribute or are otherwise part of critical infrastructure.

  • Adopt as official state policy the guidance from the DHS Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to identify essential critical infrastructure workers during COVID-19 response.

  • Ensure no COVID-19 related requirements within your state impede the lawful transportation of critical infrastructure products or movement of critical infrastructure personnel.

  • Establish a central authority within your state to coordinate all state and localities to facilitate understanding and smooth adoption of your COVID-19 directives.

Our members are proud to support the ongoing national response to COVID-19 and are eager to work with you. We will continue to act responsibly and limit the spread of the virus at our facilities. We ask that those facilities, workforces and their supply chains continue to operate uninterrupted so that we may provide the strongest possible response for the American public.



Sincerely,

Adhesive and Sealant Council | Agricultural & Food Transporters Conference | Agricultural Retailers Association | American Bakers Association American Beverage Association | American Boiler Manufacturers Association American Chemistry Council | American Cleaning Institute American Coke and Coal Chemicals Institute | American Feed Industry Association | American Foundry Society | American Frozen Food Institute American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers | American Honey Producers Association | American Mold Builders Association | American Pet Products Association | American Seed Trade Association | American Spice Trade Association | American Sugar Alliance | American Supply Association | American Trucking Association Animal Health Institute | Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers Association | Association for Manufacturing Technology | Beer Institute | Business Roundtable | Can Manufacturers Institute | Compressed Gas Association | Consumer Brands Association | Consumer Healthcare Products Association | Corn Refiners Association | CropLife America Decorative Hardwoods Association Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. | EPS Industry Alliance | Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association | Flexible Packaging Association | Food Marketing Institute | Fragrance Creators Association | Household and Commercial Products Association | Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association | Independent Petroleum Association of America | Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries | Institute of Shortening and Edible Oils | International Bottled Water Association | International Dairy Foods Association | Livestock Marketing Association Missouri Forest Products Association National Association of Beverage Importers, Inc. | National Association of Chain Drug Stores | National Association of Chemical Distributors | National Association of Manufacturers | National Automatic Merchandising Association | National Chicken Council | National Confectioners Association | National Council of Farmer Cooperatives | National Grain and Feed Association | National Grocers Association | National Insulation Association | National Milk Producers Federation | National Oilseed Processors Association | National Pest Management Association | National Roofing Contractors Association | National Tank Truck Carriers | National Tooling and Machining Association | National Turkey Federation | National Wood Pallet & Container Association North American Building Trades Unions | North American Die Casting Association | North American Insulation Manufacturers Association | North American Meat Institute | North American Millers Association | North American Renderers Association | Pennsylvania Farm Bureau | Personal Care Products Council | Pet Food Institute Pet Industry Distributors Association | Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council | Plumbing Manufacturers International | Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association | Precision Machined Products Association | Precision Metalforming Association | PVC Pipe Association | Railway Tie Association | Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment | Rio Grande River Valley Sugar Growers | Single Ply Roofing Industry | SNAC International | Southern Crop Association | Structural Insulated Panel Association | Texas Citrus Mutual | Texas International Produce Association | Texas Sorghum Association | Treated Wood Council | United Fresh Produce Association | US Tire Manufacturers Association Vinyl Siding Institute | Waterways Council, Inc | Western Hardwood Association | Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America | Wood Component Manufacturers Association | World Pet Association

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