Updates from the NGA Membership Team for May 2024. For more about the programs below and a list of upcoming events please email us at: membership@nga.org.
May Spotlight
Nation’s Governors Call for Discontinuation of Legislative proposals Denying Governor Authority over National Guard
Last week, NGA facilitated a Governor-level briefing where Governors spoke directly with Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall to reiterate concerns with Legislative Proposal 480 (LP 480) which would federalize U.S. National Guard units into the U.S. Space Force and give the U.S. Secretary of the Air Force the sole discretion to move airmen or eliminate their units.
NGA Chair Utah Governor Spencer Cox and Vice Chair Colorado Governor Jared Polis released this statement summarizing the call, emphasizing that the Governors of all 55 states and territories are united in opposition to the proposal and have serious concerns about the Pentagon’s failure to comply with established legal process requiring consultation and approval from Governors on all National Guard deployment matters.
Last week’s briefing follows a letter Governors sent to the Secretary of Defense calling for the immediate discontinuation of LP480. NGA’s press release provides more details about the Governors’ letter.
The ten Governors who serve on the federally appointed Council of Governors also issued a letter opposing the policy.
Last week, Governors Cox and Polis held a virtual press conference with more than 30 members of the media to field questions regarding Governors’ position on this issue.
Disagree Better
Governors Cox, Lee Lead Disagree Better Event in Nashville
Country Musician Brad Paisley Joins Governors at NGA Meeting
This week, NGA Chair Utah Governor Spencer Cox and Tennessee Governor Bill Lee held a meeting in Nashville in support of Governor Cox’s NGA Chair’s Initiative: Disagree Better.
Centered on the theme of building dialogue skills and fostering positive contact, the event featured panel discussions with bipartisan experts and a service project. Country music superstar Brad Paisley also participated in the meeting to help more Americans learn about the initiative.
Governors Lujan Grisham, Gordon Share Disagree Better Video
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon released a video to help further the work of Governor Cox’s Disagree Better initiative.
In the video, Governors Grisham and Gordon remind Americans that disagreeing better is one of the country’s oldest, most cherished traditions. Watch the video here.
Governors Cox, Moore Write Op-Ed Highlighting Volunteering and Service as Keys to Healing Divides
NGA Chair Utah Governor Spencer Cox and Maryland Governor Wes Moore wrote an op-ed to highlight how “volunteering and service are keys to healing divides.” Both Governors have been leading initiatives to foster volunteer and service opportunities in their states.
NGA’s service playbook outlines policy options related to service-to-career pathways. NGA also held a meeting with Governor Moore on this topic and released a new publication on service-to-career pathways.
NGA Spring Reception
NGA Welcomes Governors’ Staff to Spring Reception
NGA thanks all of the Governors’ staff members who attended last week’s annual NGA spring reception. NGA also thanks the American Bankers Association (ABA) for hosting the reception.
At the event, NGA’s Executive Director Bill McBride and ABA’s Chief Policy Officer Naomi Camper (pictured) spoke to attendees, expressing appreciation for their commitment to state service.
Communications
Governors Invited to Promote Student Contest to Mark America’s 250th Birthday
Governors’ offices have been asked to help America250 spread the word about the nationwide America’s Field Trip contest students in grades 3-12 can enter to help celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026.
This toolkit contains suggested language and other ideas for ways Governors can help raise awareness about the contest.
Montana Governor Greg Gianforte recently shared a video message to help raise awareness about the contest.
Click here to watch Governor Gianforte’s message.
Government Relations
NGA Leadership Urges Congress to Pass Legislation to Support U.S. Allies
Last month, NGA leadership issued a statement calling on Congress to come together and pass legislation to support America’s national security. In the statement, NGA Chair Utah Governor Spencer Cox and NGA Vice Chair Colorado Governor Jared Polis emphasized that “the supplemental bills should be a bipartisan effort that prioritizes national security amidst the growing threats to the United States.” The full statement can be read here.
Governors Little, Bryan Send Letter to Congress
Idaho Governor Brad Little and U.S. Virgin Islands Governor Albert Bryan Jr., co-chairs of NGA’s Education, Workforce and Community Investment Task Force, sent a letter to the Senate and House Appropriations Committees noting Governors’ priorities as the committees continue to craft and consider the Fiscal Year 2025 appropriations bills. Read the letter here.
Public Health and Disaster Response Task Force Holds Congressional Briefing
Last week, the NGA Public Health and Disaster Response Task Force hosted a congressional briefing in Washington, D.C. The briefing focused on building readiness and resiliency to combat disasters and emerging threats including those related to cyber, health, National Guard and homeland security.
Center for Best Practices
Governors Support Mental Health Awareness Month
In recognition of the May observance of Mental Health Awareness Month, NGA released a new publication exploring some of the actions Governors are taking to mark Mental Health Awareness Month.
Additionally, NGA’s recent publication Governors Prioritize Behavioral Health In 2024 State of the State Addresses provides an overview of many of the behavioral health priorities and policies Governors highlighted in this year’s State of the State or Territory addresses.
NGA Releases New Publication on the Emerging Field of Behavioral Health Paraprofessionals
As states move from filling the behavioral health workforce mainly with professionals who have a significant amount of post-secondary education to creating opportunities for behavioral health support among professionals with more accessible levels of schooling, NGA released a new publication to help states with this work.
Governors are Addressing FAFSA Challenges
NGA released a new publication detailing some of the actions Governors have been implementing to help students and families complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Completing the FAFSA is the first step a student must take to determine their eligibility for numerous scholarship programs.
New K-12 Education Resources for Governors’ Offices
INGA’s K-12 Education Team launched a new webpage that provides an overview of NGA’s technical assistance support for a cohort of nine Governors’ offices working to address students’ academic and mental health and well-being needs through the 2023-2024 Academic Supports and Student and School Staff Well-Being Project. The nine states include Alabama, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wyoming.
NGA Leads Skills Based Strategies National Meeting
NGA recently held a three-day Skills Based Strategies national convening in Washington, D.C. The meeting built on the work NGA has been leading with support and partnership from Walmart to focus on skills-based hiring in the public sector. Learn more here.
State Actions to Address Human Trafficking
NGA recently hosted its monthly briefing for the Criminal Justice Policy Advisors network. The briefing focused on state actions to address human trafficking, including executive actions, taskforces and legislative solutions. A full recap of the briefing is available here.
New Webinar on Fostering Entrepreneurship
Watch NGA’s new webinar on state models for fostering entrepreneurship. The webinar features details about the work Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro are leading to support entrepreneurs.
NGA to Start Child Care Working Group
NGA’s Children and Families team is convening a child care working group for states and territories to engage in peer-to-peer learning. Offices interested in joining the working group are asked to complete this form.
NGA Holds Meeting with Governors’ Infrastructure Coordinators
NGA recently hosted its Northeast Regional Project Delivery Workshop in Philadelphia in partnership with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s office. The convening brought together many officials, including Governors’ Infrastructure Coordinators and other advisors from Northeast states, to discuss infrastructure project delivery and coordination challenges facing these states. A summary of the meeting can be found here.
NGA also released an overview of the infrastructure meeting the Kansas Infrastructure Hub recently hosted.
In Memoriam
Remembering Governors Pryor and Graham
NGA is saddened to share former Arkansas Governor David Pryor (pictured below left) and Florida Governor Bob Graham (pictured below right) recently passed away. NGA extends our condolences to the Governors’ families, friends and constituents.
Monthly Member Update
Governor McKee Highlights Work to Reduce Absenteeism
Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee (pictured) held an event in Providence to celebrate the work Rhode Island has been doing to increase student attendance rates. Governor McKee has been leading several policy initiatives to decrease absenteeism, including the #AttendanceMattersRI video campaign to promote good attendance. Watch Governor McKee’s video here.
May in Photos
NGA routinely shares photos of Governors at work. A sampling of this past month’s photo highlights follows.
