Updated August 5, 2006
Butchers, Bakers and Candlestick Makers? Not Quite.
National legislative meeting to attract diverse group of professionals, policy experts
DENVER - It's not quite the Mother Goose lineup but the list of speakers at the National Conference of State Legislatures' Strong States Strong Nation Annual Meeting is just as diverse.
State lawmakers from all 50 states will hear from university presidents, doctors, a veterinarian, an admiral and even a nanoeconomist during the upcoming NCSL meeting scheduled for August 15 - 18 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Legislators will have the opportunity to participate in over 150 policy discussions with national experts on issues such as immigration, state budgets, money and politics, driver's license security and the global economy.
Here's a list of ten interesting speakers (OK, so it might be more than ten people but we've fit them nicely into ten groups) who are acclaimed leaders in their fields.
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff is a Harvard educated attorney who has served as a judge for the Third Circuit Court of Appeals and as assistant attorney general for the Criminal Division at the Department of Justice. He helped trace the terrorist attacks to the al-Qaida network after Sept. 11 and increased information sharing within the FBI. ("NCSL Annual Business Meeting," 10 a.m., Thursday, August 17, Delta Ballroom C)
Cal State Long Beach President F. King Alexander joins other university presidents Sidney McPhee of Middle Tennessee State University, John Peterson of the University of Tennessee and Shirley Raines of the University of Memphis for a discussion on the fiscal relationship between states and the higher education community. ("Higher Education on the Edge," 1 - 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, August 16, Tennessee Ballroom A)
Assistant U.S. Health Secretary Admiral John O. Agwunobi, M.D. will discuss the ABCs of emergency preparedness. Dr. Agwunobi is a seasoned public health professional who heads the U.S. Public Health Service. Prior to his appointment as Assistant Health Secretary, Dr. Agwunobi managed the response to the nation's first ever intentional anthrax attack as Florida's Secretary of Health. ("ABCs of Emergency Preparedness: Avian Flu, Bioterrorism and other Calamities," 10:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m., Friday, August 18, Delta Ballroom D)
Dr. Fred Berlin, founder and director of the Johns Hopkins University Sexual Disorders Clinic, will participate in a discussion of state efforts in tracking criminal sex offenders. Dr. Berlin is one of the nation's leading researchers in sexual disorders. ("Watching and Restricting Dangerous Offenders," 1 - 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, August 16, Governor's Ballroom A)
As Comptroller General of the United States, David Walker is the nation's foremost watchdog on how the federal government is spending money. What you'll hear him say might shock you. He'll be joined on a panel that will discuss the fiscal state of the federal government by representatives from the Concord Coalition, the Heritage Foundation and the Brookings Institution. ("Wake Up! The Federal Fiscal House is Falling," 10:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m., Friday, August 18, Delta Ballroom B)
Nanoeconomist Edward Cupoli and his colleagues at the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering in Albany, New York probably put up with a lot of bad "little" jokes. But nanotechnology is no joking matter. In fact, many predict it will be the next big scientific revolution. This former legislative staffer will talk about how this next "big" thing will transform society and the workplace. ("Will Tiny Technology Drive the Next Industrial Revolution?" 2:45 - 4:15 p.m., Wednesday, August 16, Governor's Ballroom D)
Motorcycle safety has been in the news recently after accidents involving several high profile professional athletes. National Transportation Safety Board member Deborah Hersman engages in a discussion of not just motorcycle safety but also the increased use of pocket bikes and motorized scooters. Representatives from the Motorcycle Riders Foundation and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration will also participate. ("Motorcycle and Unconventional Vehicle Safety," 12:15 - 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, August 15, Governor's Ballroom B)
As president of Kaiser-Francis Oil Company, George Kaiser knows a thing or two about success. He knows that success is rooted in education. Mr. Kaiser will share his insight into why early childhood education is a sound investment. ("A Businessman's Perspective: Early Childhood Education Is Both a Moral Imperative and a Sound Investment," 7 - 8:15 a.m., Tuesday, August 15, Governor's Ballroom A)
Dr. Henry Lee is real life CSI. As Chief Emeritus of the Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory, Dr. Lee has been involved in the investigations of thousands of criminal cases including the O.J. Simpson murder trial. He has also assisted local, state and federal authorities is such high-profile cases as the Jon Benet Ramsey murder investigation, the suicide of White House Counsel Vince Foster and the reinvestigation of President Kennedy's assassination. Dr. Lee will participate in a discussion on tapping the potential DNA in criminal investigations. ("Capturing DNA's Crime Potential," 8:15 - 9:45 a.m., Thursday, August 17, Governor's Ballroom D)
The United States Election Assistance Commission (EAC) was established by the Help America Vote Act in the wake of the 2000 election controversy. The commission serves as a national clearinghouse and resource for information and review of procedures with respect to the administration of federal elections. EAC Commissioners Paul DeGregorio and Ray Martinez will talk about steps that have been taken to shore up the balloting process and restore voter confidence in the election system. ("Will Fall Elections Run Like Clockwork?" 2 - 3 p.m., Tuesday, August 15, Canal B)
As an 18-year old Greek immigrant who spoke little English, Demetrios Papademetriou washed dishes to make ends meet upon his arrival in the United States. He is now one of the nation's foremost experts on immigration. And its not just Americans who are seeking his opinion. Papademetriou, president of the Migration Policy Institute, also serves as an advisor to government officials in Canada, Mexico and Europe. Dr. Papademetriou will discuss with NCSL's international attendees and Task Force on Immigration in the States how global migration affects the globalization of the world economy. ("Global Migration: Brain Drain and Brain Gain," 10:15 - 11:45 a.m., Monday, August 14, Governor's Ballroom A)
In addition, the Annual Meeting will feature general sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. These sessions feature headline speakers such as FedEx founder Fred Smith (8:30 - 10 a.m., Tuesday, August 15), presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin (8:30 - 10 a.m., Wednesday, August 16) and pollsters Frank Luntz and Peter Hart (8:30 - 10 a.m., Friday, August 18). Additionally, NCSL's Women's Legislative Network will hold their third annual Governor's Breakfast which this year features former New Jersey Governor and former EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman (7 - 8:30 a.m., Thursday, August 17) And don't miss former former Tennessee Titans running back Eddie George, who will kick off the Walk for Wellness (6:30-8 a.m., Wednesday, August 16).
A full, searchable agenda is available online.
Credentialed members of the media are welcome to attend any session at this premier state legislative event of the year. There are no registration fees for journalists but they must register. To do so, please present your press credentials at the onsite press room in the Hermitage A room of the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville.
NCSL is the bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staff of the states, commonwealths and territories. It 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.
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