Obama Establishes Council of Governors Via Executive Order: “Synchronization and Integration of State and Federal Military Activities in the United States”

January 12th, 2010

How many FEMA regions are there? You guessed it: 10.

Now, from the text of the executive order, “The Council shall consist of 10 State Governors appointed by the President.”

Here are some other interesting bits:

Sec. 2. Functions. The Council shall meet at the call of the Secretary of Defense or the Co-Chairs of the Council to exchange views, information, or advice with the Secretary of Defense; the Secretary of Homeland Security; the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism; the Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement; the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Americas’ Security Affairs; the Commander, United States Northern Command; the Chief, National Guard Bureau; the Commandant of the Coast Guard; and other appropriate officials of the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense, and appropriate officials of other executive departments or agencies as may be designated by the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of Homeland Security. Such views, information, or advice shall concern:

(a) matters involving the National Guard of the various States;

(b) homeland defense;

(c) civil support;

(d) synchronization and integration of State and Federal military activities in the United States; and

(e) other matters of mutual interest pertaining to National Guard, homeland defense, and civil support activities.

Via: whitehouse.gov:

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
January 11, 2010
President Obama Signs Executive Order Establishing Council of Governors

Executive Order will Strengthen Further Partnership Between the Federal and State and Local Governments to Better Protect Our Nation

The President today signed an Executive Order (attached) establishing a Council of Governors to strengthen further the partnership between the Federal Government and State Governments to protect our Nation against all types of hazards. When appointed, the Council will be reviewing such matters as involving the National Guard of the various States; homeland defense; civil support; synchronization and integration of State and Federal military activities in the United States; and other matters of mutual interest pertaining to National Guard, homeland defense, and civil support activities.

The bipartisan Council will be composed of ten State Governors who will be selected by the President to serve two year terms. In selecting the Governors to the Council, the White House will solicit input from Governors and Governors’ associations. Once chosen, the Council will have no more than five members from the same party and represent the Nation as a whole.

Federal members of the Council include the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, the Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Americas’ Security Affairs, the U.S. Northern Command Commander, the Commandant of the Coast Guard, and the Chief of the National Guard Bureau. The Secretary of Defense will designate an Executive Director for the Council.

The Council of Governors will provide an invaluable Senior Administration forum for exchanging views with State and local officials on strengthening our National resilience and the homeland defense and civil support challenges facing our Nation today and in the future.

The formation of the Council of Governors was required by the Fiscal Year 2008 National Defense Authorization Act which stated, “The President shall establish a bipartisan Council of Governors to advise the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the White House Homeland Security Council on matters related to the National Guard and civil support missions.” (NDAA FY2008, Sec 1822)

5 Responses to “Obama Establishes Council of Governors Via Executive Order: “Synchronization and Integration of State and Federal Military Activities in the United States””

  1. williamspd says:

    OK, any US experts care to translate this for an interested foreign national? How do you envisage these greater powers being put to use?

  2. Zuma says:

    The deliberate fomenting of insurrection [by the US government] apparently won’t work, not due to apathy I believe, but that people aren’t taking the bait (subconsciously?). It’s been a year now since this:
    http://www.alternet.org/rights/101958
    the First Brigade of the Third Infantry Division, three to four thousand soldiers, has been deployed in the United States as of October 1
    -How many troops are in that division *now* i wonder…

    This endrun around states rights (which is what it amounts to for me) somehow surprises me a bit and yet doesn’t. Then again one could say likewise for the whole past ten years, sure enough.

    What next? Mandatory loyalty oaths? Or god help us, an executive order for mandatory insurrection? It’s gotten that ridiculous, that blatant.

    One can speculate much:
    China’s bill will come further due and foreign oil won’t be enough. The repo man will surely come. Behind our seeming stupidity is their slyness.
    http://www.smh.com.au/world/the-time-for-waiting-is-over-china-has-taken-its-great-political-leap-forward-20091221-la21.html

    One can speculate much entirely. For as much as is not speculation, there is a hugely growing other shoe to yet drop, and I don’t think it’ll be military in nature so much as capitalistic, on a level scarcely conceivable. Scarcely recognizable even.

    …I’d been extecting the internet plug to get pulled for a few years now. No longer do I believe that will happen. Not by the US. More likely, the repo man will do that, if at all.

    Speculation’s cheap.

    Meanwhile, a seeming capitalistic opportunity continues to grow. and the speculators in *it* remain under cover… Hiding in plain sight? Sly.

    Frankly, I think it’ll all work out. It’ll just take 120 years or more. I can’t imagine what my perspective -or my speculations -would be if I had children.

    ***

    States rights in the US have never been so highlighted -even in the Civil War -as they are now that they’re effectively dead. R.I.P.

    Just like rights of the individual.

  3. Dennis says:

    Hi Kevin,
    I’m curious about why you place significance o there being 10 regions?

  4. Kevin says:

    @Dennis

    See this FEMA map:

    http://gohsep.la.gov/femarelated/FEMARegMap.htm

    Ten regions.

    And this if from the executive order:

    http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/2010executive_order.pdf

    Section 1. Council of Governors.

    (a) There is established a Council of Governors (Council). The Council shall consist of 10 State Governors appointed by the President…

    Ten governors.

    Will each of the governors come from each of the FEMA regions?

    I don’t know. We’ll have to wait and see.

  5. Zuma says:

    http://thinkingshift.wordpress.com/tag/posse-comitatus/

    Well, there’s a piece of US legislation I’m a tad concerned about. Representive, Alcee L. Hastings, D-Fla., (wasn’t this dude impeached?) has introduced to the House of Representatives a new bill, H.R. 645 – National Emergency Centers Establishment Act – which calls for the Department of Homeland Security to establish no fewer than six national emergency centres on military installations. These centres will be FEMA camp facilities on military installations. Let’s pause for a moment – why are national emergency centres being built on MILITARY installations??

    http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-645

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