NGA Government Relations

The Office of Government Relations works to ensure that Governors’ views are represented in shaping federal policy by maintaining regular contact with congressional leaders and key administration officials, keeping up-to-date information on critical state–federal issues and coordinating state action.

We work closely with Governors’ Washington, D.C., office representatives, state-federal contacts and other state and local government organizations to maximize the effectiveness of NGA’s lobbying activities. Specifically, our staff serve as policy experts and liaisons to Congress and executive branch agencies and coordinate the work and policy activities of NGA committees.


Governors believe federal action should be limited to the powers expressly conveyed by the Constitution, to preserve state sovereignty in legislative and regulatory matters the Executive Committee has added the following bipartisan priorities:

  1. Enhancing emergency management;
  2. Streamlining permitting processes;
  3. Supporting flexibility and waiver opportunities and funding for state and territorial designed Medicaid, SNAP, and TANF;
  4. Ensuring the federal government meets its already committed obligations for federally funded projects across states, territories and Commonwealths.

Additional federal priorities have been developed by each of NGA’s Governor-led Task Forces and can be found on the Task Force pages below. The complete list of 2025 federal priorities can be found here.


NGA Task Forces & Council of Governors

Staff

  • Tiffany Waddell—Director of Government Relations
  • Renee Antoine—Legislative Director
  • Tim Carlton—Legislative Director
  • Richard Lukas—Legislative Director
  • Courtney Brinley—Legislative Associate
  • Alexis Howard—Legislative Associate
  • Abigail Smith Judstra—Legislative Associate
  • Mackenzi Matthews—Legislative Associate

Advocacy Communications Library

Testimony - Highway and Transit Needs

Testimony – Highway and Transit Needs

Good morning. Chairman Petri, Ranking Member Lipinski, and members of the Subcommittee, I appreciate the opportunity to appear before you ...
Statement for the Record - 2002 Farm Bill

Statement for the Record – 2002 Farm Bill

The purpose of this statement is to reflect the views of the National Governors Association on the Draft Farm Bill ...
Testimony - Long-Term Care

Testimony – Long-Term Care

Thank you for inviting me today to speak on behalf of the National Governors Association. As this Committee well knows, ...
Testimony - Homeland Security Funding

Testimony – Homeland Security Funding

Mr. Chairman, Senator Stevens, and members of the Committee: The nation's Governors appreciate this opportunity to discuss the issue of ...
Testimony - Welfare Reform Reauthorization

Testimony – Welfare Reform Reauthorization

Mr. Chairman, Senator Grassley, and Members of the Committee: Thank you for the opportunity to testify today on the reauthorization ...
Testimony - Aging

Testimony – Aging

Chairman Breaux, Senator Craig, and members of the Special Committee on Aging, I thank you for inviting me to testify ...
Testimony - Justice Programs

Testimony – Justice Programs

Thank you Mr. Chairman for this opportunity to testify this afternoon. First, let me say that I will not take ...
Testimony - TEA 21

Testimony – TEA 21

Chairman Petri, Ranking Member Borski, and members of the Subcommittee, I thank you for inviting me to testify before your ...
Testimony - TEA-21 Reauthorization

Testimony – TEA-21 Reauthorization

Chairman Jeffords, Senator Smith, and members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee - it is my great pleasure ...
Testimony - Tax Equity and Sovereignty for States in the Digital Age

Testimony – Tax Equity and Sovereignty for States in the Digital Age

Good morning, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the opportunity to present testimony to the committee this morning with regard to issues ...
Testimony - Long-Term Care

Testimony – Long-Term Care

Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, my name is Ray Scheppach, and I am the Executive Director of the ...
Statement for the Record - Brownfields

Statement for the Record – Brownfields

Thank you for the opportunity to submit tesimony for the record of this Subcommittee hearing on the subject of Brownfields ...
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