Maximum flexibility to use the guard against the virus without having to worry about costs or liability and freeing up state resources to protect the health and safety of the people in their state. The federal government has deployed hundreds of tons of supplies from our National Stockpile to locations with the greatest need. In order to assist in those areas, i approved the state of new yorks request for a major disaster declaration, something which Governor Cuomo has been asking for and which i agree, and we had it done in very rapid fashion. We approved this on friday evening and we are working very, very hard to get all of these things not only signed up, but completed and finished and win. The request from the state of washington for a major disaster declaration was approved just a little while ago. Went through the process, and we moved it very quickly. The request from the state of california was just received, and we will have it approved very quickly. Well be working. I told that to gavin newsom. And were working on getting that done very quickly. It will be done maybe tonight. We have large quantities of medical equipment and supplies on the way, based on all of this, to those states, including respirator respirators, surgical masks and gowns, face shields, coveralls and gloves with large quantities already delivered to washington and to new york. In addition to large quantities of supplies, i have also directed fema to supply the following four large federal medical stations with 1,000 beds for new york, eight large federal medical stations with 2,000 beds for california, and three large federal medical stations and four small federal medical stations with 1,000 beds for the state of washington. The governors know. The spliupplies en route to california and new york will be delivered within the next 48 hours. In addition, the Naval Hospital ship, the usns mercy its an incredible ship these two ships are incredible, one on the west coast, one on the east coast will be deployed to los angeles to add emergency surge medical capacity. And they have a tremendous capacity. They are really something. I will say that if you look at some of the things weve been doing, and now those numbers have gone up, and just to be a little bit more exacting weve done a president ial approval for request for major disaster declaration for the state of new york, approval of title 32 National Guard activation for the state of new york. Were providing all of this at no cost to the governor. I spoke with Governor Cuomo. Hes working hard. Were all working hard together. The relationship has really been amazing. But it also enables the governor to provide robust National Guard support to the state. And the 25 , were going to be waiving that 25 cost. Were picking up. Well be coordinating and theyll be doing something with very special people. Mission assignment of the u. S. Army corps of engineers to provide support to build out alternate care sites. Theyre doing various alternate care sites, which have now been designated by new york. Four large medical stations of 1,000 beds. These are very complex places, actually, with great equipment and great people. Strategic National Stockpile order, and this is as of a number of days ago, so far delivered to new york, and this is the 19th. We had the n95 respirators, 186,416, delivered. Weve delivered 444,000 o78 surgical masks. Many have been delivered since then. Face shields. Weve delivered 84,560 face shields. Surgical gowns, 68,944, to new york. Coveralls, 352. Gloves, 245,486. Also to new york, in terms of whats been delivered, just since then, the numbers are quite large, and we have tremendous numbers of companies also making equipment. For the state of washington, weve delivered 369,000 n95 respirators, 507,406 surgical mas masks. This is as of about three days ago. Face shields, 63,788 face shields. Surgical gowns, 107,850. Gloves, 240,376. And we have many, many things pending. Its actually not pending. Theyre being fabricated. Theyre being made. And theyre moving. Now, for washington so, we have four small federal medical stations, 250 beds. And for washington, state of washington, we have three large federal medical stations, 750 beds. And then you have, as i said, the approval of the title 32 National Guard. State of california, again, to be very precise, were going to have the approval of the title 32 National Guard activation, and were providing all of this, again, like in new york, at no cost to the governor, meaning Governor Newsom and the state, no cost to the state. It enables the governor to provide robust National Guard support to the state, so theyre going to have control of the National Guard. The federal governments sending these are incredible people that are being sent. We have eight large federal medical stations with over 2,000 beds, and thats going to california. And then strategic National Stockpile order, weve ordered, likewise, hundreds of thousands of different items. I wont go into the exact numbers, but the numbers are very substantial, but were having a tremendous additional number sent. And whatever the states can get, they should be getting. Id say were sort of a backup for the states. And some of the states are doing really well and some dont do as well. The ones that dont do as well need more help. But these are three states that really do need help because they are they are hit very hard. And the outpouring from the private seblgt sector has also extraordinary. Im pleased to announce that honeywell, Great Company, has announced it will immediately expand its personal protective equipment manufacture operations in rhode island to produce millions of additional n95 masks. Theyre very hard to get. Theyre actually quite complex. The u. S. Governments strategic National Stockpile. Theyll then be immediately delivered to the various states. This expansion is already under way and its going to provide a lot of jobs for that state, probably around 500. The masks will be deliberated by the government for the use of the health, safety, and emergency, and this for response workers, primarily for response workers. These are very high end. This expansion is in addition to honeywells action, to more than double production of its existing personal protective Equipment Manufacturing plants. They make a lot of different things, and theyre doubling and tripling their production. Theyre going around the clock. Today im also announcing the launch of a new publicprivate consortium organized by the white house. The department of energy and ibm, to unleash the power of american superComputing Resources to fight the chinese virus. The following leaders from private industries, academia, and government will be contributing, and theyre going to be contributing a lot of different things, but primarily Computing Resources to help researchers discover new treatments and vaccines. Theyll be working along with nih and all of the people that are working on this. But tremendous help from ibm, amazon, google, microsoft, m. I. T. , rensselaer polytechnic institute, the department of energys National Labor laboratories, the National Science foundation and nasa. Theyre all contributing to this effort, and theyre fully in gear. This afternoon i also want to update you on the steps were taking to protect and serve our countrys 18 million veterans. These are great people. Our amazing veterans have shown their eternal loyalty to our nation, and this is a time where theyre in need, and were going to show our loyalty to them. Were being very protective of our veterans. Were working on certain hospitals where we may be doing some work in louisiana in particular and some other states, veterans hospitals. Were going to be very protective of our veterans. Some of them are of that very vulnerable age, and some of them, obviously, are not feeling very well. And some of them are still suffering the wounds of war from many years ago. Yesterday i signed vital legislation to ensure that the gi bill will cover Distance Learning during this emergency. I also spoke with many of our veteran Service Organizations who are the vsos, to describe our unprecedented action. In february, the department of Veterans Affairs established 19 Emergency Operation centers throughout the country. One of the things that theyve been trying to get done for many years you all know this from following me over the last number of years, but we got it done pretty quickly. Theyve been trying to get it done for many, many decades, was choice, veterans choice, and also veterans accountability. Now, if its crowded within this if they cant get to a doctor we have great doctors in the va. I have to say that. We have fantastic doctors, as good as they come, but its hard to get to them because of what was bureaucracy but no longer bureaucracy. Weve done a lot of things in that case because of accountability. When people arent doing their jobs, or if theyre bad or if theyre sadistic or if they steal or anything bad happens, were now allowed to fire them for i signed that a year and a half ago for many years you werent able to do that. So, the va is working, and i was just told by our great leader at the va, Robert Wilkie he said, for the first time, get the highest marks highest poll numbers in the history of the veterans administration. It came out a week ago, that theyre happy. And look, one of the reasons that happened highest in history. One of the reasons that happened is because of veterans choice. If they have to wait in line, they go see a private doctor, we pay the bill, and they get better. They dont have to wait two weeks and three weeks or two days, but they get better. And a lot of times, they waited so long that they would have a problem and it would end up being terminal because they couldnt get the kind of treatment that they deserve. So, highest poll numbers, highest approval numbers in the history of the va. I was just given that information yesterday. We restricted visitors access to 135 veteran Community Living centers, which house nearly 8,000 veterans with chronic medical conditions so that we limit their exposure to the virus. We want to totally take care of our veterans. And thats what were doing. The va has canceled most elective medical and surgical procedures. Theyre delaying them until after this is gone, after weve won. We began providing lifesaving care to patients who had symptoms across the 171 Va Medical Centers nationwide. Thats a big deal. Under my administration, the va has also been a leader in expanding telehealth. Telehealth is becoming a bigger and bigger factor in medicine. This month we have taken bold action to cut through the red tape and make telehealth available for millions more americans during this crisis. They can speak to a doctor from the safety of their home, rather than risk becoming infected or making a tremendously long trip, when, frankly, youll speak to a great doctor right from your home. Its happening, telehealth. Were very much at the forefront of that, too. Were very proud of it. And it also takes a big burden off our system. We continue to accelerate the development of safe and effective vaccines. Were also aggressively investigating a number of antiviral therapies and treatments to determine their potential in reducing the severity and duration of the symptoms. And you know how i feel, because how i feel is on tuesday, theyre going to be starting it on tuesday morning, and were going to have some medications delivered that, were going to see if they work. They certainly are effective in other ways, and they are safe from the standpoint is that theyre not killing people. Were not going to have that. So, a lot of great things have been happening in that regard. I just want to finish, and then were going to ask a couple of people to say a few words that have been so much in the forefront of this incredible job that weve all been given. But i want to say that i know that this is a challenging time for all americans. Were enduring a Great National trial, and we will prove that we can meet the moment. I want to ensure the American People that were doing everything we can each day to confront and ultimately defeat this horrible, incredible enemy. Were at war, in a true sense, were at war, and were fighting an incredible visible enemy. Think of that. For those of you feeling alone and isolated, i want you to know that were all joined together as one people, internally linked by our shared national spirit. We love our country. The spirit of courage and love and patriotism. No american is alone, as long as we are united, and we are united. Were very united. People are saying things now that three weeks ago, they didnt talk that way. Were very united. No force is equal to the strength of really a unified america, united america, an american like we have it right now. For those worried and afraid, please know, as long as i am your president , you can feel confident that you have a leader who will always fight for you, and i will not stop until we win. This will be a great victory. This is going to be a victory. And its going to be a victory that, in my opinion, will happen much sooner than originally expected. Its now attacking. The enemy is attacking 144 countries at this moment. 144. Thats unthinkable. Theres never been anything like this. And its vicious. It is vicious. Some people recover well and some people have a hard time. We all know that. But we will be totally victorious. We will then get our economy up to a level that it was, and in my opinion, beyond, because that will be a pentup demand. There is a pentup demand. And a lot of great things will happen. But im very proud of our country. Im very proud. Im very proud to be your president. And its just something thats just youre very special people. So, thank you very, very much. And im going to ask, if i might, a combination of, pete, why dont you start off, okay . Please. Thank you, mr. President. Thank you. Just a little bit about what were doing in washington, california, and new york. We understand that the states of washington, new york, and california, are seeing a steady increase in covid19 virus cases. In order to assist for Additional Needs in those areas, the state of new york was approved for a major disaster and declaration this morning. Washington state was also approved earlier today. California submitted their request and the president will consider it immediately. We have medical supplies en route to these states, including respirators, surgical masks, gowns, face shield, coveralls, gloves, with quantities already delivered to both washington, new york, and california. And we anticipate additional supplies to be delivered within the next 42 hours to all these states. Under President Trumps unprecedented National Emergency declaration on march 13, fema is assisting state, local, tribal and territorial governments, including reimbursing eligible emergency protective measures taken at the direction or guidance of Public Health officials in response to this emergency. All 50 states, the district of columbia, five territories, and two tribes, are working directly with fema under the nationwide Emergency Declaration for covid19. With the assistance of the fema regional administrators who are throughout the country, we are working to address the needs of state and local officials everywhere. States, tribal, and territorial governments do not need to request separate Emergency Declarations to receive fema assistance under this nationwide declaration. The Emergency Declaration does not authorize direct Financial Assistance available to individuals, such as Disaster Unemployment assistance or other needs assistance at this time. Just a note on the usns mercy. Based on analysis of a potential need for hospital beds on the west coast, the decision was made that the usns hospital ship mercy would have the greatest impact in california. The department of defense has been given direction to dispatch it to los angeles immediately. Its been advised that mercy can get into position within a week or less of todays order. Even though there are more cases right now in washington, the projected needs for beds in california is five times more that of washington. The mercy will be used to take pressure off local hospitals, other medical needs and not for treating covid19 cases. And finally, a little bit about the National Guard. The federal government continues to take aggressive action and proactive steps to address the covid19 threat, as we attack the health and safety or protect the health and safety of the American People. That remains our top priority. The National Guard is especially postured and equipped to assist federal, state and local agencies while serving the public. In response to this unprecedented, nationwide operation, President Trump has approved washington, california and new york National Guard units under title 32 status for the covid19 response. The president s action provide the nations governors continued command of the National Guard forces, enabling states to use Additional Resources to meet the missions necessary in the covid19 response. The National Guard is a viable and resp