Advocacy Hub
Through NACo, advocate for county priorities in federal policy making
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Get involved and make a difference. Learn how you can join a NACo committee or caucus and drive our federal policy agenda.
NACo Federal Policy Priorities
2023–2024 American County Platform and Resolutions
The American County Platform is NACo’s permanent policy document. Divided into substantive policy areas covered by ten policy steering committees, the platform reflects the philosophy and broad objectives of NACo’s membership.
Take Action to Support County Priorities
Counties play an instrumental role in the overall public administration and governance of federal, state and local policies, programs and services.
NACo supports federal policies and programs that equip county governments with the resources and flexibility needed to effectively serve our residents. NACo works to preserve local decision making and protect counties from unfunded mandates and preemption of local authority. Since counties implement many federal programs at the local level and must enforce many federal regulations, NACo encourages meaningful intergovernmental consultation with counties throughout all federal policy, program and regulatory development processes.
County Countdown
February 6, 2024
Every other week, NACo’s County Countdown reviews top federal policy advocacy items with an eye towards counties and the intergovernmental partnership.
Explore Federal Policy Resources
Dive deep on the issues critical to counties as intergovernmental partners. Click the issues to learn more and explore our key resources.
Policy Priority
Direct Investment in Counties
Counties invest $134 billion annually in building, maintaining and operating physical infrastructure and public works, including transportation, water systems, ports, dams, hospitals, schools, libraries and courthouses.
Policy Priority
Elections and Election Workers
Counties administer elections through the funding and management of over 100,000 polling places staffed with over 630,000 poll workers each election cycle.
Policy Priority
Mental and Behavioral Health
Counties invest more than $80 billion annually in community health systems that serve approximately 75 percent of the U.S. population.
Policy Priority
Housing
Counties are on the front lines of responding to the housing crisis. Stable, quality housing is the foundation for better health, safety, education, a strong workforce, improved financial wellness, and lower demands on the social safety net.
Policy Priority
Farm Bill
Administered by the USDA, the U.S. Farm Bill helps counties make critical investments in infrastructure, economic development, workforce training, nutrition and conservation within some of our nation’s most underserved communities. Preserving the law’s programs is key to the strength and stability of our local, regional, state and national economies.
Policy Priority
Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) and Secure Rural Schools (SRS)
PILT payments are necessary to support essential local government services in over 1,900 counties and rural counties rely on SRS payments to carry out infrastructure, conservation projects, preform search and rescue missions and fire prevention programs.
Sixty-two percent of counties have federal land within their boundaries, and unlike other local property owners, the federal government does not pay traditional property taxes
Policy Priority
Federal Flexibilities for Economic Mobility
We support federal programs and investments that help counties address our unique local economic challenges, reduce unemployment and create sustained economic opportunity.
Policy Priority
Local Decision Making for Land Use and Environmental Quality
Counties support federal policies that balance environmental, public health and safety and local economic needs.
Policy Priority
Disaster Preparedness Response and Recovery
In 2023, the nation experienced an unprecedented 28 billion-dollar disasters, totaling over $100 billion dollars as of January 2024.
Policy Priority
High Speed Internet
Access to reliable, affordable and accessible internet services is an essential component of modern life.
Policy Priority
Supreme Court Advocacy
As the U.S. Supreme Court addresses some of the most complex public policy issues of the day, it is essential that county officials are aware of the Supreme Court’s docket and offer our perspectives on the practical, frontline realities on county-related legal issues.
Policy Steering Committees
Caucuses
Ad Hoc & Task Force Committees
Artificial Intelligence Exploratory Committee
NACo's AI Exploratory Committee covers emerging policies, practices and potential applications and consequences of Artificial Intelligence (AI), through the lens of county government governance, operations, constituent services, innovation, public trust, privacy, and security, and workforce productivity.
NACo Commission on Mental Health and Wellbeing
Launched in February 2023, the NACo Commission on Mental Health and Wellbeing brings together county leaders from across the nation to take action to address the ever-growing mental health crisis from the county government perspective.