Updates from the NGA Membership Team for June 2023. For more about the programs below and a list of upcoming events please email us at: membership@nga.org.
Chair’s Initiative
Governor Murphy Leads Philadelphia Convening of Chair’s Initiative
On May 18, NGA Chair New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy continued his nationwide initiative on strengthening youth mental health with an event hosted in Philadelphia by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and First Lady Lori Shapiro and joined by Delaware Governor John Carney. The Governors held a roundtable discussion with those on the frontlines of youth mental health care in the fourth of a series of conversations to advance the NGA Chair’s Initiative: Strengthening Youth Mental Health.
The conversation focused on training and supporting caregivers and teachers, and the event also included discussions on maternal and infant health – a related initiative led by New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy.
The roundtable discussion featured parents, educators, mental health experts and advocates, including Academy Award winning actress Goldie Hawn. Ms. Hawn founded MindUP, a program launched in 2003 to advance science-based social-emotional learning to support youth mental health and resilience.
In response to rising rates of mental health distress among young people, Governor Murphy introduced his NGA Chair’s Initiative last July. Through the Strengthening Youth Mental Health initiative, Governors from across the nation are collaborating to develop bipartisan solutions.
The Pennsylvania event was the fourth roundtable discussion Governor Murphy has held in multiple states in support of the Strengthening Youth Mental Health initiative. Previous roundtables took place in Michigan with Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, in California with Colorado Governor Jared Polis, and in Utah with NGA Vice Chair Utah Governor Spencer Cox.
In Philadelphia, Governor Murphy also introduced a new video providing highlights from the roundtable Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer hosted in Detroit in April. The video is part of an ongoing digital ad campaign the Chair’s Initiative is running to highlight information and resources related to youth mental health and to help raise awareness about youth mental health and the Chair’s Initiative.
NGA Webinar on Youth Mental Health Messaging
As part of New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s 2022-2023 Chair’s Initiative: Strengthening Youth Mental Health, NGA recently hosted a webinar in partnership with the Frameworks Institute on “Messaging for Success” on youth mental health initiatives.
This webinar was well-attended by both state policy leaders and thought leaders in the youth mental health space.
A summary of the webinar can be found here, and the video can be found below.
NGA Commentary about Chair’s Initiative Philadelphia Convening
NGA released the commentary Strengthening Youth Mental Health: Training and Supporting Caregivers and Educators.
The piece provides an overview about the Philadelphia roundtable, exploring discussions held during the meeting about ways states and territories can provide training and support to help caregivers and educators address youth mental health.
NGA Annual Meeting
NGA Annual Meeting to Occur in Atlantic City July 12-14
The NGA Annual meeting will take place in Atlantic City, New Jersey, from July 12-14. During the meeting, NGA Chair New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy will welcome the nation’s Governors to Atlantic City’s beautiful coastline, iconic boardwalk, world-class restaurants, premier golf courses and other vibrant cultural and historical attractions.
The Annual Meeting will start July 12, with the Council of Governors lunch and meeting, NGA Executive Committee meeting, and Federal Intergovernmental Agency meetings, followed by a Chair’s Initiative session, welcome reception and evening entertainment featuring a quintessential Garden State musical act.
On July 13, after the opening plenary, a full day of task force meetings and work sessions will be held. The evening will conclude with an event held at the iconic Steel Pier.
The meeting will conclude around lunchtime on July 14. The final day of the meeting will include essential business sessions, the closing plenary and the transition of leadership.
Communications Spotlight
Governor Shapiro Writes Op-Ed Calling for More Investments in Youth Mental Health
Following his recent participation in the Philadelphia convening of NGA Chair New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s Chair’s Initiative: Strengthening Youth Mental Health, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has written an opinion piece published in The Morning Call urging Pennsylvania to take more action to address youth mental health care
In the op-ed, Governor Shapiro writes, “By making a sustained, long-term investment in student mental health, we are not only helping schools plan, but we are also building a pipeline of trained school-based mental health professionals. By focusing on meeting students where they are, we can ensure our students have the support they deserve whenever they need it.”
NGA Highlights Governors’ Work to Mark Great Outdoors Month
Great Outdoors Month is observed in June to celebrate outdoor recreation on local, state, and federal lands and waters.
Throughout the month, NGA will highlight ways Governors mark the observance, including through NGA’s website, publications and social media channels.
In honor of the June observance of Great Outdoors Month, NGA released the new publication Great Outdoors Month 2023 to explore the crucial role Governors play in supporting outdoor recreation by implementing policies aimed at promoting and enhancing recreational opportunities.
NGA also released the publication Public Health and Green Spaces to explore ways Governors are leveraging the great outdoors to improve health outcomes and bolster state economies.
NGA’s outdoor recreation homepage provides more information about Governors’ work in supporting and promoting outdoor recreation as well as ways NGA works with Governors’ offices on issues related to outdoor recreation.
Government Relations
Governors Urge Bipartisan Solutions on Immigration
NGA Chair New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and NGA Vice Chair Utah Governor Spencer Cox released a statement urging bipartisan solutions on immigration following the end of Title 42.
Governors Announce Bipartisan Permitting Vision to Accelerate Project Delivery
As Co-Chairs of the NGA Energy and Infrastructure Working Group, NGA Vice Chair Utah Governor Spencer Cox and Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards released a statement announcing a bipartisan vision to speed up the process to deliver energy and infrastructure benefits nationwide. Some of the policy priorities were at least partially addressed by the recent bipartisan Fiscal Responsibility Act.
NGA’s Energy and Infrastructure Working Group is focused on solutions to streamline the permitting process, address legal challenges and tackle procurement issues to speed delivery for projects across four categories: 1) energy transmission (pipeline and electric transmission lines); 2) utility-scale energy generation (including oil and gas, coal, renewables and nuclear); 3) transportation; and 4) mining and materials.
The following Governors are participating in the Governors Energy and Infrastructure Working Group on behalf of all 55 states and territories:
● Utah Governor NGA Vice Chair Spencer Cox (Working Group co-chair)
● Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards (Working Group co-chair)
● Illinois Governor JB Pritzker
● Maine Governor Janet Mills
● Montana Governor Greg Gianforte
● New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu
● North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum
● Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt
● Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi
NGA Sends Letter Supporting Railway Safety Act
NGA joined with the National Association of Counties and the National League of Cities to send a letter to Senate leadership to urge their support of the bipartisan Railway Safety Act of 2023 (S. 576).
Economic Development and Revitalization Task Force Sends FY24 Appropriations Letter to Congress
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, in their roles as co-chairs of the NGA Task Force on Economic Development and Revitalization sent a letter to the leaders of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees to share Governors’ priorities as the committees continue to craft and consider the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) appropriations bills.
The letter focuses on issues related primarily to:
● Fully funding surface transportation,
● Transportation grant programs,
● Broadband deployment and access,
● The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program,
● Economic Development Administration (EDA) programs,
● Energy grant programs,
● Water infrastructure,
● Environmental management, and
● Sufficient wildfire response and management funding.
Center for Best Practices – Vice Chair’s Corner
NGA’s Vice Chair Utah Governor Spencer Cox leads the Center for Best Practices.
NGA Publishes Paper Exploring How Governors Can Use Green Banks
NGA released the publicationGreen Banks: An Overview for Governors. The paper explores how Governors and states can leverage innovative financing approaches like state green banks to accelerate investments in energy and infrastructure projects.
NGA Releases Publication on Energy Resilience for Healthcare Facilities
NGA released the publication Prioritizing Resilience: Best Practices on Energy Resilience for Healthcare Facilities. The paper contains best practices Governors and states can take to help best position healthcare facilities to manage energy stressor events, such as heat waves, and foster energy resilience for healthcare facilities.
Governor Gordon Speaks at NGA’s Recent Healthcare Workforce Workshop
From June 6-7, the Healthcare Delivery and Postsecondary Education teams at NGA, together with the Wyoming state healthcare workforce team, hosted the second of three workshops for states in the Next Generation of the Healthcare Workforce project.
Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon kicked off the meeting with recorded remarks welcoming participants to the state.
The workshop brought together both healthcare and workforce leaders in six states and one territory in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, for two days of interactive programming.
Sessions included presentations on Wyoming’s recruitment initiatives, Utah’s Office of Professional Licensure Review, and healthcare workforce data and planning strategies.
Participants heard from speakers from the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, and Jackson Hole’s St. John’s Health Hospital, Hughes Charitable Foundation, and Becoming Jackson Whole.
Governor Hobbs Speaks at NGA Education Summit
NGA recently held the Education Commission of the States K-12 Education Summit in Arizona.
The first day kicked off with national and state experts discussing topics on developing an education policy agenda, academic supports and education finance. Attendees heard from two National Teachers of the Year on the direct impact state education policy has on educators, students and families. Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs closed out the day by emphasizing the importance of education in Arizona.
The second day of the summit included discussions on educator recruitment and retention as well as student, family and school staff well-being. Attendees also heard from current principals who shared their expertise on how state education policy can support their efforts to address student and staff needs.
NGA, Governor Lombardo’s Science Office Hold Broadband Workshop
NGA recently joined Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo’s Office of Science Innovation and Technology to host a workshop for Governors’ broadband advisors to share best practices and hear from practitioners on broadband deployment, affordability and adoption.
NGA released the publication Broadband Leaders Workshop to provide a synopsis of the meeting.
NGA Publishes Commentary about Expanding Access and Quality of Care to Improve Maternal and Infant Health
NGA released the commentary Expanding Access and Quality of Care to Improve Maternal and Infant Health.
The piece looks at the third roundtable discussion New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy led in April as part of her work on maternal and infant health. Mrs. Murphy’s focus on maternal and infant health is designed to complement NGA Chair New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s Chair’s Initiative: Strengthening Youth Mental Health.
The commentary provides insights about the roundtable’s work to identify the barriers for mothers and families seeking care while exploring opportunities for states and health systems to mitigate challenges to ensure better access to high quality care for moms and babies.
NGA Releases Commentary on Skills-Based Hiring
NGA released the commentary Governors Leading on Skills-Based Hiring to Open Opportunity Pathways. The commentary explores how this hiring strategy can help states remove barriers that currently screen out qualified job candidates and bring a more diverse range of perspectives and skill sets into the workforce.
NGA Holds Infrastructure Workshop
NGA released a written summary, titled Infrastructure Coordinator Quarterly Workshop, to provide an overview of the Quarterly Infrastructure Coordinator Workshop NGA held in Washington, D.C. late last month. The meeting coincided with Infrastructure Week in Washington, D.C., which featured a range of events and activities highlighting key achievements since the enactment of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
NGA Releases Summary of Recent Infrastructure Investment Forum
NGA recently held an Infrastructure Investment Forum at Stanford University to focus on innovative funding, financing and delivery of transportation projects. A summary of the forum can be found in NGA’s latest publication, American Infrastructure Investment Forum.
June in Focus
NGA routinely shares photos of Governors at work through the organization’s social media channels. A sampling of this past month’s photo highlights follows.
Top Row (L to R):
New York Governor Kathy Hochul meets three children at a child care center.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis signs legislation designating Lunar New Year Day as an observed state holiday.
Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi meets athletes representing Puerto Rico in the Special Olympics.
Middle Row (L to R):
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey conducts the promotion ceremony for the Alabama National Guard’s newest Brigadier General.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp attends an event hosted by the Georgia Police K9 Foundation.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin meets two children in Petersburg, Virginia.
Bottom Row (L to R):
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek meets with a small business owner in Joseph, Oregon.
New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu meets with a group of students at the state house.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey takes part in an event at the newly-renovated LEGO Land Discovery Center.
