2024 NACo Legislative Conference Coverage
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Related News
![Conference Candid](https://www.naco.org/sites/default/files/styles/807x448/public/2024-02/7-22-23-DJH_2581A%20%281%29.jpg?h=6748d2fa&itok=uCMlXuON)
NACo's County News team is here at the conference providing daily recaps of each day's sessions, and keeping you informed on all the resources being released at the conference.
County News
Marc Molinaro champions Restore the Partnership Act
The former Dutchess County, N.Y. executive, now serving in the House of Representatives, told county officials that it is “crucially important” that when they talk to their representatives, they personalize how their communities are affected by federal policies.
![Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-N.Y.) discusses the Restore the Partnership Act Feb. 12 at the General Session. Photo by Denny Henry](https://www.naco.org/sites/default/files/styles/667x579/public/2024-03/molinaro.jpg?h=3f12c6e3&itok=HbW64kWP)
County News
County officials, members of Congress team up to support extension of Affordable Connectivity Program
Several members of Congress teamed up with county officials Tuesday, Feb. 13 at a Capitol Hill press conference to show their support for extending the Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides internet access to more than 23 million households across the country.
![Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-N.Y.) speaks in support of an extension of the Affordable Connectivity Program Tuesday at a Capitol Hill press conference. Fellow members of Congress and county officials also took turns speaking at the rally. Photo by Denny Henry](https://www.naco.org/sites/default/files/styles/667x579/public/2024-02/affordableconnectivity.jpg?h=3f12c6e3&itok=emMaSsgh)
County News
President stresses partnership with counties
President Biden detailed how the legislation he has championed has relied on counties to make the most of it.
![President Joe Biden addresses the General Session audience at the NACo Legislative Conference Feb. 12. Photo by Denny Henry](https://www.naco.org/sites/default/files/styles/667x579/public/2024-02/Biden24.jpg?h=3f12c6e3&itok=r69hJWct)
County News
USDA secretary charts new course for small farms
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities will set small-to-mid-sized farmers up for sustained growth and security.
![U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack describes the benefits of climate-smart agriculture to NACo’s Rural Action Caucus Feb. 11. Photo by Leon Lawrence III](https://www.naco.org/sites/default/files/styles/667x579/public/2024-03/vilsack.jpg?h=85380a36&itok=4XAIqdRt)
County News
Intergovernmental partnerships offer strategy for mental health crisis
"Drug use is a disease, and stigma isn’t going to get rid of it."
![HHS Sec. Xavier Becerra makes a point Sunday while speaking to members of NACo’s Large Urban County Caucus at the NACo Legislative Conference. Photo by Denny Henry](https://www.naco.org/sites/default/files/styles/667x579/public/2024-02/LUCC.jpg?h=3f12c6e3&itok=tXlD_9Wq)
County News
D.C. arts advocate to counties: ‘Recognize your superpower’
![Aaron Myers, executive director, D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities, speaks Saturday to members of the NACo Arts & Culture Commission. To his right is Montgomery County, Ohio Commissioner Debbie Lieberman. Photo by Leon Lawrence III](https://www.naco.org/sites/default/files/styles/667x579/public/2024-02/ArtsCulture.jpg?h=5fbe1083&itok=FqNCAmqq)
County News
Housing shortage bedevils public lands counties, employers, feds
Restrictions on how the federal government can pay for housing for employees has prompted the U.S. Forest Service to work with a county to develop residential units, thanks to a farm bill provision.
![Nina Waters, a Summit County, Colo. commissioner, discusses her county's work with the U.S. Forest Service to expand housing. Photo by Charlie Ban](https://www.naco.org/sites/default/files/styles/667x579/public/2024-02/waters.jpg?h=3f12c6e3&itok=cXASv3cg)
County News
Broadband administrator to counties: ‘I need you to lead on this issue’
Evan Feinman, who is charged with leading the $42.5 billion Broadband, Equity and Deployment (BEAD) program, led county officials through the application process during the Telecommunications & Technology Policy Steering Committee meeting.
![Evan Feinman, deputy associate administrator of the NTIA’s Broadband, Equity and Deployment program, talks about its progress with members of the NACo Telecommunications & Technology Policy Steering Committee. Photo by Denny Henry](https://www.naco.org/sites/default/files/styles/667x579/public/2024-02/fineman.jpg?h=3f12c6e3&itok=eF53Xoc0)
County News
HUD, HHS team up to help people with medical needs get stable housing
Housing and health outcomes are “undeniably linked,” and counties can use Medicaid as a way to address both.
![Richard Cho, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, senior advisor for housing and services, speaks Saturday to members of the Health Policy Steering Committee at the NACo Legislative Conference. Photo by Leon Lawrence III](https://www.naco.org/sites/default/files/styles/667x579/public/2024-02/cho.jpg?h=3f12c6e3&itok=sYmHD0QY)
Top Stories
Explore the recent top stories from County News.
Cook County FoodCare program offers healthy food, nutrition services to Medicaid recipients
Cook County, Ill. created FoodCare to increase food access and nutrition services for Medicaid members, who were underreporting their food insecurity and other basic needs.
![food](https://www.naco.org/sites/default/files/styles/943x535/public/2024-06/GettyImages-931053160.jpg?h=4e9d6f82&itok=EVoWHOjq)
![door](https://www.naco.org/sites/default/files/styles/385x285/public/2024-06/GettyImages-525058875_opendoor.jpg?h=2f556f17&itok=PWbNh48q)
Fair chance employment offers opportunities for county staffing
As counties look for creative solutions to recruit and retain employees, they have an opportunity to partner with local criminal justice and workforce agencies to build and adopt “fair chance” talent strategies.
![Mitchell Wilkins drives a Mercedes Unimog truck, drastically different from the vehicles in Florida, while working for EnergieSüdwest. Photo courtesy of Mitchell Wilkins](https://www.naco.org/sites/default/files/styles/385x285/public/2024-06/070124exchange1.jpg?h=2f556f17&itok=WxaqI4Kh)
Exchange program widens horizons for county employees
A Rotary International exchange program sent two Pasco County, Fla. staffers to Germany to learn how their counterparts do their work and immerse themselves in a new culture.
![Shelby county](https://www.naco.org/sites/default/files/styles/385x285/public/2024-06/061724spotlightShelbyCounty.jpeg?h=cc0b9123&itok=JOoxlXRv)
Shelby County engages youth for better mental health services
Leaders responded when members of Shelby County, Tenn.’s youth coalition pointed out that mental health services were far less accessible than was previously thought.
Advocacy
Prepare your advocacy efforts ahead of the 2024 NACo Legislative Conference
The 2024 NACo Legislative Conference will bring together elected and appointed county officials from across the country to focus on federal policy issues that impact counties and our residents. Attendees have the opportunity to engage in second-to-none policy sessions, meet the members of the 118th Congress and interact with federal agency officials.
![Lincoln Memorial](https://www.naco.org/sites/default/files/styles/667x579/public/2023-12/GettyImages-691700594.jpeg?h=e4ed75f1&itok=p-Tr6eME)