2021 Virtual NACo Legislative Conference

The Agriculture and Rural Affairs Policy Steering Committee will be joined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Congressman Jim Costa (Calif.-16) who will provide an update on some of the efforts underway in the 117th Congress to bolster opportunities for American farmers and the role counties can play in the local, domestic, and global food supply chain. Members will discuss how local officials can best work with our federal partners to address these ongoing issues.”

Join the Transportation Policy Steering Committee for discussions with our federal partners, including the U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, to learn more about developments around the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization, as well as a potential infrastructure package – both of which will directly impact  county transportation and infrastructure projects. During this meeting, members of the committee will also consider and vote on interim policy resolutions that will be used to guide NACo’s advocacy efforts before Congress, the White House and federal agencies for the 2020 – 2021 term.

The Justice and Public Safety Committee will be joined by Congresswoman Val Demings (D-Fla.) to discuss the outlook for criminal justice reform in the 117th Congress and hear from the U.S. Department of Justice about upcoming policy and justice program assistance opportunities in 2021. Additionally, committee members will hear from FEMA and Capitol Hill staff on the outlook for emergency management related legislation and policy changes. This committee will also review and vote on interim policy resolutions.
 

The FPIGA Steering Committee will be joined by Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (Ohio-3) and other panelists who will share their efforts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion within the financial services space. They will also be joined by congressional staff to hear about the latest activity around federal tax policies and outlook for 2021. Additionally members will be joined by national and local experts for a discussion on how counties are navigating the impact of COVID-19 on their credit ratings as well as existing and new issuances. Members will consider and vote on interim policy resolutions used to guide NACo’s advocacy efforts before Congress, the White House and federal agencies.

Join the Environment, Energy and Land Use (EELU) Steering Committee’s Meeting as members will discuss proposed policy resolutions related to the EELU policy platform. Members will hear from sponsors who submitted policy resolutions and have the opportunity to ask questions before they are voted on at the EELU business meeting.

Join GIS Subcommittee members to hear presentations from the U.S. Census and how counties are using GIS to address emerging pandemic needs such as vaccine site locations. NACo Corporate sponsor ESRI will also provide an overview of the role that GIS can play in redistricting.
 

Members of the Rural Action Caucus will examine a wide range of issues including how to leverage the community college system to future-proof the local economy, rural broadband connectivity challenges and opportunities, and efforts to bolster our nation’s food and nutrition systems.

The Western Interstate Region (WIR) is dedicated to the promotion of Western interests within NACo. Its membership consists of fifteen Western states (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah and Washington). WIR Members will learn about public lands and rural development priorities for the 117th Congress and the Biden administration, new disaster prevention and mitigation programs, and regulatory issues important to western counties.

Members of the NACo Health Steering Committee will hear from members of Congress and congressional staff on the latest updates in federal health policy and funding on issues ranging from COVID-19 relief to health equity, and highlight key policy wins from the past year, while outlining priorities for the upcoming year. Health Steering Committee members will vote on interim policy resolutions discussed during the resolutions meeting.

Join IT Standing Committee members to hear updates on important technology initiatives including the implementation of DotGov (.Gov) and recent cyber attacks and defense strategies. Members will also receive an update on how NACo, along with other national associations are partnering on critical technology efforts including broadband.
 

NACo’s Arts & Culture Committee presents Using the Arts to Bridge Racial & Cultural Divides, a meeting open to all NACo members. The meeting will showcase the work of the committee and celebrate the many cultures that contribute to the arts across the United States. Committee members will present a diverse assortment of arts installations and programming from their counties. Expert presenters from organizations including Americans for the Arts, the Institute of American Indian Arts and PolicyLink will discuss the importance of the arts to communities, the critical role of the arts in racial equity, and more. The committee will also honor former Chair Shelley Taub as this year’s winner of the Public Leadership in the Arts Award, in partnership with Americans for the Arts.

A generational gap is widening in the workplace. While baby boomers express reluctance about retiring, millennials have become the single largest and commonly most talked about demographic in the American labor force. Recognizing that each of these generations have very different needs, especially in light of COVID, what value do participants place on retirement? This session will include a discussion on market trends and highlight insights from each of the generations as they pursue better retirement outcomes.

Public Lands Steering Committee (PLSC) Members will hear from federal officials on the latest public lands issues, including new efforts to better manage our national forests, reduce the threat of wildfire and partner with federal agencies to accomplish shared goals. The PLSC will review the federal outlook for public lands issues in 2021 and also consider one policy resolution to further guide NACo’s advocacy efforts.

NACo's Broadband Task Force is opening their March meeting up to NACo Conference Participants. Please join us as we examine the challenges and opportunities to bridging the digital divide. 

Join NACo for a virtual meet and greet with intergovernmental affairs representatives from a variety of federal agencies. Learn about how you can leverage intergovernmental partnerships, make connections with federal officials and network with colleagues and peers! Members will be able to visit “Federal Agency Tables” in Zoom Breakout Rooms to hear from these representatives and share your county’s stories. Participating federal agencies include: