Photo of the Week: Oregon Representative Ken Helm (left,) Washington Senator Claudia Kauffman (foreground,) and fellow Western legislators tour the Ice Harbor Dam generators during last week's Legislative Council on River Governance. Photo by Jackie Tinetti. |
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Strengthening Cross-Border Collaboration: Border Legislative Conference Kicks Off Today | |
CSG West is excited to convene the Border Legislative Conference (BLC), beginning today and continuing through September 21 in Las Cruces, New Mexico. BLC serves as a binational forum where legislators can exchange best practices and identify policy solutions addressing the complex issues along the 2,000-mile U.S. – Mexico border region.
Under the leadership of this year’s BLC chair and host, New Mexico Senator Bill Soules, legislators from the U.S. and Mexico will share and learn from one another, as well as from invited speakers, on topics such as trade, logistics, and supply chains, managing drought, unaccompanied minors, public health and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs,) and what’s next for the binational relationship.
Stay tuned for a summary of this year’s event. Additional information about BLC and its current membership roster can be found below.
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Marshall Clement, CSG Justice Center Deputy Director, provides remarks during the executive order signing ceremony. | |
Washington Launches Reentry 2030 with New Executive Order | |
Washington has become the sixth state to join Reentry 2030, a national initiative to improve reentry outcomes for individuals exiting prison or those under supervision. Led by the CSG Justice Center, in partnership with JustLeadershipUSA, the Correctional Leaders Association, and with support from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs’ Bureau of Justice Assistance, Reentry 2030 focuses on scaling up stable housing, education, employment, health care, and other essential supports for those with criminal records. The initiative also works to eliminate unnecessary barriers and promote racial equity.
On September 16, Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed an Executive Order formalizing the state’s commitment to Reentry 2030, in coordination with nine state agencies. States that join Reentry 2030 commit to assembling key stakeholders, setting public goals and milestones, and publishing the progress made. Video from the signing ceremony can be accessed here.
|  | Washington Governor Jay Inslee (center) joins Reentry 2030 partners following the executive order signing. | Reentry 2030 is calling on all 50 states to pledge their support for this decade-long commitment to improving reentry success. State leaders interested in learning more or joining the initiative can find additional details below. |
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Colorado River Forum
November 18-20
Phoenix, Arizona
| CSG West will host the Colorado River Forum (CRF) November 17-20 in Phoenix, Arizona. Be sure to save the date! This annual forum brings together legislators from Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming, as well as other key stakeholders, to review and discuss issues and opportunities related to the Colorado River Basin. Issues of study and discussion this year will include: | The Current State of the Colorado River System Hydrology | Water Use, Re-Use, Recycling, and Conservation in the Desert | Current Status of Post-2026 Operating Guidelines | 2026 and Beyond: Key Considerations for Future Governance | Irrigated Agriculture in Arizona: This is How We Do It | Tribal Water Right Decisions Impacting the Colorado River | Additional information is available at the CRF website. Registration information can be found HERE. For additional questions, please contact Jackie Tinetti, Policy Analyst, at jtinett@csg.org. |
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Western Legislative Academy
December 10-13
Colorado Springs, Colorado
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Each year, state legislators from the western region are selected to participate in the Western Legislative Academy (WLA), a multi-day training experience focused on sharpening leadership skills needed to excel in a legislative environment. Faculty from academic, nonprofit, and legislative backgrounds engage class members in interactive sessions designed to provide a learning experience that expands understanding and fosters relationships.
The 53 members accepted to the WLA Class of 2024 will convene December 10-13 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Recognized as the premier training event for lawmakers in their initial four years of service, WLA has seen alumni ascend to key leadership roles, including presiding officers, majority and minority leaders, committee and caucus leaders, lieutenant governors, and members of the U.S. Congress.
View the WLA Class of 2024 roster here. For more information about the program, please visit the WLA website, or contact Will Keyes, Professional Development Manager, at wkeyes@csg.org.
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THE COUNCIL OF STATE GOVERNMENTS WEST www.csgwest.org | |
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CSG West is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization serving western state legislatures. All active legislators are considered members of our organization and included in organizational correspondence regarding news and events. While we hope you find this information of use, we also understand the need for a tidy inbox. If you do not wish to receive email updates from us, please unsubscribe below to be removed from our email list. | | | | |
