America's State Legislators to Hold Annual Meeting in Denver; Summit for America to Focus on Homeland Security, Budgets, Welfare

6/24/2002

From: Gene Rose, 303-830-2200, ext. 136 or Bill Wyatt, 202-624-8667, both of the National Conference of State Legislatures

DENVER, June 24 -- At a critical time for the nation's state legislatures, lawmakers, legislative staff and policy experts will convene in Denver July 23 - 27 for the premier state policy issue meeting -- the National Conference of State Legislatures' Annual Meeting and Exhibition.

The "Summit for America" will give more than 5,500 participants, including 1,200 state legislators, the opportunity to discuss innovative public policy solutions to the most pressing issues facing state legislatures.

"2002 has presented state legislatures with a unique set of public policy challenges the likes of which we have never seen," said New York Senator and NCSL President Stephen Saland. "The deterioration of state fiscal conditions and the threat of domestic terrorism have made the 'Summit for America' a vitally important event for state policy makers."

Homeland security, state budgets, welfare reform reauthorization, special education funding, legislative ethics, Medicaid funding and telecommunications reform are just a few policy challenges for which state legislators will be seeking solutions. Of the more than 160 information sessions, meeting participants will also have the opportunity to share their ideas and build on their experiences on issues such as criminal justice, election reform, electronic commerce, transportation, legislative procedures, international trade, growth management, environmental cleanup, and much, much more.

NCSL Executive Director William Pound said the annual gathering of lawmakers, the largest of its kind, plays a significant role in helping state lawmakers establish programs and policy to address the diverse needs of their constituents.

"As the forum for America's ideas, NCSL's Annual Meeting provides legislators with an opportunity to develop local solutions to national problems. Often policies implemented by today's state legislature are the policies debated by tomorrow's Congress," Pound said.

Key Annual Meeting sessions scheduled to date include: -- Welfare Reform: What the Congressional Debate Means for the States -- The USA PATRIOT Act: Challenges for the States in Combating Money Laundering -- Insuring America When Terrorism Strikes -- Protection vs. Privacy -- DNA: Crime Fighting Revolution -- America's New Approach to Education: Complying with No Child Left Behind -- Distributing Federal Special Education Funding: Issues and Perspectives -- Design-Build: An Innovation for Better Delivery of Transportation Projects -- Agricultural and Eco-Terrorism -- Improving Transportation Security: Are We Better Off? -- The Vulnerability of the U.S. Energy System: What is the Situation and What Can States Do? -- Ethics, Eggs and Embryos: Regulating Assisted Reproductive Technologies -- Managing Roller Coaster Budgets -- Are We Prepared for Health Threats to our Communities? -- Capitol Security in a Post-September 11 Society

In addition to attending the timely and informative issue sessions, meeting participants will take up resolutions and policy statements at a business meeting that will guide NCSL's lobbying activity on Capitol Hill. In years past, these resolutions have helped shape national policy on pension reform, the tobacco settlement, the Unfunded Mandate Reform Act, welfare reform, the Safe Drinking Water Act and TEA-21 among others.

As always, there are no registration fees for members of the media to attend NCSL conferences. However, you must register to be able to have full access to the meetings and other events. For further information or to register for Annual Meeting, contact Gene Rose at 303-830-2200, ext. 136 or Bill Wyatt at 202-624-8667 or send an e-mail to press-room@ncsl.org.

The National Conference of State Legislatures is the bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the states, commonwealths and territories.

NCSL provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues and is an effective and respected advocate for the interests of the states in the American federal system.