Governors and local officials across the nation have signed various “stay-at-home” or “shelter-in-place” orders in an increased effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. These orders vary in their scope in the restricted activities and affected industries but they typically address: (1) continuing operations of critical businesses; (2) restrictions on non-essential businesses; (3) the activities individuals may continue to perform; and (4) other limitations on gatherings.
AFS is proactively reaching out and sending letters to states and local governments urging them to adopt and follow the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Guidance on Critical Infrastructure Sectors and Workforce (additional information below).
For information about states initiating work restrictions on businesses, see this website. Information here will be kept up to date.
CISA identifies 16 sectors considered to be “essential,” including critical manufacturing, defense, energy, transportation, and water systems. The DHS CISA guidance designated manufacturers to be an “essential industry,” so that manufacturers, including metalcasters and their respective supply chains (additional information at the bottom) can maintain their normal work schedules as a necessary response to the COVID-19 crisis.
The guidance is designed to help state and local officials as they work to protect their communities also ensures continuity of functions critical to public health and safety. AFS is pleased that several governors contacted have referenced this DHS CISA guidance in their state’s recent stay in place orders, including California, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Vermont, and Wisconsin.
In addition, AFS is working closely with foundry state organizations, AFS chapters, the National Association of Manufacturers, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and American Chemistry Council urging states that have not yet issued shelter in place directives to directly adopt the definition of “critical infrastructure” as defined by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a floor, and commit to keep these critical manufacturing facilities open across the nation. We believe reliance upon common standards as outlined in the DHS CISA guidance is critical at this time.
If you need information or have any questions on whether metalcasting and manufacturing has been deemed essential in your county or state, please contact Stephanie Salmon, AFS Washington Office, ssalmon@afsinc.org or 571-242-0186.
Additional information
DHS CISA identifies 16 critical infrastructure sectors “whose assets, systems, and networks, whether physical or virtual, are considered so vital to the United States that their incapacitation or destruction would have a debilitating effect on security, national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination thereof.” Presidential Policy Directive 21 (PPD-21) The following 16 critical infrastructure sectors include:: Chemical Sector; Commercial Facilities Sector; Communications Sector; Critical Manufacturing Sector; Dams Sector; Defense Industrial Base Sector; Emergency Services Sector; Energy Sector; Financial Services Sector; Food and Agriculture Sector; Government Facilities Sector; Healthcare and Public Health Sector; Information Technology Sector; Nuclear Reactors, Materials, and Waste Sector; Transportation Systems Sector; and the Water and Wastewater Systems Sector.
Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce – DHS CISA – Updated – March 23, 2020 - https://www.cisa.gov/publication/guidance-essential-critical-infrastructure-workforce