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Govs On Deck – September 13, 2021

Govs on Deck

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Ah, another Monday. Welcome to “Govs on Deck”! As a reminder, your favorite newsletter comes out on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. 

As always, questions or suggestions? Send me a note at pawlak@dga.net

You can find us all on Twitter too – @A_Tall_Turner, @CEAmestoy, @SamNewton, @MadelinePawlak, and @TaylorLeighScof.

We want this to be helpful, so let us know what other info/what other formats you’d like to see for these updates.

Dem Govs Get It Done: 

NOTE: This is an overview of recent actions, not a comprehensive roundup of everything our incredible governors are doing. Want more examples? Send me an email and I can help you track down answers.

#BuildBackBetter:

  • ILLINOIS Gov. JB PRITZKER and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced a new $50 million capital program designed to bring forward investments to revitalize commercial corridors and main street areas statewide. The latest installment of the Rebuild Illinois capital program will leverage funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to provide grants for construction, repair and modernize public infrastructure amenities to boost jobs, improve quality of life and stimulate economic activity for areas hit hardest during COVID-19.
  • PENNSYLVANIA Gov. Tom WOLF sent a letter to the Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation sharing his priorities for Pennsylvania as the US Congress considers major aspects of President Joe Biden’s American Families Plan. The governor said, “The American Families Plan will have life-changing impacts on Pennsylvanians and I’m grateful that President Biden shares my priorities for hard-working families across this commonwealth and country. As Congress considers this historic plan, I urge our representatives to consider key aspects of this critical piece of legislation that will make crucial investments in the American people and pave the way for a sustained and equitable economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.”
  • WISCONSIN Gov. Tony EVERS and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services announced $58.4 million in funding for local and tribal health departments to continue their work responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and build a strong recovery. The funding comes from the American Rescue Plan Act and adds to the $106.5 million the Evers Administration has already allocated to local and tribal health departments for COVID-19 response activities in 2021.

COVID-19 response:

Vaccines:

  • PENNSYLVANIA Gov. Tom WOLF sent a letter to Senate and House leadership and chairs of the Senate Health & Human Services Committee in response to their request seeking data on COVID-19 from the Department of Health. The governor said the Wolf Administration will be releasing vaccination reports by legislative district so that the General Assembly and public can better understand how well each member’s district is performing.  
  • PENNSYLVANIA Gov. Tom WOLF announced that the Department of Health and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources are partnering to hold ​COVID-19 vaccine clinics at five state parks across the commonwealth to help expand access to the COVID-19 vaccine.

Schools and students:

  • NEW JERSEY Gov. Phil MURPHY announced the availability of a second round of grant applications to further enhance career and technical education in county vocational-technical high school districts and county colleges in New Jersey. These grants are supported by $500 million in bonds authorized by the Securing Our Children’s Future Bond Act. Of the total $500 million authorized in the Bond Act, $275 million was allocated for CTE expansion grants in county vocational-technical school districts and $50 million to county colleges. The remaining Bond Act funds were to be used for security projects and water infrastructure in K-12 schools.  
  • D.C. Mayor Muriel BOWSER reminded DC students and families that, starting this month, all vaccinated District youth ages 12-17 will be eligible to win a $25,000 college scholarship or an iPad with a pair of Beats headphones. As part of the Take the Shot, Youth DC Giveaway, eight students will be selected as potential winners of a $25,000 scholarship through the establishment of a new 529 DC College Savings Plan account, and 32 students will be selected as potential winners of a new iPad and headphones.

Support for front line workers: 

  • KANSAS Gov. Laura KELLY announced $50 million available for hospitals to either provide premium pay or improve retention of nursing resources and support personnel, approved by the SPARK Executive Committee. This emergency funding will provide immediate support for Kansas hospitals to manage the current COVID-19 surge and address critical shortages in nurse staffing across the state.

Beyond COVID-19 

Severe weather:

  • LOUISIANA Gov. John Bel EDWARDS declared a state of emergency for Louisiana in advance of Tropical Storm Nicholas, which has formed in the Gulf of Mexico and is forecasted by the National Weather Service to bring heavy rains and flash flooding to the state in the coming days. Areas affected by hurricanes Ida and Laura, and flash flooding earlier in the year, could see impacts from the tropical weather. As of 6 p.m. on Sunday, there are still 130,478 power outages in Southeast Louisiana caused by Hurricane Ida.
  • NEVADA Gov. Steve SISOLAK was joined by State officials and local leaders to visit wildland fire crews and associated personnel working to protect Nevada’s communities, wildlife, and ecosystems from the Caldor Fire and thank first responders with four different stops in the Tahoe basin, including Governor Sisolak and Nevada State Senator Chris Brooks serving lunch to firefighters.

Hurricane Ida: 

  • NEW JERSEY Gov. Phil MURPHY provided an update on preliminary fatalities and New Jerseyans who have been reported missing as a result of Tropical Storm Ida.  The governor said, “I am deeply saddened to report two additional fatalities, bringing our total to 29 New Jerseyans who have lost their lives to this storm. Our thoughts and prayers are with every family and community mourning a loved one and of those who remain missing.” 
  • NEW YORK Gov. Kathy HOCHUL announced Suffolk and Sullivan Counties are approved to be added to the previously declared Major Disaster Declaration as a result of the devastating floods caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida earlier this month. Approval is based on joint damage assessments by New York State and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
  • PENNSYLVANIA Gov. Tom WOLF announced that President Joe Biden approved his request to declare a major disaster in Pennsylvania following heavy rainfall, severe flash flooding, and tornadoes from Tropical Depression Ida that impacted Pennsylvania on August 31, 2021, through September 5, 2021.

Reproductive rights:

  • CONNECTICUT Gov. Ned LAMONT posted a video message onto his social media channels encouraging businesses in states that are restricting the rights of women to consider relocating their companies to Connecticut, where the state’s family-friendly policies and overall quality of life are among the best in the nation.

Health care: 

  • ILLINOIS Gov. JB PRITZKER’s administration announced The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services has awarded a new central Illinois Healthcare Transformation Collaborative $18 million as part of the inaugural round of Healthcare Transformation funding. The collaborative will work to address systemic obstacles individuals and families face in accessing quality health care through new initiatives that address technology gaps, expand telehealth services, and more.

September 11th:

  • NEW YORK Gov. Kathy HOCHUL, on the 20th anniversary of 9/11, proposed legislation that would allow National Guard members to qualify as veterans under New York State law. Governor Hochul has also issued a Citation honoring members of the New York National Guard for their exemplary service both during and after the events of September 11, 2001.
  • NEW YORK Gov. Kathy HOCHUL signed three pieces of legislation to ensure all first responders who participated in the World Trade Center rescue, recovery, and cleanup operations can access benefits available to them. The bills make it easier for WTC first responders to apply for benefits, by both expanding the criteria for defining WTC first responders and allowing online submissions of notice that members of a retirement system participated in WTC rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations.

Schools and students:

  • DELAWARE Gov. John CARNEY and First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney encouraged students and families to read throughout the school year by promoting the new Story Walks created in partnership with the Delaware Department of Education, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, the Delaware Division of Libraries and Syncretic Press, a multi-lingual book publisher based in Wilmington.

Redistricting:

  • OREGON Gov. Kate BROWN called the Oregon Legislature into a special legislative session in order to adopt new congressional and legislative district maps, the next step in the census and redistricting process. The special session will begin on Monday, September 20 at 8:00 a.m. The Oregon Constitution directs the Legislature to reapportion legislative districts every ten years, following the U.S. Census.
  • WISCONSIN Gov. Tony EVERS together with Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul, announced a move asking a federal court to allow Gov. Evers to intervene in a lawsuit filed last month that asks a federal court to draw the state’s next set of electoral maps. The governor’s motion, filed by Attorney General Kaul and the Wisconsin Department of Justice, contends Wisconsin law recognizes a joint role for both the governor and the Legislature in the redistricting process, and therefore that the governor should have the opportunity to provide input in the litigation.

Support for families:

  • COLORADO Gov. Jared POLIS, Sen. Michael Bennet, and the state of Colorado announced a statewide campaign to get eligible families the Child Tax Credit and stimulus payments.  Now through October 15, families can use a simple, easy-to-use mobile application on their phones that is available in English and Spanish. Submitting information via this portal will allow families to directly file a 2020 simplified tax return with the IRS so they can claim all eligible advance CTC and stimulus payments.  After October 15, the IRS will only accept paper applications until next year.

Tourism:

  • CONNECTICUT Gov. Ned LAMONT the launch a new fall marketing campaign to promote safe travel and fuel the Connecticut tourism industry’s continued economic recovery. Called “Full Color Connecticut,” the campaign features the state’s renowned fall foliage while paying tribute to all the other colors and experiences state residents and visitors can enjoy in Connecticut this autumn – from the golds of corn mazes to the blues of coastline sails and the ambers of craft beer.

Economic development:

  • VIRGINIA Gov. Ralph NORTHAM and Rep. Morgan Griffith announced eight new projects to receive funding from Virginia’s Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization grant program. The program is administered by the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy and is designed to boost the local economies of Virginia’s coalfield region.

Other efforts:

  • ILLINOIS Gov. JB PRITZKER and State Fire Marshal Matt Perez joined firefighters to remember seven fallen members at the 28th Annual Fallen Firefighter Memorial and Medal of Honor Ceremony. During the ceremony, the governor and Fire Marshall also honored firefighters who went above and beyond on the job, displaying courage, pride and honor while protecting communities across the state.
  • NEW YORK Gov. Kathy HOCHUL joined Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin to Attend Church Services at Abyssinian Baptist Church.

 

Stay safe, get your shot, wear a mask (when needed), and wash your hands. See you all on Wednesday!