NACo

National Association of Counties

County News

County News Coverage: 2020 NACo Legislative Conference

By Mary Ann Barton, Charlie Ban, Rachel Looker Feb. 28, 2020

Tags: About NACo

County News Article
County News Coverage: 2020 NACo Legislative Conference

2020-02-28

County News Article

2020-03-10

Intergovernmental Affairs

County News

President Trump addresses NACo General Session

President Trump was the first sitting U.S. president to address a NACo conference since 1996.

Elections

Montgomery County, Md. Deputy Director of Elections Alysoun McLaughlin speaks during a March 3 Capitol Hill briefing on county elections. Photo by Denny Henry

County News

Federal funding not reaching county elections departments

Most election functions counties carry out haven’t gotten outside support in a while.
Human Services

Arapahoe County, Colo. Commissioner Nancy Sharpe greets St. Charles Parish, La. Sheriff Greg Champagne during a March 3 briefing on Capitol Hill. Looking on is Ed Zackery, veterans service officer, Medina County, Ohio. Photo by Denny Henry

County News

Proposed policy change aims to fix loss of benefits for pre-trial detainees

NACo and the National Sheriff’s Association joint task force took their cause of jail health reform to Capitol Hill, discussing a proposed policy change that would reinstate federal health care benefits for non-convicted justice-involved individuals.
Transportation & Infrastructure

Rep. Sam Graves, Jr. (R-Mo.), speaks to NACo members March 3 during a transportation briefing on Capitol Hill. Photo by Denny Henry

County News

Transportation allies give voice to wish lists

Counties are eager to see what will reauthorized the current surface transportation bill, which expires in September.
Leadership

General Colin Powell, former U.S. Secretary of State and former Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, gives leadership advice to county officials during the general session on Tuesday at NACo’s 2020 Legislative Conference. Photo by Denny Henry

County News

General Colin Powell shares leadership skills

Gen. Colin Powell discussed leadership with NACo Executive Director Matt Chase during Tuesday's General Session.
Public Lands

Department of the Interior Secretary David Bernhardt addresses the Monday Opening General Session. Photo by Denny Henry

County News

Interior Secretary Bernhardt wants counties to feel heard

Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt spoke to Monday's Opening General Session and County News.
Housing

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson addresses county officials at the general session on Monday during NACo’s 2020 Legislative Conference. Photo by Denny Henry

County News

HUD Secretary talks cutting regulations to create affordable housing

HUD Secretary Ben Carson told county officials that HUD is working with local leaders to provide counties with housing affordability options.

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About Mary Ann Barton (Full Bio)

County News Editor & Senior Writer

Mary Ann Barton is the County News editor and senior staff writer and is returning to NACo after previously working at the association. She comes to NACo after covering local news for Patch.com in Northern Virginia.

More from Mary Ann Barton

More from NACo

Explore all of NACo's 2020 Legislative Conference resources.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Video

Capitol Hill Briefing: Investing in Infrastructure: County Priorities in Transportation and Infrastructure Legislation

oin this Capitol Hill briefing to hear from members of Congress on the status of this legislation, as well as from county leaders about the unique infrastructure challenges local governments face and how the federal government can implement public policy to improve our nation’s transportation infrastructure system.
Elections

Video

Capitol Hill Briefing: All Elections are Local: The County Role in Ensuring Safe & Secure Elections

Counties administer and fund elections at the local level, including overseeing polling places and coordinating poll workers for federal, state and local elections.
Justice & Public Safety

Video

Capitol Hill Briefing: The Intersection of Health and Justice: A Look Inside County Jails

During this briefing, hear from key congressional champions working to amend this federal policy and members of the task force, who will provide insights from group’s comprehensive report.

Intergovernmental Affairs

Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) spoke to the Opening General Session audience on Monday. Photo by Denny Henry

County News

Connolly: Help me pass ‘Restore the Partnership Act’

Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.). came to NACo's Legislative Conference seeking county officials’ support for a bill he’s introduced, “Restore the Partnership Act.”
Intergovernmental Affairs

Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del) spoke to a familiar crowd at the Opening General Session. Photo by Denny Henry

County News

Sen. Chris Coons brings county experience to Capitol Hill

Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) called his former work as a county official back in Delaware “the most meaningful and significant” public service of his life when addressing Monday's Opening General Session.
Environment, Energy & Land Use

County News

Chinese restrictions bring changes to county recycling

The recent crackdown on U.S. recycled materials to China has impacted counties, forcing localities to either invest in resources to reduce contamination of recyclables or limit recycling services.
Health

CDC Chief Medical Officer Mitch Wolfe discusses the 2019 coronavirus with members of NACo’s Large Urban County Caucus in Washington D.C. at the 2020 Legislative Conference. Photo by Leon Lawrence

County News

NACo members get briefing on coronavirus from CDC

"Everyday preventative measures" are major steps to preventing coronovirus contagion.
Rural Affairs

Anne Hazlett, senior advisor at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, addresses members of NACo’s Rural Action Caucus Sunday at the Legislative Conference. Photo by Denny Henry

County News

Rural development expert takes aim at rural drug addiction

USDA's rural development expert takes aim at drug addiction.
Intergovernmental Affairs

Ginger Delegal, executive director of the Florida Association of Counties and Eric Johnson, executive director of the Washington State Association of Counties discuss how states are tackling county priorities at NACo’s 2020 Legislative Conference in Washington D.C. Photo by Denny Henry

County News

State governments’ actions affect county operations

As creatures of the state, county government operations are tightly linked to what happens in the capitol.
Urban Counties

Katharine Sullivan, principal deputy assistant attorney general of the Office of Justice Programs at the U.S. Department of Justice, discusses funding opportunities Sunday with county officials at the Large Urban County Caucus meeting during NACO’s 2020 Legislative Conference. Photo by Leon Lawrence

County News

LUCC members talk funding opportunities at the federal level

Intergovernmental partnerships are a potential funding source for county priorities.
Resiliency

County News

Help your most vulnerable in a disaster with a special needs shelter

Special needs shelters are a crucial part of disaster response measures.

More News from NACo

Health

County News

COVID-19 leaves empty seats in county government

A number of county elected officials have died recently from complications from COVID-19.
Urban Counties

NACo President Gary Moore, judge/executive of Boone County, Ky., opens the 2020 NACo LUCC/RAC Symposium

County News

LUCC, RAC members talk housing, hunger as pandemic continues

NACo's urban and rural county caucuses tackled issues like housing and hunger that span the divide and have become more pronounced during the pandemic.
Health

Westchester County, N.Y. Executive George Latimer speaks at the dedication for Ribbons of Remembrance Dec. 2

County News

Westchester County, N.Y dedicates memorial to COVID-19 victims

Nine months after suffering its first COVID-19 death, Westchester County, N.Y. dedicated a memorial to the 1,500 residents and growing that it has lost to the pandemic.
Health

An individual receives a COVID-19 test as part of in-school testing initiatives in Onondaga County, N.Y. Photo courtesy of Onondaga County

County News

In-school testing programs combat COVID-19 spread in classrooms

Counties are taking steps to keep school doors open and provide a place for in-person learning by launching in-school testing initiatives to find and isolate cases of COVID-19.
Health

Nurses work at the Minidoka Memorial Hospital in Minidoka County, Idaho, a county-run critical access facility seeing an increased number of COVID-19 patients. Photo by Drew Nash, Magicvalley.com

County News

As COVID-19 surges, county hospitals face staffing challenges, space shortages

Over 90,000 individuals were hospitalized across the United States with the coronavirus in the last week of November, setting a record-breaking number for hospitalizations during the pandemic.
Community & Economic Development

Staff at the Hot Tomato Cafe proudly display their business’ Five Star certification from the Mesa County, Colo. Health Department. Photo courtesy of the Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce

County News

Colorado county program helps local businesses

Rather than see them go rogue against COVID-19 restrictions, Mesa County, Colo. and the Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce are working with businesses to standardize safety measures.
Arts & Culture

Santa rides in a Henrico County, Va. firetruck as part of the Henrico Holiday Express Tour where decorated county vehicles visited local communities. Photo courtesy of Henrico County

County News

Counties adapt holiday events to meet COVID-19 restrictions

With large gatherings out of the question during the pandemic, counties are rethinking holiday events to limit COVID-19 risk
Health

County News

Counties sound alarm about holidays, ‘COVID-19 fatigue’

As the nation enters its ninth month of coronavirus restrictions amidst rising case numbers, “COVID fatigue” is setting in right when it can be most dangerous. At the same time, dropping temperatures are making outdoor recreation less appealing, removing a much safer environment for avoiding transmission.

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County News Sections

County Innovations and Solutions

Florida county’s training educates all employees on mental health issues
The HR Doctor is in

Data paints a picture of culture

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Jan. 25, 2021 | View Issue

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Contact Information

Mary Ann Barton

County News Editor & Senior Writer

(202) 942-4223
Charlie Ban

County News Digital Editor & Senior Writer

(202) 942-4210
Rachel Looker

Staff Writer

(202) 942-4215

Additional Resources