NCSL Spring Forum

April 14-15, 2011

Washington, D.C.

Summary of Network Agenda and other sessions of interest

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Briefings and Tour of the Pentagon

Women's Legislative Network and the NCSL Military and Veterans' Affairs Task Force

State legislators received a tour of the Pentagon and met with Robert Gordon III, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Military Community and Family Policy. Mr. Gordon shared information about new and ongoing initiatives within the DOD, including a review of military children's educational status, the Spouse Education and Career Opportunities Program, military family life counselors, and the new White House Joining Forces program. Legislators also discussed initiatives in their states with Ed Kringer, the director of the State Liaison and Educational Opportunity offices.

The Women's Legislative Network is planning a session about military community and family policies at the Legislative Summit in San Antonio. Contact Katie Ziegler for more information.

Student Assessments: What Legislators Need to Know

NCSL Education Committee and the Women's Legislative Network

This session featured a discussion of student assessments and the impact for state policy and budgets.

• Moderator: Jane Krentz, National Center on Educational Outcomes, Minnesota
• Panelists: Michael Cohen, Achieve, Washington, D.C.
• Sue Gendron, Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, Washington
• Cornelia Orr, National Assessment Governing Board, Washington, D.C.

Ensuring Retirement Security

NCSL Labor and Economic Development Committee and the Women's Legislative Network

The financial integrity and long-term solvency of Social Security are critical to retirees and workers paying into the system. This session examined the finances of Social Security, explored options for ensuring its long-term stability, and considered ideas for including all workers.

• Moderator: Andrea Wilko, Legislative Fiscal Analyst Office, Utah
• Speaker: Joyce Manchester, Congressional Budget Office, Washington, D.C.
• Speaker:Jeannine Markoe Raymond, National Association of State Retirement Administrators, Washington, D.C.
• Speaker: Cathie Eitelberg, The Segal Company, Washington, D.C.

Opening General Session

John Morton is director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Mr. Morton has strengthened ICE's investigative efforts, and has focused ICE's efforts to remove criminal offenders, recent border violators, those who ignore removal orders, and those who obtain legal immigration status fraudulently.

Women's Legislative Network Planning

Network members discussed ideas for the NCSL Legislative Summit in San Antonio, August 8-11. Stay tuned for more information!

NCSL Reception

Friday, April 15, 2011

General Session Breakfast

Karen Bass, a California congresswoman who honed her political skills in the state legislature, is serving her first term in the U.S. House of Representatives. Bass made history when she became the first African American woman in the nation to serve as speaker of the house in California. She talked about the current budget negotiations and her perspective as a former legislator.

Food Systems: Cultivating Economic Development and Healthy Communities

NCSL Health Committee; Human Services and Welfare Committee

Bringing healthy food to children and communities can be an avenue to a vibrant economy. Learn about efforts to create a healthy, sustainable food system. Hear how state policy options can support these efforts and reap both economic and health benefits.

• Moderator: Representative Elaine D. Harvey, Wyoming
• Panelists: Senator Brenda J. Council, Nebraska
• Diana Endicott, Good Natured Family Farms, Kansas
• G. David Fikes, Food Marketing Institute
• Representative Dwight Evans, Pennsylvania

Foreclosures: Strategies for Saving the Neighborhood

NCSL Communications, Financial Services and Interstate Commerce Committee and Women's Legislative Network

The housing market is still in turmoil with record numbers of homes in foreclosure. State policymakers are crafting legislation to help homeowners facing foreclosure and address issues in the foreclosure process. This session addressed what policymakers and lenders are doing to address problems with the process and ensure fair treatment for homeowners.

• Moderator: Representative Greg Wren, Alabama
• Moderator: Linda Pittsford, Legislative Council, Texas Legislature 
• Panelist: Senator Curtis S. Bramble, Utah
• Panelist: Chelsea Crucitti, Mortgage Bankers Association, Washington, D.C.
• Panelist: Jeanne Fekade-Sellassie, National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling Progam, NeighborWorks America, Washington, D.C.

General Session Luncheon

Jim Leach is chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities. He previously served 30 years representing southeastern Iowa in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he founded and co-chaired the Congressional Humanities Caucus. Leach spoke about bipartisanship and civility.

Bankruptcy, Defaults, Debt, Pensions. Do States Need a Federal Rescue?

NCSL Budgets and Revenue Committee; Labor and Economic Development Committee

Do states need the federal government to authorize bankruptcy protection for them, fix state pensions, and statutorily guard against state and local government debt obligation defaults? Engage in a thorough discussion and examination of these issues and policy alternatives with federal policymakers, academics and meeting participants.

Spring Forum Business Meeting

The business meeting features consideration of policy resolutions that the 12 Standing Committees adopted earlier in the Forum.

NCSL Reception