|
ALLEN AND FOX NAMED 2004-05 COMMITTEE CHAIR AND STAFF CHAIR
Representative Sheryl Allen of Utah has been named Chair of NCSL’s Economic Development, Trade & Cultural Affairs Committee for the 2004-05 cycle. Nelson Fox, the Senior Budget Analyst for Ohio’s Legislative Service Commission, has been tapped as Staff Chair. Both have previously served as Vice Chairs for the committee. Vice Chairs and Staff Vice Chairs have not yet been announced. NCSL thanks Representative Peter Lewiss (Rhode Island) and Hannah Shostack (New Jersey) for all their work as they served as the 2003-04 Chair and Staff Chair.
COMMITTEE ENERGIZED AT ANNUAL MEETING IN SALT LAKE CITY
The NCSL Annual Meeting & Exhibition was held in Salt Lake City, Utah on July 19-23. The Economic Development, Trade & Cultural Affairs Committee made the arts industry its primary focus of the week. Melissa Gilbert, President of the Screen Actors Guild, met with committee members to discuss potential economic benefits in states that host the filming of movies and television shows. The Committee also hosted a screening of the recently released “Napoleon Dynamite.” The Committee also held discussions on jobs in the new economy and toured the Huntsman Cancer Institute, a medical research facility. The next meeting of the Standing Committees will be the NCSL Fall Forum, held December 8-10 in Savannah, Georgia. Registration information will be at www.ncsl.org.
NEW POLICIES AND RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED AT ANNUAL MEETING
The Economic Development, Trade & Cultural Affairs Committee adopted one new policy, one action resolution, and two renewals at the 2004 Annual Meeting. “Arts, Culture, and Economic Development” outlines how the arts attract workers and tourists, and encourages collaboration between federal and state governments to take full advantage of the economic benefits from culture and tourism. The “General Agreement on Trade in Services and Electricity” action resolution calls on the U.S. Trade Representative to continue to involve state officials in trade negotiations. The committee also revised “Free Trade and Federalism” and “The North American Free Trade Agreement.” All committee policies are online at www.ncsl.org/statefed/econdev.htm.
FANNIE MAE FOUNDATION TO AWARD $100,000 FOR HOUSING INITIATIVES
The Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation and the Fannie Mae Foundation have created the Fannie Mae Foundation Innovations in American Government Award in Affordable Housing. The grant focuses on policy innovation supporting the development and preservation of affordable housing, including infrastructure investment, tax policy, and regulatory reform relating to housing issues. The application process can be done online, and the deadline for the 2005 award is September 15, 2004. Information and the application are at www.innovations.harvard.edu/.
AFRICAN GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY ACT PUSHED BY UNIQUE COALITION
The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) renewal (HR 4103), a trade promotion act, was pushed through Congress more rapidly than anticipated through the efforts of a unique coalition. Business groups, who typically advocate for trade pacts, were joined by religious groups, anti-poverty groups, and the Congressional Black Caucus. The bill was passed on a voice vote in the House, and agreed to without objection or amendment in the Senate. President Bush signed the AGOA extension on July 13, meeting the September deadline that would have seen the expiration of the third country fabric provision, allowing least developed countries duty free access to apparel made from fabrics of other countries. Without the provision’s extension and with the upcoming expiration of the World Trade Organization’s Agreement on Clothing and Textiles, an agreement that eliminates worldwide apparel quotas in 2005, Africa’s emerging apparel industry would have been wiped out because of increased competition from China and other Asian nations.
|
2003-2004 Officers
Chair
Representative Peter L. Lewiss
Rhode Island
Vice Chairs
Representative Sheryl Allen
Utah
Representative Terri Austin
Indiana
Representative Michael Jackson
Rhode Island
Representative Randy Johnson
Florida
Staff Chair
Hannah Shostack
New Jersey
Staff Vice Chairs
Nelson Fox
Ohio
Committee Staff
Jeremy Meadows
Committee Director
202-624-8664
jeremy.meadows@ncsl.org
Mandy Rafool
Program Principal
303-856-1506
mandy.rafool@ncsl.org
Trina Palmer
Research Analyst
202-624-8695
trina.palmer@ncsl.org
Offices
Headquarters
7700 East First Place
Denver, Colorado 80230
State-Federal Relations
444 North Capitol Street, NW
Suite 515
Washington, DC 20001 |
