Equitable Governance: 2022 NACo DEI County Convening, Strategies for Governing with Equity
The National Association of Counties hosted a full-day diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) county convening before NACo’s 2022 Annual Conference to discuss the importance of equity in governance and how to strategically align efforts at the county level. The convening brought together over 50 participants from over 20 counties who sent a team comprised of a DEI practitioner, county administrator and elected official. Throughout the convening, attendees discussed the unique challenges and opportunities they see in their distinct roles and explored how to advance the principles of DEI by considering community data differently. Equitable Governance: 2022 NACo DEI County Convening, Key County Roles, Opportunities and Strategies for Governing with Equity lays out key takeaways from the convening.
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County News Spotlight: DEI Strategies
NACo submits feedback on USDOT’s rural outreach initiative
On April 23, NACo submitted a response to a Request for Information (RFI) issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) on its Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success (ROUTES) Initiative. Given the predominantly rural nature of counties and the important role that counties play in our nation’s transportation system, NACo is uniquely positioned to provide important feedback to USDOT on this topic.
County Leaders Unite to Drive Federal Action on Housing and Homelessness
The National Association of Counties (NACo) and county leaders from large urban counties across the country are coming together for a leadership fly-in meeting April 22-23 to explore innovative solutions for housing and homelessness in urban communities. The event provides a platform for peer exchange among county leaders, highlights leading local strategies and strengthens federal advocacy efforts to align national policies with county-driven solutions.
Counties make their cases for permitting reform
County officials spoke out at a Capitol Hill briefing about the delays and costs resulting from permitting challenges and the reforms they’d like to see passed by Congress.
NACo submits comments on 2030 Census Address Update Program
On April 20, 2026, NACo submitted formal comments to the U.S. Census Bureau on the proposed reinstatement of the Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA) Operation for the 2030 Census. The Bureau had issued a Federal Register notice in February 2026 opening a 60-day public comment period on the program's design before submitting it to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval.
Senate passes budget resolution kicking off reconciliation 2.0 to fund DHS and CBP
On April 21, U.S. Senate Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) unveiled a budget resolution to advance a party-line reconciliation package focused on immigration enforcement and funding for agencies within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The resolution is the first step in a two-part process aimed at producing final legislation by June 1.