Supervisor Bass Went to Washington With CSAC

Press release from the California State Association of Counties :

4th District Supervisor Virginia Bass Jackson [Stock photo]

California State Association of Counties (CSAC) President/Humboldt County Supervisor Virginia Bass and CSAC Executive Director Graham Knaus joined county leaders from across the country in the nation’s capital last week to discuss issues important to America’s counties.

During a meeting of the National Council of County Association Executives (NCCAE), a group affiliated with the National Association of Counties (NACo), President Bass and Knaus met with members of President Trump’s administration and congressional leaders to strengthen local-state-federal partnerships and advocate for counties’ federal policy priorities, including infrastructure, federal regulations, emergency preparedness and recovery, and the substance abuse epidemic.

“Federal policies have direct, long-lasting and often costly impacts on county government, our state and our residents,” said CSAC President Bass. “Last week’s meeting was an opportunity to strengthen our partnership with federal leaders and share information about how decisions made in Washington, D.C. can help us achieve results for all our residents.”

Federal officials shared their perspectives on a wide range of topics, including the federal policy landscape and the potential for bipartisan achievements in the 116th Congress. Speakers included:

• U.S. Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.), Ranking Member, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

• U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-Fla.), Co-Chair, Blue Dog Coalition

• U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-N.Y.), Co-Chair, Tuesday Group

• Doug Hoelscher, Special Assistant to the President and Director of White House Intergovernmental Affairs

• Alex Herrgott, Executive Director, Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council, and

• Dick Meltzer, Policy Director, Office of the U.S. Speaker of the House.

“The federal leaders we met with understand that counties play a key role in building healthy, safe and vibrant communities across America,” said Knaus. “It is as critical for California Counties to have as strong a voice in Washington, D.C., as we do in Sacramento.”