WASHINGTON—The nation's governors will gather in Washington, D.C., later this month for the 2009 National Governors Association (NGA) Winter Meeting.

Beginning Saturday, Feb. 21, a bipartisan group of governors from the U.S. states, commonwealths and territories will come together for three days of meetings at the J.W. Marriott Hotel. Nearly 50 governors are expected to participate in the meeting, which will include sessions with the President, members of his Cabinet, congressional members, academic leaders, business executives and other experts for discussions on a host of issues and challenges facing states.

Rebuilding, repairing and maintaining a national infrastructure system that supports America's economic competitiveness, facilitates economic growth and is environmentally sustainable will be the key topic on the governors' meeting agenda this year. In addition, governors will examine recent trends and conditions in the states related to the economy, with emphasis on foreclosure mitigation efforts, and they will explore strategies to increase the skills and competitiveness of the American workforce, health care reform and the role of energy infrastructure in the 21^st century economy during four standing committee sessions: Economic Development and Commerce; Education, Early Childhood and Workforce; Health and Human Services; and Natural Resources. All four committees will meet Sunday, Feb. 22.

Saturday's opening plenary session will provide an overview of NGA Chair Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell's Strengthening Our Infrastructure for a Sustainable Future initiative. During the plenary, Dr. Frank Luntz, CEO of the Word Doctors, will present findings of a recent national poll targeting Americans' attitudes around infrastructure investment. Keynote addresses will be given by T. Boone Pickens, founder and chairman of BP Capital Management, who will discuss his plan for reducing America's dependence on foreign oil through new infrastructure investments, and by John W. Rowe, chairman and chief executive of Exelon Corporation, who will offer the utility sector perspective on energy infrastructure investment in the context of efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Later on Saturday, the NGA meeting will provide the backdrop for a very special event, the Miller Center Discussion and Debate about Infrastructure. Modeled on Oxford-style debates, the Miller Center National Debate series looks at issues surrounding America's role in the world, its responsibility to its citizens and the way its policies fulfill its founding principles. The topic for this debate will focus on balancing a federal infrastructure policy with energy, environmental and economic priorities. Robert MacNeil, former co-anchor of the MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour, will moderate. Panelists include Gov. Rendell; California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger; Douglas Foy, president of DIF Enterprises; and JayEtta Hecker, Senior Fellow, The Bipartisan Policy Center. The last half hour of debate will be question and answer session among all governors. The debate will be webcast live at www.millercenter.org/debates.

On Sunday afternoon, governors will hold a special session dedicated to infrastructure financing, accountability and sustainability. During the session, Bruce Katz, vice president and director of the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution, will offer insights into the challenges states face in developing and managing transportation infrastructure, while former U.S. Ambassador Felix Rohatyn, currently the president of FGR Associates LLC, will share ideas for how states can align multiple funding streams to better leverage capital expenditures. Throughout the meeting, several "Governors-Only" sessions will provide governors the opportunity for candid dialogue on enhancing and investing in our nation's infrastructure.

On Sunday night, governors and their spouses will travel to the White House for a black-tie evening with President and Mrs. Obama. The following day, governors will return to the White House for meetings with the President and members of his Cabinet regarding many of the critical issues topping the legislative agenda during the current Congress.

The Winter Meeting will conclude Monday afternoon, Feb. 23, with a plenary session focusing on international infrastructure best practices. Dr. Robert Atkinson, president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, will discuss approaches other nations are taking to fund and finance transportation. A representative from the Danish government also will be on hand to share Denmark's experience with transportation infrastructure, including its success in integrating rail into the national transportation system.

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Founded in 1908, the National Governors Association (NGA) is the collective voice of the nation's governors and one of Washington, D.C.'s most respected public policy organizations. Its members are the governors of the 50 states, three territories and two commonwealths. NGA provides governors and their senior staff members with services that range from representing states on Capitol Hill and before the Administration on key federal issues to developing and implementing innovative solutions to public policy challenges through the NGA Center for Best Practices. For more information, visit www.nga.org.