Gov. Doug Burgum will join nearly all of the nation’s governors plus more than 1,500 business, nonprofit and government leaders and others from around the world this weekend at the National Governors Association’s 111th annual Winter Meeting, which runs through Monday in Washington, D.C.
Burgum will participate in a number of sessions with other governors and guest speakers on topics ranging from workforce, trade and agriculture to criminal justice reform, child welfare and education reform, as well as attend meetings and events with President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and administration officials.
“The National Governors Association provides an invaluable forum for governors to share best practices and learn from each other about potential solutions to the common challenges we face as states,” Burgum said. “We are grateful for the opportunity to promote North Dakota, advance our priorities and engage with state and national leaders on these important topics that impact every North Dakotan and every American.”
On Sunday, Burgum will lead a panel titled “Smarter States: Governors Building Better Communities,” in which technology leaders will discussion how technological solutions can help government interact with citizens and businesses – a priority of the Burgum/Sanford administration. North Dakota was one of five states in October to participate in NGA’s “Smarter States, Smarter Communities Learning Lab,” with Colorado, Nevada, New Jersey and Virginia also sending governor-designated teams to explore successful approaches.
Burgum also will meet with members of the bipartisan Western Governors’ Association, which he serves as vice chairman; attend the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s fourth annual Invest in America summit with several governors on Monday; and meet with delegations from Canada and Japan on trade and other issues.
Founded in 1908, the National Governors Association is the nonpartisan association of the nation’s 55 state and territorial governors. Governors from both parties sit on policy committees that help formulate NGA positions on key state-federal issues.