Human Services & Education Policy Steering Committee
About the Committee
All matters pertaining to children’s issues, foster care, public assistance and income support, services to senior citizens and individuals with disabilities, immigration policy, social services, and elementary, secondary and post-secondary education.
Policy Platform & Resolutions 2025-2026
Every county in the U.S. administers and funds part of the cost of strengthening communities and protecting and enhancing families. The NACo Human Services & Education Steering Committee exists to support counties in this work.
Featured Initiative
Early Childhood Development Initiative
Counties play a crucial role in fostering communities that support positive outcomes for young children. Resources and peer learning opportunities are available to help counties advance programs and policies for children from birth to age three.
Resource
County Policy Priorities for Transforming the Child Welfare System
Public lands counties fight for SRS reauthorization
Without mandatory funding, county officials must consistently make the case to Congress for why payments of federal lands a crucial for providing essential services and infrastructure maintenance.
U.S. Department of the Interior announces distribution of $733 million in Payments in Lieu of Taxes
On June 23, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced the payment of $733 million to over 1,900 local governments through the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program. These funds support essential government services in public lands counties nationwide that are home to untaxable federal land.
DOJ rule grants extension on ADA web-based accessibility requirements
DOJ has announced plans to explore ways to lower the cost of compliance with its 2024 Final Rule on web-based accessibility requirements for state and local governments.
Senate Agriculture Committee introduces 2026 Farm Bill, following House passage
On June 23, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-Ark.) introduced the Senate version of the 2026 Farm Bill, the Agricultural Act of 2026.
Congress begins reauthorization process for Great American Outdoors Act
On June 10, the leaders of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources introduced the Great American Outdoors 250 Act, which would reauthorize programs stood up in the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) to invest in recreation facilities on public lands. Led by Natural Resources Chair Burce Westerman (R-Ark.) and Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), the bipartisan proposal would provide $1.9 billion annually to tackle deferred maintenance projects.
Resource
The County Human Services and Education Landscape
Human Services & Education Policy Briefs
Committee Chair
View all committee members here.
Hon. Barb Weckman Brekke
Committee Contact
Emma Conover
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