Gov. Doug Burgum today attended a business session at the White House with President Donald Trump and members of his cabinet while in Washington, D.C., for the National Governors Association’s annual Winter Meeting.
The President addressed the governors in the State Dining Room, delivering remarks about job growth, workforce development and trade negotiations; the administration’s efforts to reduce taxes, regulations and the price of prescription drugs and health care; and the need for criminal justice reform, border security and rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure, among other topics.
“We’re here to forge bonds of cooperation between our federal, state, and local governments as we strive to deliver a safe, bright, and prosperous future for every community in our magnificent nation,” President Trump said.
Afterward, Burgum participated in a session on modernizing and rebalancing trade and growing exports with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, Administrator Linda McMahon of the U.S. Small Business Administration, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and five other governors. The session included discussion about soybeans and liquid natural gas – two major exports for North Dakota – and how states will benefit from new trade agreements such as the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
Burgum and seven other governors also participated in a session on combatting the opioid crisis and reducing drug demand with U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, Assistant to the President and Senior Counselor to the President
Kellyanne Conway and Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Jim Carroll. Behavioral health and addiction is one of the Burgum/Sanford administration’s five strategic initiatives.
“We’re thankful for the opportunity to engage with President Trump and his administration on the challenges facing our states and how we can partner with the federal government to find solutions that will benefit North Dakotans and all Americans,” Burgum said.