Updates from the NGA Membership Team for October 2023. For more about the programs below and a list of upcoming events please email us at: membership@nga.org.
NGA Leadership Issues Statement on Israel
Governors Cox & Polis Issue Statement in Support of Israel
NGA Chair Utah Governor Spencer Cox and Vice Chair Colorado Governor Jared Polis issued a statement condemning the recent terrorist attacks in Israel and calling on Congress and the White House to provide support.
Stand Up to Jewish Hate Campaign
NGA Highlights Stand Up to Jewish Hate Campaign
Earlier this year, NGA partnered with The Foundation to Combat Antisemitism for the mass media campaign #StandUpToJewishHate that features the blue square symbol: 🟦. The campaign started to inform and educate those who are not knowledgeable about antisemitism and to drive increased awareness and understanding.
Since the campaign launched in late April, ads and news coverage have been seen over 5.6 billion times across TV, streaming, social media, digital media, billboards and PR. Many elected officials, including Governors, have posted messages of support on social media.
The blue square pin is also being worn by Governors, members of Congress, athletes and community leaders across the country as a way to raise awareness about the campaign. Pins can be ordered here.
To help amplify the campaign, NGA previously released the commentary Governors Stand Against Antisemitism to examine the longstanding work Governors have spearheaded to prevent ideologically inspired violence, including compiling data, reducing risk factors, educating the public, connecting people to prevention services and fostering community resilience.
Additional information is available here.
NGA Holds Convenings for Governors’ Staffers
NGA Welcomes Communications Directors, Constituent Service Directors, and Appointments to Boards and Commissions Directors to Nation’s Capital
NGA recently hosted Governors’ Communications Directors, Constituent Service staff, and Appointments to Boards and Commissions staff in Washington, D.C. for a series of convenings.
The concurrent programs provided staff from the respective roles the chance to network with colleagues from states and territories across the country while meeting with stakeholders and sharing best practices relevant to their unique roles.
Governors’ Communications Directors met with top news outlets, including a meeting with Kristen Welker, the new “Meet the Press” host. The agenda included meetings with The Washington Post, including members of the editorial board, FOX News, C-SPAN and CNN, including the Washington Bureau chief. The group also met with Meta to focus on strategic ways to utilize Meta’s platforms to communicate and engage with constituents.
NGA Chair Utah Governor Spencer Cox and First Lady Abby Cox welcomed the attendees to the NGA convenings, thanking the Governors’ staff members for their service to their states and territories.
Deputy Chiefs of Staff, Legislative Directors & Policy Directors Meeting
Deputy Chiefs of Staff, Legislative Directors and Policy Directors Invited to Policy Summit
NGA will host the 2023 Policy Summit, designed exclusively for Governors’ Deputy Chiefs of Staff, Legislative Directors and Policy Directors, in Nashville, Tennessee, October 19-20.
This unique gathering will bring together key decision-makers from across the nation to delve into critical policy matters, share insights and forge collaborative solutions.
Contact membership@nga.org for more information.
Resource: Sample Job Postings for Governors’ Office Positions
Sample Job Postings Available on NGA Website
NGA maintains a series of publications designed to assist Governors with the responsibilities of leading and managing state government.
NGA has created an updated resource to provide sample job postings for positions with Governors’ offices. Governors’ offices can customize these documents when advertising job openings in their offices.
Contact membership@nga.org for more information.
Communications Spotlight: Cybersecurity Awareness Month
NGA Highlights Governors’ Cybersecurity Leadership, Marks Cybersecurity Awareness Month
October marks Cybersecurity Awareness Month.
Throughout the month, NGA is promoting Governors’ actions related to cybersecurity, including through NGA’s website which features a new commentary about ways Governors are leading on cybersecurity.
September 27-28, NGA’s 2023 Cybersecurity Policy Advisors Network In-Person Convening was held in Washington, D.C. The event brought together the Cybersecurity Policy Advisors Network, including Governors’ advisors and state chief information security officers and other state cybersecurity officials, as well as NGA corporate partners, to share best practices and discuss cybersecurity challenges and strategies across a range of topics. NGA released the commentary 2023 Cybersecurity Policy Advisors Network In-Person Convening to provide a written overview of the meeting.
NGA’s Resource Center for State Cybersecurity provides Governors and their staff members with resources, tools and recommendations to help craft and implement effective state cybersecurity policies and practices. This resource also provides the latest NGA updates related to cybersecurity.
Government Relations
Governors Cox, Polis Issue Statement Calling on Congress to Pass Continuing Resolution
On September 29, NGA Chair Utah Governor Spencer and Vice Chair Colorado Governor Jared Polis released a statement regarding funding the federal government.
The Governors’ statement can be read here.
Governors Write Congress Regarding Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, Co-Chairs of the NGA Economic Development and Revitalization Task Force, sent a letter to Congressional leaders expressing concern regarding the adverse impact of Congressionally Directed Spending on the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRF). The Governors asked Congress to take steps to mitigate further cuts to SRF capitalization grants.
The Governors’ letter is available here.
NGA and National Partners Urge Congress to Extend TANF Program
NGA joined with representatives of the nation’s public agencies responsible for state and local workforce and health and human services systems — American Public Human Services Association, Council of State Governments, International City/County Management Association, National Association of Counties, National Association of County Human Service Administrators, National Association of State Workforce Agencies, National Association of Workforce Boards, National Conference of State Legislatures, National Governors Association and National League of Cities — to send a letter to congressional leaders urging them to provide a one-year extension to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, effective through September 2024.
The groups wrote, in part: “TANF is a critical program providing funding to state and local governments to support the economic mobility of families experiencing poverty with benefits and services. Through TANF funding, families receive economic supports to meet their basic needs, employment and training skills that provide families with sustaining wages, childcare and other vital services.”
Read the full letter here.
Center for Best Practices – Vice Chair’s Corner
NGA Releases Healthcare Workforce Commentary
NGA released a commentary regarding the recent NGA Healthcare Workforce Summit held in Colorado.
The summit brought together leaders from 18 states and territories that are part of the NGA healthcare workforce project.
The three-day summit was filled with peer-to-peer learning, presentations from healthcare workforce experts, and opportunities for inter-state dialogue and goal setting.
NGA Vice Chair Colorado Governor Jared Polis spoke at the event, welcoming attendees to Colorado. Governor Polis also highlighted investments made by Colorado to support the healthcare workforce.
NGA’s recently released Healthcare Workforce Toolkit provides Governors’ offices a number of new tools and resources related to health workforce shortages.
NGA Releases Commentary on Public Health and Disaster Response Task Force Meeting on Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure
NGA Public Health and Disaster Response Task Force Co-Chairs Hawai‘i Governor Josh Green, M.D. and Vermont Governor Phil Scott recently hosted a meeting with Governors and a representative from the National Security Council to focus on ways states and territories can work with the federal government on cybersecurity and critical infrastructure.
NGA released a new commentary to provide an overview of the meeting.
During the briefing, Governors stressed their commitment to work with experts from the private sector as well as state and federal agencies to explore ongoing cybersecurity challenges and to share ideas for policy solutions that consider potential threats that could impact individual Americans, businesses and state and federal government entities.
NGA launched a Resource Center for State Cybersecurity to provide Governors with resources, tools and recommendations to help craft and implement effective state cybersecurity policies and practices.
NGA Releases New Article on Learning and Employment Record Use Cases
NGA released a new article looking at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s new tool named the Career Ladder Identifier and Financial Forecaster or CLIFF. The tool offers employers a rare view into how career paths actually look and feel from a workers’ perspective.
The article is part of NGA’s examination of Learning and Employment Record Use Cases.
NGA Releases Commentary: How Healthy Conflict Can Strengthen Nation
NGA released a commentary about a town hall Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, a Democrat, recently participated in with former Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell, a Republican, regarding ways “healthy conflict can unite us, improve communities, and strengthen the nation.”
The event was hosted on the campus of the University of Hartford, home to the Governor M. Jodi Rell Center for Public Service, which was established after Rell’s gubernatorial tenure to help promote integrity in government and responsible participation in public life.
Video of the Governors’ conversation is available here and below.
NGA Holds Infrastructure Workshop, Releases Recap of Meeting
Last month, NGA hosted its fifth Quarterly Infrastructure Coordinator Workshop in Washington, D.C.
This convening brought together Governors’ Infrastructure Coordinators and Advisors from over 30 states and territories, federal officials and private sector practitioners to discuss a range of infrastructure implementation issues currently facing Governors’ and their staff.
NGA released the commentary September Quarterly Infrastructure Coordinator Workshop to provide an overview of the meeting.
In Memoriam
Remembering Governors Jones and Schwinden
NGA is saddened to share former Kentucky Governor Brereton C. Jones and former Montana Governor Ted Schwinden have passed away. NGA extends our condolences to the Governors’ families, friends, and the people of Kentucky and Montana.
October 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):
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month small business excellence with a walk on Grand Ave in New Haven.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy celebrated the grand opening of the West Essex campus in West Caldwell.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker touted expanding computer science education.
Middle Row (L to R):
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster joined the Southern States Energy Board to discuss innovative solutions to the future of energy generation in the South.
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs signed a proclamation declaring October Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu met with attendees when cutting the ribbon at the new AJ Letizio Professional Center in Windham.
Bottom Row (L to R):
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee visited Booker T. Washington State Park to celebrate conservation investments.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore attended the Tawes Crab and Clam Bake in Crisfield.
Montana Governor Greg Gianforte joined youth hunters in Billings to release pheasants ahead of Youth Waterfowl and Pheasant Weekend.
