Western Governors Elect Napolitano Chair, Rounds Vice Chair and Adopt Policy Resolutions

Western Governors Elect Napolitano Chair, Rounds Vice Chair and Adopt Policy Resolutions

Gov. Janet Napolitano of Arizona was elected today by her colleagues to be the new Chair of the Western Governors' Association, and Gov. Mike Rounds of South Dakota was elected Vice Chair.

On the final day of their annual meeting, the governors also adopted a number of policy resolutions on issues related to energy, public lands management, economic competitiveness, rural schools and transportation.

"My goal over the next year is to convene some of the best and brightest minds to educate and inform Western decision-makers from the public, private and non-profit sectors on steps we can take to ensure our region's economic vitality and environmental health are protected and improved," Napolitano said. "We will examine case studies and successful strategies from around the nation and the world that have helped foster sustainable local economies and a healthy environment.

Gov. Bill Owens of Colorado, WGA's outgoing Chairman, turned the gavel over to Napolitano, expressing thanks for her support over the past year.

"We accomplished a great deal through bipartisan work on issues important to the West," he said. "We are making progress on strategies that will ensure we have affordable, reliable and diversified energy supplies. We also established the Sagebrush Conservation Council, which will assist dozens of local working groups in 11 states to complete their conservation plans for the Greater Sage Grouse and other species that depend on the sagebrush habitat for their survival. I know Governor Napolitano will continue making great progress on these and other initiatives."

Gov. Rounds said: "WGA has been effective in bringing the governors together to work on important issues, such as drought management, carbon sequestration, environmental management, chronic wasting disease and the improvement of trade with our neighbors. Collectively, we often are able to make the voice of the West heard back in Washington."

Among the resolutions adopted today was one co-sponsored by Govs. Napolitano and Rounds calling on Congress to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act. When the national forest system was created in 1907, Congress recognized that small communities near the forests should be compensated for lost tax revenues. The funding is used for education and road maintenance and construction, but it has dropped dramatically with decreased timber sales. The rural schools act if reauthorized by Congress would ensure these programs continue to receive compensation for these essential needs.

Other resolutions adopted today call for:

· Creation of a North American Energy Council to address the region's need for diverse and reliable power supplies and to ensure there is adequate transmission to move new generation to market. Sponsor: Gov. Bill Richardson (N.M.)

· Improved monitoring and prediction capability for key weather and climate conditions relevant to wildland fires and prescribed burns through improved National Weather Service technology, data and services. Technical information should be made available to all levels of government, not just to the private sector for resale purposes. Sponsor: Gov. Rounds

· Continued modernization and upgrading of highways, railroads, public transportation, air service and ports. Safety efforts should focus on "ZERO DEATHS" and innovative, sustainable funding models should be developed. (Sponsor: Gov. Dirk Kempthorne (Idaho), Gov. Napolitano

· Conservation easements and other voluntary, incentive-based methods for preserving open space and maintaining land and water for agricultural and timber production, wildlife and other values. Sponsors: Govs. Bill Owens (Colo.), Napolitano, Richardson, Jon Huntsman (Utah) and Christine Gregoire (Wash.)

All 27 resolutions were adopted unanimously and now become policy of the WGA to implement and to advocate before Congress and the Administration. They are available on the WGA Web site at www.westgov.org.

The Western Governors' Association is an independent, nonprofit organization representing the governors of 18 states and three U.S.-Flag islands in the Pacific. Through their Association, the Western governors identify and address key policy and governance issues in natural resources, the environment, human services, economic development, international relations and public management.

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