America's nearly 40,000 county elected officials and 3.6 million county employees are on the frontlines of the nation's response to the coronavirus pandemic. As the country emerges from the pandemic and grapples with the toll it has taken on our citizens, counties are responding and rebuilding. At the same time, many counties are still confronting significant workforce shortage pressures at a time with growing, critical resident needs.

With American Rescue Plan funds, counties are strengthening America's workforce, addressing the nation's behavioral health crisis, expanding broadband access, improving housing affordability and building prosperous communities for the next generation.

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Advocacy

MAHA Commission releases federal strategy outlining next steps in childhood chronic disease prevention

On September 9, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission’s new Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy, following the earlier MAHA Report published in May 2025. The strategy builds on the assessment’s findings regarding four key drivers of childhood chronic disease: poor diet, chemical exposure, lack of physical activity and chronic stress and overmedicalization.

Prairie County, Mont. Commissioner Todd Devlin and Fremont County, Colo. Commissioner Dwayne McFall prepare for their Capitol Hill visits during the PILT Fly-In Sept. 10. McFall is the Western Interstate Region first vice president. Photo by Charlie Ban
County News

Record high Capitol Hill meeting schedule pushes public lands funding

More than three dozen public lands county officials conducted 80 meetings with congressional staff to advocate for the Payments in Lieu of Taxes and Secure Rural Schools programs.

Residential neighborhood in Colorado at autumn
Press Release

County Leaders Advocate for Payments in Lieu of Taxes, Secure Rural Schools

Meetings on Capitol Hill, public event underscore intergovernmental partnership to support public lands counties.

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Advocacy

County Countdown – September 9, 2025

Every other week, NACo's County Countdown reviews top federal policy advocacy items with an eye towards counties and the intergovernmental partnership. This week features FEMA reform bill advancement, a major reorganization of the USDA and more.

Convict Lake, Mono County, California
News

Podcast: Talking with Public Lands County Leaders, Part VIII

The County News Podcast continues our series on public lands county leaders with two from outdoor recreation counties – Supervisor John Peters from Mono County, Calif. and Commissioner Sonja Macys from Routt County, Colo. Peters is this year’s Western Interstate Region president.