Legislative Council on River

Governance to Convene Next Week

CSG West is excited to convene its Legislative Council on River Governance (LCRG) September 9-12 in Richland, Washington. This program brings together legislators from Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington to address issues of common interest along the Columbia River Basin.

Under the leadership of Washington Senator Claudia Kauffman, lawmakers will engage on key issues impacting the Pacific Northwest, including:

Reviewing the Six Sovereigns Agreement intended to restore and conserve salmon, preserve critical fish runs, expand clean energy, and increase resiliency and provide stability for communities throughout the Columbia River Basin.

Discussing the impacts of the Columbia Basin Project, including the implementation of the Odessa Groundwater Replacement Project that aims to replace over 80,000 groundwater-irrigated acres with Columbia River water. Participants will learn about the challenges and opportunities of this project and how the work is planned to move forward.

Providing feedback on the modernization of the Columbia River Treaty that was designed to mitigate flood risks, ensure reliable and economical power supplies, and improve ecosystems.

For more information, please visit the LCRG website. Questions? Please contact Jackie Tinetti, Policy Analyst, at jtinett@csg.org.

Aspen Institute Germany

2025 Exchange Series

Call for Applications:

Aspen Institute Germany’s 2025 Laboratories of Democracy Exchange

Application Deadline September 30th

CSG West is pleased to share that Aspen Institute Germany will host two 5-day in-person meetings between U.S., Canadian, and German state and provincial legislators as part of its annual “Laboratories of Democracy” program. The first of the delegation trips will take place February 25 to March 1, 2025, in Dresden, Saxony, Germany, and the second trip will take place May 13 to 17, 2025, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Between December 2024 and July 2025, a range of interactive virtual sessions will be held.

The transformation of societies and decline of social cohesion is a shared challenge across the Atlantic. To address these issues, the Laboratories of Democracy Initiative provides a platform for state and provincial legislators from the U.S., Canada, and Germany to exchange innovative ideas and best practices, which are necessary to mitigate negative impacts and positively shape policymaking. In addition to questions of state leadership, subnational diplomacy, and transatlantic cooperation, the fifth round of exchanges is centered around the core issue of social cohesion and the power of belonging.

Applications are being accepted by the Aspen Institute Germany on a rolling basis until September 30, 2024. If you are interested in participating, please submit your application here. All costs for participation are covered by the project.

To learn more, please visit the Aspen Institute Germany’s Laboratories for Democracy website or contact Emilie Schreier with additional questions.

Click below to view Aspen Institute Germany's "Call for Applications: Laboratories of Democracy Initiative 2025"

What’s Next? CSG West Fall Program Schedule

Border Legislative Conference

September 19-21

Las Cruces, New Mexico

The Border Legislative Conference (BLC), which 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, will convene September 19-21 in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

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.

For more information, please visit the BLC website, or contact blc@csg.org for any additional questions.

Colorado River Forum

November 18-20

Phoenix, Arizona

CSG West will host the Colorado River Forum (CRF) November 18-20 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.

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.

THE COUNCIL OF STATE GOVERNMENTS WEST www.csgwest.org

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