National Governors Association

Committees:

Executive Committee

Economic Development & Commerce Committee

Education, Early Childhood and Workforce Committee

Health and Human Services Committee

Natural Resources Committee

Committee Letters:

November 20, 2009
November 20, 2009 letter (from the executive directors of the National Governors Association, the National Conference of State Legislatures, The Council of State Governments, the National Association of Counties, the National League of Cities and the International City/County Management Association) urging Congress to pass a multi-month extension of existing federal programs for highways and transit as soon as possible to sustain transportation investment, create new jobs, and provide stability to workers and industry.

October 14, 2009
October 14, 2009 letter (from Governor Schwarzenegger and Governor Corzine) to House Committee on Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank and Ranking Member Spencer Bachus urging the preservation of state authority to protect consumers and investors and supporting provisions in the House Financial Services Committee draft Consumer Financial Protection Agency Act of 2009 (the “CFPA”) that would uphold the authority of states to enforce consumer protection laws and regulations against all financial institutions regardless of charter.

September 15, 2009
September 15, 2009 letter (from Governor Schwarzenegger and Governor Corzine) to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and House Minority Leader John Boehner calling for the repeal of the impending $8.7 billion rescission of unobligated federal contract authority to the states for surface transportation investments before the cut takes effect on September 30, 2009.

June 22, 2009
June 22, 2009 letter (from Governor Rendell and Governor Douglas) to House and Senate leadership calling on Congress to address the impending funding shortfall of the Highway Account of the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) as soon as possible.

April 13, 2009
April 13, 2009 letter (from Governor Corzine and Governor Rounds) to Commerce Secretary Locke and Agriculture Secretary Vilsack with recommendations about the role of the states to help the National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA) and USDA’s Rural Utilities Services (RUS) execute and administer the broadband provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

All Letters

Economic Development & Commerce Committee

David Parkhurst
Economic Development & Commerce Committee

Multimedia:
EDC Committee Session at the 2009 NGA Annual Meeting

Video | Photos

The Economic Development and Commerce Committee (EDC) has jurisdiction over a broad range of issues in the areas of transportation infrastructure, telecommunications, international trade promotion, financial services regulation, science and technology development, and affordable housing.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, California—Chair
Governor Jon S. Corzine, New Jersey—Vice Chair

Governor Togiola T.A. Tulafono, American Samoa
Governor Jack Markell, Delaware
Governor Linda Lingle, Hawaii
Governor Pat Quinn, Illinois
Governor Mitch Daniels, Indiana
Governor Bobby Jindal, Louisiana
Governor John E. Baldacci, Maine
Governor David A. Paterson, New York
Governor Beverly Perdue, North Carolina
Governor Ted Strickland, Ohio
Governor Edward G. Rendell, Pennsylvania
Governor Luis G. Fortuño, Puerto Rico
Governor Mark Sanford, South Carolina
Governor Christine O. Gregoire, Washington

Briefing with the National Association of State Aviation Officials
On November 10, 2009, the NGA Economic Development and Commerce Committee hosted a briefing for governors’ staff with Henry Ogrodzinski, President and CEO of the National Association of State Aviation Officials. The briefing focused on the importance of aviation and highlighted the employment and economic impact of aviation on states.

Audio link for the Aviation Briefing (mp3)

Briefing with the National Council of State Housing Agencies
On November 3, 2009, the NGA Economic Development and Commerce Committee hosted a briefing for governors’ staff with Garth Rieman, Director of Housing Advocacy and Strategic Initiatives at the National Council of State Housing Agencies. The presentation addressed the Treasury Department’s new, State Housing Finance Agency proposal that calls for a new, temporary two-part program to help improve capital liquidity for state and local housing finance agencies that are having difficulty raising money through bond sales to finance mortgages for low- and moderate-income homeowners.

Audio link for the Housing Finance Agencies Briefing (mp3)

Broadband Stimulus Grant Program Conference Call with NTIA and RUS
On August 4, 2009, the NGA Economic Development and Commerce Committee hosted a one-hour conference call for state broadband advisors and state stimulus leads with representatives from the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service (RUS). NTIA and RUS representatives answered participant questions about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP), Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP), and State Broadband Data and Development (mapping) programs. The grant application filing deadline for the first round of funding is Friday, August 14.

Audio link for the NTIA and RUS Broadband Briefing (mp3)

Key Committee Issues:

Policy Reference:

NGA policies are the formal positions taken collectively by the governors to influence action by the federal government and to inform national debate on critical issues.

| | | | | | | |

National Governors Association, Hall of the States, 444 N. Capitol St., Ste. 267, Washington, D.C. 20001-1512
Phone: (202) 624-5300 | Fax: (202) 624-5313 | Email: webmaster
Copyright © 2009 National Governors Association. All rights reserved.