National Association of Counties
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The Human Services and Education Policy Steering Committee will be joined by our federal partners to discuss progress and challenges related to the implementation of new child welfare reforms, as well as the Biden Administration’s ongoing priorities for stabilizing the child care sector. National experts will also present outreach and education opportunities for the second phase of the expanded Child Tax Credit. During a moderated group discussion, committee members will share perspectives on utilizing ARPA Recovery Funds to help vulnerable county residents recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. |
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The Agriculture and Rural Affairs (AgRA) Steering Committee will meet in a working session to allow sponsors of interim policy resolutions to discuss, debate and amend various proposed policy positions. Additionally, AgRA members will hear from guest speakers on issues relevant to the committee. |
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The Health Steering Committee will be joined by national and local experts for a discussion on how counties and innovators and implementors can assist with implementing the strategic vision for Medicaid and CHIP. The committee will also take part in a breakout discussion with national and federal public health leaders on strategies for modernizing the U.S. public health system. Resources
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The Community, Economic and Workforce Development Steering Committee will hear from federal partners on issues related to workforce development and job creation, reauthorization of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, homelessness and housing access and affordability. Members will receive an update from Capitol Hill on the general landscape and remaining CEWD priorities for the second session of the 117th Congress. Additionally, members will consider and vote on interim policy resolutions. |
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The Environment, Energy and Land Use (EELU) Steering Committee will meet to 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. Additionally, members will hear from national and local experts on regulations impacting counties, implementing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, coral reef conservation and conserving and managing ecosystems and federal resources. |
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The Health Steering Committee will discuss challenges and opportunities for policy advancement on two leading health issues- behavioral health and maternal and child health. Members will also consider and vote on interim policy resolutions used to guide NACo's advocacy efforts before Congress, the White House and federal agencies. Resources
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The Telecommunications & Technology Steering Committee will receive updates on remaining legislative priorities in the 117th Congress, as well as hear from our federal partners on the opportunities ahead for broadband deployment and cybersecurity implementation in 2022 and beyond. |
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The Human Services and Education Steering Committee will receive an update from Capitol Hill on human services priorities for the remainder of the 117th Congress and have the opportunity to develop advocacy strategies for the Legislative Conference Hill Day. Additionally, members will consider and vote on interim policy resolutions used to guide NACo’s advocacy efforts before Congress, the White House and federal agencies. |
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This session is open to attendees from Arkansas, California, Indiana and Utah |
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The vital role that counties play in creating and sustaining healthy communities has never been more evident. County leaders and public health departments have been at the forefront of combatting the COVID-19 pandemic and creating equitable opportunities for county residents to thrive. The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and other state and local fiscal recovery funds are offering a chance for county leaders to invest in the future of their communities’ health in ways that promote equity and positive outcomes. NACo’s Healthy Counties Initiative works to create and sustain healthy communities, supporting collaboration and sharing innovative approaches to pressing health issues. Join your peers for a discussion of county priorities to support healthy, thriving communities. |
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The Resorts, Tourism and Gateway Counties Working Group will hear from a panel of county officials and others about what selected counties are doing to address workforce housing needs in resort communities. Examples of housing-related regulatory actions, revenue proposals, developer incentives, and other initiatives will be presented and discussed. Panel includes:
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The Geographic Information Systems subcommittee is a subcommittee of the Information Technology Standing Committee, with a focus on GIS education, national trends and proposed legislation that might affect GIS. Members are county elected officials, including surveyors and planners, GIS directors and other county GIS leadership. The committee often hears from national organizations such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National States Geographic Information Council, and Esri and is working to include updates from organizations like Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International. |
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NACo's Large Urban County Caucus (LUCC) is the premier national forum for the exchange of ideas and solutions that help urban counties address their most pressing issues. The LUCC meeting at NACo's 2020 Legislative Conference will feature conversations with federal officials and national leaders on topics including substance use disorder, COVID-19 mitigation and urban mobility. All urban county officials are welcome to attend; table seating is reserved for LUCC Steering Committee members. |
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The Rural Action Caucus will convene to discuss issues important to rural America and to hear from guest speakers, including senior federal officials from the U.S Department of Transportation and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. |
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The recently enacted bipartisan infrastructure package, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, created many new programs accessible by counties. Over the next five years, the U.S. Department of Transportation alone will award roughly $100 billion to state and local governments through competitive grant programs. Join this workshop to learn more about new funding and financing opportunities and how counties can access available resources. During these office hours, participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and engage with policy experts about the infrastructure package and how to access funds. |
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The Veterans and Military Services Committee will meet to discuss federal policy priorities and best practices for serving veterans in 2022. Members will receive an update from the Department of Veterans Affairs on pressing issues facing veterans, hear from a panel of federal partners, national experts and peers on strategies to eliminate veteran homelessness and learn about advances in art therapy for veterans who have suffered traumatic brain injuries. |
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Two years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, international trade and business still faces many disruptions and challenges. County leaders have the opportunity to help residents and businesses navigate these challenges by fostering international business connections and promoting their region abroad. Furthermore, counties provide the key infrastructure necessary for global trade to reach local economies. In this session, county leaders will connect with embassy and business representatives from top U.S. trading partners to learn about the importance of these nations’ investments, as well as how counties can better connect with businesses from these nations. Hosted by the IED Task Force, this session is open to all conference attendees. |
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The Programs and Services Committee will engage in an After-Action Report (AAR) style discussion on the county experience during the COVID-19 pandemic to result in a set of recommendations to the NACo board of directors on future NACo programs and services related to pandemic preparedness. Topics will include reflections on county preparedness and utility of the resources provided to counties by NACo and the Federal government. This meeting is open to all conference attendees. |
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The Arts and Culture Commission will hear from expert speakers and commission members on leveraging the creative arts as an economic driver at the county level. This meeting is hosted by the NACo Arts and Culture Commission and open to all. |
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The U.S. Treasury has the Final Rule on the American Rescue Plan Act’s Coronavirus State & Local Fiscal Recovery Fund, which provides $65.1 billion in direct, flexible aid to every county in America, as well as other crucial investments in local communities. During these office hours, participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and engage with policy experts about the Final Rule. |
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One in three Americans live in a county that was impacted by a natural disaster in 2021. County officials are often the first responders and on the frontlines of protecting the health and safety of residents during natural disasters. Learn how to access federal resources to protect your county against the impacts of wildfire and floods. |
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Join the NACo government affairs team for a rapid-fire discussion on the top federal policy issues facing counties, including strengthening the intergovernmental relationship, transportation and infrastructure, broadband and 5G development, public lands management and payments, health and justice, disaster and resiliency, community and workforce development, environmental regulations and much more! |
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On January 6, the U.S. Treasury released the Final Rule for the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (Recovery Fund), which allocated $65.1 billion in direct, flexible funding to every county, parish and borough in America. Join NACo staff for a preliminary overview of the Final Rule of the Recovery Fund and eligible uses of these critical dollars. This session will prepare county leaders for NACo's Tuesday session, which will feature federal speakers that are spearheading the implementation of the Recovery Fund at the local level. |
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With work on the 2023 Farm Bill reauthorization beginning in earnest, Congress and the administration will be negotiating changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food assistance to millions of low-income county residents and is county-administered in ten states. Join this session for an update from our federal partners on the process and a discussion of key county priorities for strengthening and improving the SNAP program. |
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The administration recently announced the signing of a proposed rule to revise the definition of “waters of the United States” (WOTUS). The agencies propose to reinstate the pre-2015 definition of WOTUS, updated to reflect the consideration of Supreme Court decisions. The WOTUS definition directly impacts counties as owners and operators of local infrastructure. Counties may need to apply for a federal permit to maintain or build new infrastructure projects under the rule. Join this discussion with federal officials responsible for implementing WOTUS to understand the potential impacts of a new rule. |
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On November 15, President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) into law. This historic bipartisan legislation is extremely significant for counties, which own and operate more roads and bridges than any other level of government and range beyond transportation to public water systems, electric grids and capital construction of schools, hospitals and jails. Counties invest $134 billion annually in the construction of infrastructure and the operation and maintenance of public works. Learn how county officials can work with state and federal partners to successfully implement the bipartisan infrastructure package. |
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The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on the health, well-being and educational outcomes of children and youth across the country. With the need for youth behavioral health services at an all-time high, county leaders can play a key role in supporting and facilitating programs that promote resilience and trauma-informed education through Social Emotional Learning. This workshop will focus on strategies for county governments to partner with the federal government, Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) and other key stakeholders to improve student well-being. |
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Someone to Call: Reimagining the County Crisis Response System through 988 ImplementationWatch Recording
 Download Slides Download Behavioral Health Matters Info Sheet Download Fund Local Crisis Response Efforts Policy Brief Download Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics and County Governments Report Mon. February 14
| 1:45 pm to 3:00 pm ESTColumbia 9 & 10, Terrace Level
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Download Slides Download Behavioral Health Matters Info Sheet Download Fund Local Crisis Response Efforts Policy Brief Download Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics and County Governments Report As key administrators of the local behavioral health safety net, counties leverage crisis response services to meet the immediate mental and behavioral needs of residents. The enactment of the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act created a new pillar in the infrastructure of crisis response to assist people experiencing a mental health or suicidal crisis by directly connecting them with the appropriate services. This panel discussion will explore how the implementation of the National 988 Suicide Hotline will shape the county crisis response infrastructure and how federal legislation can further support its implementation. |
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As county leaders, we often find ourselves in the news. While most large counties have dedicated communications teams to handle media relations, many smaller counties have only one person responsible for speaking to the media on top of other duties. In this session you will hear from National Association of County Information Officers (NACIO) board members on effective strategies and tactics for working with your local media. After the workshop, they will stay to answer questions. In addition, NACIO members offer professional communication advice and consult throughout the year. |
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To date, 18 states and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational usage of cannabis to some extent and 36 states have legalized medicinal usage in some form. Yet the industry remains largely cash-only, leading to many public safety concerns for counties in these states. The Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act being considered by Congress would provide access to vital banking services such as checking accounts and loans for cannabis-related legitimate businesses. Hear from Capitol Hill, industry and county experts on the potential impacts of the SAFE Banking Act for counties. |
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Hear from counties that have successfully identified technology projects relating to cyberdefense and technology infrastructure improvements and how they defined projects and met the requirements of the American Rescue Plan's government services and lost revenue allowance. Examples will include broadband, remote work, third-party access, infrastructure improvements, and incorporating best practices and lessons learned from NACo's Cyberattack Simulation on third party threats. |
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Last year, 3,676 election bills were introducd across the country. Major enactments addressed absentee/mail voting, ballot drop boxes, voter ID, how elections are run and much more. Although these bills were introduced on the state level, they impact how counties administer elections at the local level. Join national and local experts for a discussion on major trends in state election laws and how they impact local elections. |
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The Biden Administration recently proposed reforms to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) environmental review process that would return much of the review criteria to that established under the original law in 1978. These regulatory changes are significant for counties, who serve as environmental co-regulators with our federal partners. Join this workshop to hear from federal officials responsible for implementing NEPA and county officials and representatives of private industries directly impacted by the regulation to better understand impending changes. |
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With millions of Americans suddenly unemployed and entire industries becoming obsolete or vastly altered, America’s workforce system will need to play a key role in our nation’s recovery. Counties are intimately involved in the planning, management and implementation of the job training programs within the larger workforce system, designed to prepare individuals for jobs that respond to local and regional economic development policies and business needs. Hear from experts on the importance of locally-driven workforce programs as counties continue to economically recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. |
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The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), through the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF), is providing $350 billion for state and local governments to make critical and historical investments in people and infrastructure. As counties develop plans for their ARPA-funded initiatives, leveraging data and evidence will be key to ensuring long-term, equitable outcomes for their residents. Join Results for America and State Recovery Now to learn more about the importance of using and investing in data and evidence with ARPA funds. In this workshop, you will learn current trends and best practices in the use of data and evidence for policymaking, and listen from counties that are leading the field. |
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The COVID-19 pandemic has radically changed how county residents learn and work, forcing counties to adapt quickly to new challenges. Community and economic development planning is critical to ensuring county preparedness, resilience and long-term prosperity. Hear from academic and local planning experts on strategies and frameworks for counties to consider during long-term pandemic recovery planning. |
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Navigating Federal Resources to Improve Rural COVID-19 Response EffortsWatch Recording
Download Slides Download Counties and the Fiscal Recovery Fund: Rural Communities Report Download NACo Brief: Vaccine Distribution in Rural Counties Download The County Role in Vaccines Tue. February 15
| 8:00 am to 9:15 am ESTColumbia 9 & 10, Terrace Level
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Download Slides Download Counties and the Fiscal Recovery Fund: Rural Communities Report Download NACo Brief: Vaccine Distribution in Rural Counties Download The County Role in Vaccines COVID-19 vaccination is one of the tools to reduce the rate of severe illness and death in your county. Learn how you can improve vaccination rates in your community to protect rural residents from COVID-19. |
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With the passage of the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act, there are various funding opportunities that will lead to much-needed broadband deployment across all unserved and underserved communities. Hear from the Department of Commerce and the Department of Agriculture on the latest funding opportunities for broadband deployment and infrastructure. |
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Tune in with NACo, county leaders and our federal partners for a live virtual discussion on local government priorities including strengthening the intergovernmental partnership, implementation of the historic American Rescue Plan Act’s Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund, critical need for full mandatory funding for the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program, impacts of the Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy (MIEP) and need to amend its current policies and the county role in addressing intergenerational poverty. |
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