1
FILED POLICY RESOLUTIONS – July 30, 2020
BLOCK ONE - HEALTH (To be voted as a block, see Process)
1) Resolution in Support of Addressing Older Adult Malnutrition as Part of Quality Healthcare
2) Resolution Recognizing the Need to Streamline Healthcare Business Through Administrative Simplification
3) Resolution to Reduce Barriers and Improve Access to Healthcare Through Telehealth
4) Resolution on the Importance of Sustaining Telehealth Services Beyond COVID-19
5) Resolution in Support of Ovarian Cancer Disease and Awareness
6) Resolution in Support of Educating the Public on Available Alzheimer’s Resources
7) Resolution In Support of Meningococcal Disease Awareness
BLOCK TWO - AGRICULTURE AND FOOD (To be voted as a block, see Process)
8) Resolution on the Importance of Farm to Fork Essential Workers
9) Resolution on The Importance of Agriculture to America and the Importance of World Markets to Agriculture
10) Resolution Raising Awareness To Address Food Insecurity & Hunger
BLOCK THREE - THE ECONOMY & ECONOMIC RECOVERY DRIVERS (To be voted as a block, see Process)
11) Resolution Recognizing That Policymakers Can Help Foster a Housing-Led Economic Recovery
12) Resolution in Support of the Creative Economy as a Vehicle for Economic Recovery
13) Resolution Recognizing the Economic Importance of Outdoor Recreation
14) Resolution in Support of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Collaborations Driving Innovation and the U.S. Economy
15) Resolution In Support of Sustainable Infrastructure Solutions to Improve Driver Safety and Support Economic Growth
-Continued to p. 2
2
BLOCK FOUR - GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY (To be voted as a block, see Process)
16) Resolution Recognizing The Importance of the 2020 Census and Encouraging Participation Towards a Complete Count
17) Resolution In Support of Cooperative Purchasing In State Government
18) Resolution in Recognition of National Arts & Humanities Month
19) Resolution in Support of Robust Broadband Internet Availability, Adoption, and Use Programs
Resolutions to be Voted Individually
20) Resolution on the Importance of Biosimilar Medicines for Preventing, Treating, and Curing Diseases, and Saving Costs in State Government
National Lieutenant Governors Association
1 Resolution in Support of Addressing Older Adult Malnutrition as Part of Quality 2 Healthcare
3 WHEREAS, nutrition is necessary for healthy aging; however, older adults’ poor nutrition (most often 4 protein calorie malnutrition) continues as a growing health crisis, and
5 WHEREAS, older adult malnutrition is exacerbated by the global COVID-19 health pandemic that has 6 intensified disparities and social isolation, and
7 WHEREAS, up to one out of two older adults is at risk of becoming or is malnourished and food insecurity 8 can further increase malnutrition risk, a problem compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, and
9 WHEREAS, the cost of disease-associated malnutrition in older adults remains high, with the U.S. spending 10 $15.5 billion per year in direct medical costs on disease-associated malnutrition and individual states 11 incurring costs of $25 million to $1.7 billion yearly, and
12 WHEREAS, malnutrition and its complications impact health outcomes for both health systems and older 13 adults and their families, including increasing readmission rates, lengths of stay, and healthcare costs and 14 prolonging recovery, and
15 WHEREAS, older adult malnutrition can be addressed by implementing systematic screening, assessment, 16 diagnosis, and intervention across the continuum of care, including through telehealth services, and
17 WHEREAS, clinical quality measures can help improve the delivery of malnutrition care, and the Centers 18 for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for the first time has approved multiple malnutrition-specific 19 clinical quality measures for a CMS quality management system, and
20 WHEREAS, a collaborative effort among key stakeholders in the public and private sectors continues to be 21 required to reduce and prevent malnutrition among older adults and the National Blueprint: Achieving 22 Quality Malnutrition Care for Older Adults, 2020 Update recommends specific strategies to achieve this, and
23 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA) 24 encourages states to develop state-level goals to identify and reduce malnutrition among older adults, address 25 malnutrition risk in pandemic and emergency preparedness planning, include malnutrition care in state 26 healthcare quality improvement initiatives (especially those programs focused on hospital readmission 27 reduction, care transitions, and accountable care), add malnutrition awareness to state public health 28 campaigns focused on older adults, recognize Malnutrition Awareness WeekTM, and include malnutrition 29 care education in healthcare professional curriculum and training programs.
Page 1 of 2
National Lieutenant Governors Association
30 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that NLGA urges CMS to move forward and adopt malnutrition quality 31 measures in additional quality reporting programs (including the inpatient rule) as well as evaluate other 32 potential policy levers (such as integrating malnutrition in CMS Innovation Center Pilots, Advanced Payment 33 Models, Population Health Initiatives, and the Oncology Care First model) that will support healthy aging 34 and benefit older adults across our nation.
ADOPTED, this day, the _____ of July, 2020.
Sponsors: Lt. Governor Pamela Evette (R – South Carolina), Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist (D – Michigan), Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long (D – Delaware)
Page 2 of 2
National Lieutenant Governors Association
1 Resolution Recognizing the Need to Streamline Healthcare Business Through 2 Administrative Simplification
3 WHEREAS, administrative simplification refers to efforts to standardize and streamline business 4 processes in healthcare to reduce provider and payer burden, to curb systemic inefficiencies and 5 complexities, to improve patient access to healthcare, and to achieve financial savings, and
6 WHEREAS, administrative simplification includes initiatives to standardize common forms used in 7 payer-provider transactions, establish a single process for data collection and verification for provider 8 credentialing, adopt standard response times and operating rules for prior authorization, and ensure 9 healthcare provider data is accurate, and
10 WHEREAS, Congress recognized the need to promote administrative simplification, passing the Health 11 Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) which, in part, mandated the Department 12 of Health and Human Services (HHS) adopt standards to support uniformity in information exchange 13 through the U.S. health care system, and
14 WHEREAS, in 2010, Congress expanded HIPAA’s administrative simplification provisions in the 15 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) by establishing operating rules to set requirements 16 specifying the information that must be included when conducting certain HIPAA transactions to 17 promote consistency, and
18 WHEREAS, many states have introduced initiatives to promote administrative simplification including 19 requirements for standard provider credentialing applications, electronic prior authorization, 20 standardizing provider data sets for directories and establishing multi-stakeholder workgroups to study 21 and evaluate mechanisms to reduce health care administrative costs and complexities, and
22 WHEREAS, spending on healthcare administration costs an estimated $350 billion annually in the 23 United States due to inefficiency and complexity, and
24 WHEREAS, despite healthcare industry progress to automate and reduce costs associated with 25 administrative functions, the United States still spends more on healthcare and administrative services 26 than any other developed nation.
27 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Lieutenant Governors Association 28 recognizes the need to streamline health care business processes through administrative simplification.
29 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that less complexity in healthcare administration could contribute to 30 improved access to care, reduced provider burden and cost savings.
Page 1 of 2
National Lieutenant Governors Association
31 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Lieutenant Governors Association encourages 32 payers, providers and consumers to work collaboratively to study and evaluate solutions to reduce health 33 care administrative cost and complexity through standardization, simplification and technology.
ADOPTED, this day, the _____ of July, 2020.
Sponsors: Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch (R – Indiana), Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax (D – Virginia), Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist (D – Michigan), Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford (R – Maryland)
Page 2 of 2
National Lieutenant Governors Association
1 Resolution to Reduce Barriers and Improve Access to Healthcare Through 2 Telehealth
3 WHEREAS, the use of telehealth (audio contact with or without a video connection) has expanded widely across 4 the country in response to COVID-19, allowing physicians and other health care professionals to continue 5 providing health care to patients while minimizing the spread of the coronavirus and preventing coronavirus deaths.
6 WHEREAS, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) declared payment for remote patient care in 7 March, telehealth became the de facto vehicle to provide all noncritical patient care to reduce the transmission of 8 COVID-19.
9 WHEREAS, Third-party payers are increasing and expanding payment policy for telehealth following CMS' lead. 10 Hospitals and practices are adapting to this new flexibility and transitioning from face-to-face visits to telehealth 11 visits.
12 WHEREAS, telehealth has gained widespread acceptance by patients, physicians, and other clinicians across 13 specialties, and will remain an integral part of health care delivery when the pandemic emergency has passed.
14 WHEREAS, telehealth may particularly benefit high-risk patients, such as those with heart disease, who may be 15 more vulnerable to COVID-19 and other illnesses, by providing them with an alternative to in person visits.
16 WHEREAS, according to the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, telehealth has the potential to make 17 health care more personalized, efficient, and coordinated; it has the potential to improve efficiency, patient and 18 clinician satisfaction, and health outcomes.
19 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA) 20 support efforts by states to reduce barriers and improve appropriate access to healthcare through telehealth.
ADOPTED, this day, the ___ day of July, 2020.
Sponsors: Lt. Governor Pamela Evette (R – South Carolina), Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist (D – Michigan), Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long (D – Delaware), Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser (R – Louisiana), Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford (R – Maryland)
Page 1 of 1
National Lieutenant Governors Association
1 Resolution on the Importance of Sustaining Telehealth Services Beyond COVID-19
2 WHEREAS, states’ implementation and flexibility to enable broad deployment of telehealth service during 3 COVID-19 has ensured critical access to both physical and mental health services, and
4 WHEREAS, these provisions have heeded the call for millions of Americans to receive brain health services 5 during this global pandemic, which has caused increased depression, anxiety substance use disorder and other 6 like conditions, and
7 WHEREAS, the American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the National 8 Association of Social Workers, the National Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health America have 9 called on Governor’s to ensure telehealth services are sustained, while ensuring minimal disruption in current 10 services, which provides greater safe guards to patient safety as local economies start to reopen, and
11 WHEREAS, Telehealth expansion includes, but is not limited to the elimination of geographic and 12 originating site restrictions, which allows services to new patients as well as existing patients; loosening of 13 technology requirements for telehealth and allowance of additional technologies such as smartphones; 14 additional CPT codes allowed for telehealth; allowance of audio only services; parity in reimbursement 15 between face-to-face services and telehealth, and
16 WHEREAS, as states lift restrictions and the workforce continue to open, brain health services, including 17 mental health and substance use disorder treatment, will continue to increase. These services will be in 18 greater demand well beyond COVID-19, and
19 WHEREAS, not only would sustained telehealth services ensure greater continuity of care, but assist in the 20 transition of any specific care plan developed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
21 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Lieutenant Governors Association encourages 22 the Governor of States and Territories to consider making telehealth readily available moving forward.
23 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Lieutenant Governors Association supports and 24 appreciates the frontline behavioral health professionals who continue to provide critical services and 25 resources to individuals throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
ADOPTED, this day, the _____ of July, 2020.
Page 1 of 2
National Lieutenant Governors Association
Sponsors: Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist (D – Michigan), Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long (D – Delaware), Lt. Governor Kevin Meyer (R – Alaska), Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford (R – Maryland)
Page 2 of 2
National Lieutenant Governors Association
1 Resolution in Support of Ovarian Cancer Disease and Awareness
2 WHEREAS, ovarian cancer is the deadliest of all female reproductive system cancers, and
3 WHEREAS, the American Cancer Society estimates approximately 22,530 women newly diagnosed with 4 ovarian cancer in 2019, and approximately 13,980 deaths, and
5 WHEREAS, approximately 50 percent of new cases of ovarian cancer are diagnosed in women over 63 6 years of age, with women between 25 and 54 years of age accounting for approximately 25 percent of the 7 cases, and
8 WHEREAS, one in 78 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer during her lifetime, and
9 WHEREAS, if the disease is detected at its earliest state (Stage 1), the five-year survival rate is more than 10 92 percent, and
11 WHEREAS, most new cases of ovarian cancer are diagnosed at Stage 3 or later, meaning the cancer has 12 already begun to spread to the lymph nodes and outside of the pelvis, and
13 WHEREAS, ovarian cancer is difficult to detect early, there is no simple and reliable way to screen for 14 this disease, symptoms are often not clear until later stages, and most women are diagnosed without being 15 at high risk, and
16 WHEREAS, it is imperative for all women to pay attention to their bodies, and notify healthcare providers 17 about any unexplained abnormalities, such as abdominal pain, pressure, and swelling, and
18 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Lieutenant Governors Association 19 recognizes the hardship that ovarian cancer brings to people and families across the country, and supports 20 efforts for earlier diagnosis and access to treatment to improve health outcomes for women.
21 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that NLGA recognizes all those committed to advancing the fight 22 against ovarian cancer through research, advocacy and quality care, with a renewed commitment to a 23 future free from all cancer forms.
ADOPTED, this day, the _____ of July, 2020.
Sponsors: Lt. Governor Pamela Evette (R – South Carolina), Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist (D – Michigan), Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera (D – Colorado)
Page 1 of 1
National Lieutenant Governors Association
1 Resolution in Support of Educating the Public on Available Alzheimer’s Resources
2 WHEREAS, Alzheimer’s disease, “the most common cause of dementia,” causes the development of 3 memory loss and cognitive disabilities so severe that patients’ daily lives are uprooted1, and
4 WHEREAS, Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease, worsening over several years2, and
5 WHEREAS, Alzheimer’s is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States,3 and 122,019 people 6 died from Alzheimer’s disease in 20184, and
7 WHEREAS, 5.8 million American’s currently live with Alzheimer’s – a number expected to rise to 8 roughly 14 million by 20505, and
9 WHEREAS, “every 65 seconds someone in the United States develops” this chronic condition6, and
10 WHEREAS, deaths from Alzheimer’s increased by 146% between 2000 and 20187, and
11 WHEREAS, 54% of those aged 45 and older with subjective cognitive decline have not talked to a 12 health care provider about their memory issues8 and 50% of primary care physicians believe that the 13 medical profession is not ready for the growing number of people with Alzheimer's or other dementias9, 14 and
15 WHEREAS, many people with this chronic condition are not diagnosed10, and
16 WHEREAS, caring for persons with Alzheimer’s and dementia in 2020 will cost the nation $305 17 billion.11
1 https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-alzheimers 2 https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-alzheimers 3 https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/facts-figures 4 https://alz.org/media/Documents/alzheimers-facts-and-figures.pdf 5 https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/facts-figures 6 https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/facts-figures 7 https://alz.org/media/Documents/alzheimers-facts-and-figures.pdf 8 https://alz.org/media/Documents/subjective-cognitive-decline-in-us.pdf 9 https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/facts-figures 10 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2787842/ 11 https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/facts-figures Page 1 of 2
National Lieutenant Governors Association
18 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the members of the National Lieutenant Governor’s 19 Association (NLGA) will work within their respective states to improve awareness and organization of 20 Alzheimer’s resources through public education campaigns to generate knowledge on available local, 21 state, and national resources, and to increase the percentage of people with Alzheimer’s accessing these 22 resources.
23 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that NLGA members will work within their respective states to 24 implement or improve continuing education for doctors regarding Alzheimer’s.
25 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that NLGA supports the National Alzheimer’s Plan in its goal to 26 prevent and effectively treat Alzheimer’s disease by 2025.
ADOPTED, this day, the _____ of July, 2020.
Sponsors: Lt. Governor Pamela Evette (R – South Carolina), Lt. Governor Josh Green (D – Hawaii), Lt. Governor Tim Griffin (R – Arkansas), Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford (R – Maryland), Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton (D – Illinois)
Page 2 of 2
National Lieutenant Governors Association
1 Resolution In Support of Meningococcal Disease Awareness
2 WHEREAS, meningococcal disease is any infection caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitides, or 3 meningococcus, and
4 WHEREAS, 1 in 10 people are carriers for these bacteria with no signs or symptoms of disease, and 5 sometimes Neisseria meningitis bacteria can cause illness, and
6 WHEREAS, meningococcal disease is spread from person to person via the exchange of the bacteria 7 through respiratory and throat secretion during close or lengthy contact, and
8 WHEREAS, meningococcal disease can progress rapidly and result in long-term sequelae or death as 9 early as 24 hours from onset. 10%-20% of survivors experience long-term sequelae such as amputations, 10 deafness, and neuro-developmental deficits, and
11 WHEREAS, in 2018, there were 329 cases of meningococcal disease in the United States, and
12 WHEREAS, infants under one year of age, as well as young adults between the ages of 16 and 23, are 13 most commonly impacted by this disease, and
14 WHEREAS, three meningococcal serogroups (B, C, and Y) are responsible for most meningococcal 15 disease cases in the U.S., with serogroup B, causing more than one-third of all cases, and
16 WHEREAS, there are vaccines that help provide protection against all five serogroups (A, B, C, W and 17 Y) commonly seen in the United States, and
18 WHEREAS, vaccination for serogroups A, C, W and Y is routinely recommended by the Centers for 19 Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and
20 WHEREAS, in 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on 21 Immunization Practices recommended that decisions to vaccinate adolescents and young adults 16 through 22 23 years of age against serogroup B meningococcal disease should be based on shared clinical decision- 23 making between the patient and health care provider, and
24 WHEREAS, it is critical that students, parents, educators, and health care providers understand the 25 dangers of meningitis B and are aware that a vaccine is available to prevent disease resulting from this 26 serogroup, and
Page 1 of 2
National Lieutenant Governors Association
27 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Lieutenant Governors Association hereby 28 recognizes the importance and awareness of meningococcal disease and all five dangerous strains of 29 meningococcal disease, including meningococcal B.
ADOPTED, this day, the _____ of July, 2020.
Sponsors: Lt. Governor Mike Cooney (D – Montana), Lt. Governor Adam Gregg (R – Iowa)
Page 2 of 2
National Lieutenant Governors Association
Resolution on the Importance of Farm to Fork Essential Workers
WHEREAS, on January 31, 2020, the United States Department of Health and Human Services declared a national public health emergency, and
WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020 the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic, and
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, President Donald J. Trump issued a proclamation declaring that the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States constitutes a national emergency, and
WHEREAS, on March 19, 2020, the Department of Homeland Security issued guidance on the essential critical infrastructure workforce, which included food and agriculture.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Lieutenant Governors Association recognizes the importance of the Food & Agriculture supply chain as an essential industry which is often referenced as farm to fork.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Lieutenant Governors Association supports and appreciates the essential workers who have continued to produce the high-quality food and beverage products Americans rely on for nutrition despite the challenges of the pandemic.
ADOPTED, this day, the _____ of July, 2020.
Sponsors: Lt. Governor Pamela Evette (R – South Carolina), Lt. Governor Mike Foley (R – Nebraska), Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist (D – Michigan), Lt. Governor Adam Gregg (R – Iowa), Lt. Governor Bethany Hall- Long (D – Delaware), Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul (D – New York), Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe (R – Missouri), Lt. Governor Kate Marshall (D – Nevada), Lt. Governor Dan McKee (D – Rhode Island), Lt. Governor Randy McNally (R – Tennessee), Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser (R – Louisiana), Lt. Governor Lynn Rogers (D – Kansas), Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford (R – Maryland), Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton (D – Illinois), Lt. Governor David Zuckerman (D – Vermont)
Page 1 of 1
National Lieutenant Governors Association
1 Resolution on The Importance of Agriculture to America and the Importance of 2 World Markets to Agriculture
3 WHEREAS, two million farms dot America’s rural landscape and America’s farmers and ranchers 4 represent the heart of America’s rural communities, providing employment along the value chain of 5 providing high-quality and affordable food to the world, and
6 WHEREAS, America’s farmers and ranchers are critical contributors to the U.S. economy, ensuring a 7 safe and reliable food supply, and supporting job growth and economic development – especially in 8 small towns and rural areas, and
9 WHEREAS, the productivity of U.S. agriculture is growing faster than domestic demand for food and 10 fiber; consequently, U.S. farmers and agricultural businesses rely heavily on global export markets to 11 sustain prices and revenues, and
12 WHEREAS, over the past 25 years, the share of U.S. agriculture production exported around the globe 13 has risen in both value and volume, proving food and agricultural exports are a successful and valuable 14 part of the U.S. economy, and
15 WHEREAS, per the Congressional Research Service, global exports generate 20% of U.S. farm income 16 (December 2018); therefore, continued trade is vital for creating markets for U.S. farm and food 17 products, while supporting U.S. jobs and rural economic activity, and
18 WHEREAS, The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) alone is projected to bring farmers and 19 ranchers more than $2 billion in additional farm exports (1.1% nationally), per the U.S. International 20 Trade Commission, and increased quotas on U.S. dairy products under USMCA will benefit American 21 dairy farmers by $242 million.
22 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Lieutenant Governors Association 23 recognizes the productivity of U.S. agriculture is growing faster than domestic demand and the U.S. food 24 and agriculture industry—and the rural communities dependent on it—rely heavily on export markets to 25 sustain prices and revenues.
26 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED agriculture and the U.S. economy benefit by reducing barriers that 27 impede US agriculture exports to the world.
28 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED The National Lieutenant Governors Association supports preserving 29 and expanding upon the gains the agriculture sector has achieved from strong exports around the globe.
Page 1 of 2
National Lieutenant Governors Association
30 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED The National Lieutenant Governors Association supports actions to 31 facilitate expanding agricultural exports and recognizes these actions would strengthen the agricultural 32 sector and promote overall economic growth.
ADOPTED, this day, the _____ of July, 2020.
Sponsors: Lt. Governor Pamela Evette (R – South Carolina), Lt. Governor Adam Gregg (R – Iowa), Lt Governor Dan McKee (D – Rhode Island), Lt. Governor Lynn Rogers (D – Kansas)
Page 2 of 2
National Lieutenant Governors Association
1 A RESOLUTION RAISING AWARENESS TO ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY 2 & HUNGER
3 WHEREAS, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service says, in 4 2018, 11% of households were food insecure at least some time during the year, including 4.3% (5.6 5 million households) that had very low food security, and
6 WHEREAS, the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent economic recovery have 7 increased food insecurity and hunger and will continue to contribute to the same, and
8 WHEREAS, efforts to increase the quality, quantity, and availability of food for all ranging from 9 growing and processing food to making food available and eliminating waste, and
10 WHEREAS, leaders can impact food insecurity and hunger through raising awareness of hunger-related 11 issues, identifying potential gaps in the system, connecting resources to people in need, and making sure 12 people know where to get help, and
13 WHEREAS, sharing education and experience on food security, food insecurity, and agriculture 14 provides and promotes ideas and options which may be successfully applied and replicated across the 15 diverse cities, counties, states, territories, and tribal lands.
16 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Lieutenant Governors Association 17 (NLGA) hereby recognizes the community organizations, businesses and industries, farmers, social 18 agencies, religious communities, schools and universities, civic and social clubs, volunteers, and other 19 individuals and groups that lead or participate in projects to confront food insecurity and hunger.
20 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NLGA further encourages the exchange of ideas, innovations, 21 and action to address food insecurity.
22 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NLGA recognizes World Food Day on October 16th, and 23 September as Hunger Action Month as opportunities to highlight areas needed for action and provide a 24 common focus on food insecurity.
ADOPTED, this day, the _____ of July, 2020.
Sponsors: Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist (D – Michigan), Lt. Governor Adam Gregg (R – Iowa), Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long (D – Delaware), Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton (D – Illinois) Page 1 of 1
National Lieutenant Governors Association
1 Resolution Recognizing That Policymakers Can Help Foster a Housing-Led 2 Economic Recovery
3 WHEREAS, homeownership is the bedrock of the American Dream and the foundation on 4 which strong communities, states and the nation are built, and
5 WHEREAS, the nation faces a shortfall of over 1 million homes to affordably house residents, and
6 WHEREAS, a worsening shortage of affordable housing is hurting families and communities 7 nationwide, and
8 WHEREAS, the construction of 100 typical new single-family homes creates 297 full-time jobs and 9 generates $11 million in government revenue, and
10 WHEREAS, construction of 100 typical new rental apartments generates 113 jobs and $4.2 million in 11 government revenue, and
12 WHEREAS, housing contributes approximately 15% to GDP and was deemed an “Essential 13 Infrastructure Business” by the Department of Homeland Security in 2020 because a healthy housing 14 market is critical to a sound economy, and
15 WHEREAS, to prevent worker exposure to the coronavirus, home builders across the nation moved 16 swiftly to adopt new safety standards and public health guidelines so they could remain safely on the job 17 and provide much-needed housing.
18 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Lieutenant Governors 19 Association affirms that home construction must continue to be an integral aspect of the nation’s 20 economic recovery.
21 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Lieutenant Governors Association 22 recommends that as the nation continues to recover from the coronavirus-induced shutdown, state and 23 local elected officials should support the housing sector by acting in a swift and responsible manner to 24 approve permit applications, inspections, and closings to prevent unnecessary bottlenecks in the home 25 building process.
26 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Lieutenant Governors Association believes that it is 27 imperative local building departments receive proper funding so that builders and home buyers do not 28 experience delays and increased fees that could worsen the current housing shortage and exacerbate the 29 housing affordability crisis.
Page 1 of 2
National Lieutenant Governors Association
ADOPTED, this day, the _____ of July, 2020.
Sponsors: Lt. Governor Mike Cooney (D – Montana), Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell (R – Oklahoma)
Page 2 of 2
National Lieutenant Governors Association
1 Resolution in Support of the Creative Economy as a Vehicle for Economic Recovery
2 WHEREAS, arts and culture represent an $878 billion industry in the U.S., comprising a larger share of 3 the nation’s economy (4.5%) than transportation, tourism, and agriculture, and
4 WHEREAS, the nonprofit arts industry alone generates $166.3 billion in annual economic activity, 5 supporting 4.6 million jobs and generating $27.5 billion in government revenue, and
6 WHEREAS, 72% of Americans attend arts or cultural events, spending an average of $31.47 per 7 person, per event, beyond the cost of admission, thereby resulting in vital commercial activity for local 8 businesses and increased tourism, and
9 WHEREAS, in addition to their economic benefits, the arts raise community spirits and morale, with 10 67% of the nation’s 4,500 local arts agencies (LAAs) delivering artistic content to strengthen community 11 cohesion during the COVID-19 pandemic, and
12 WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused an estimated $4.98 billion in economic losses to 13 nonprofit arts organizations throughout the nation, resulting in a $6.6 billion loss in event-relating 14 spending by audiences and a $1.9 billion loss in government revenue, and
15 WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic has likewise caused over 328,000 job losses in arts organizations 16 around the country, as 24% of arts organizations have had to reduce their staff (and 42% are “likely” to 17 reduce staff).
18 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Lieutenant Governors Association 19 continues to provide lieutenant governors and seconds-in-command with data and research 20 demonstrating how artists and cultural organizations can be utilized during the COVID-19 pandemic as 21 tools for economic revival.
22 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Lieutenant Governors Association and its 23 membership remain aware of the value of the arts and the creative economy to revitalize consumer 24 spending, support a robust jobs sector, promote tourism, improve civic pride, and build social cohesion 25 by unifying communities in a time of crisis.
Page 1 of 2
National Lieutenant Governors Association
26 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Lieutenant Governors Association provides best 27 practices and research to lieutenant governors and seconds-in-command as to why including members of 28 the creative economy on any statewide COVID-19 task force, supporting local and statewide funding for 29 the arts and culture sector, and incorporate the arts as a long-term part of core strategic and economic 30 planning, will generate consumer spending across multiple sectors and greatly accelerate economic 31 recovery.
ADOPTED, this day, the _____ of July, 2020.
Sponsors: Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist (D – Michigan), Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long (D – Delaware), Lt. Governor Kate Marshall (D – Nevada), Lt. Governor Kevin Meyer (R – Alaska), Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser (R – Louisiana)
Page 2 of 2
National Lieutenant Governors Association
1 Resolution Recognizing the Economic Importance of Outdoor Recreation
2 WHEREAS, our Nation’s natural landscapes and beautiful waterways provide access to diverse 3 outdoor recreation opportunities to all people with unique and unrivaled natural assets 4 that improve our health, enhance our quality of life, and strengthen our economy, and
5 WHEREAS, our Nation’s beautiful lands, stunning mountains, spectacular canyons, and 6 magnificent waterways represent the best of America to the rest of the world, and
7 WHEREAS, these natural assets draw millions of visitors each year among our states and from 8 around the world who generate $887 billion in consumer spending and approximately $59.2 billion in 9 state and local tax revenues, directly employing some 7.6 million Americans1, and
10 WHEREAS, many of these natural assets contribute to the growth of thriving communities, both urban 11 and rural, and enable Americans to experience world class outdoor recreation close to home and to live 12 an active and healthy lifestyle, and
13 WHEREAS, outdoor recreation builds and supports each of our states’ economies in other significant 14 but less well-known ways, including: 15 1. acting as a critical tool for employee recruitment and retention; 16 2. driving economic development in proximity to recreation opportunities; and 17 3. diversifying our economies in ways that are resistant to recessions, and
18 WHEREAS, the private sector is a key partner in each of our states’ success, and Lieutenant Governors 19 are committed to responsibly partnering with the business community to ensure that our natural 20 assets can sustain economic growth for years to come, and
21 WHEREAS, each of our states is unique, we share a commitment to facilitating peoples love of the 22 outdoors through inclusion and diverse outdoor experiences that have the power to unify communities, 23 to bridge societal divides and to improve the mental and physical health of all people.
24 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Lieutenant Governors Association 25 recognizes the significance and broad economic importance of our nation’s natural assets to all people, 26 and draws particular attention to the fact that this economic importance flows not only directly from 27 outdoor recreation and tourism but also from other significant sources such as attracting people and 28 businesses who build our states’ economy in diverse ways.
1 Outdoor Industry Association, The Outdoor Recreation Economy Report 2017 Page 1 of 2
National Lieutenant Governors Association
29 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NLGA expresses the intention to continue the legacy of 30 supporting and growing the broad economic value of our Nation’s natural assets to benefit all people.
31 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Members of NLGA will encourage and support increased 32 opportunities for individuals and young people with disabilities to not only to enjoy and explore the 33 outdoors, but also to learn the teamwork and leadership skills that will empower them to become great 34 advocates for themselves and others.
35 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Members of NLGA acknowledge the impact of COVID-19 on 36 local and state economies and support actions that will promote outdoor recreation as a means of 37 furthering economic, social, and health benefits in communities throughout the nation during this public 38 health crisis.
39 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NLGA will be an engaged forum for collaboration among 40 states to support the growth of the outdoor recreation industry, to foster conservation and stewardship 41 values, to ensure environmental quality, and to restore sustainable access to the outdoors for current and 42 future generations.
ADOPTED, this day, the _____ of July, 2020.
Sponsors: Lt. Governor Pamela Evette (R – South Carolina), Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist (D – Michigan), Lt. Governor Kate Marshall (D – Nevada), Lt. Governor Kevin Meyer (R – Alaska), Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser (R – Louisiana), Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford (R – Maryland)
Page 2 of 2
National Lieutenant Governors Association
1 Resolution in Support of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 2 Collaborations Driving Innovation and the U.S. Economy
3 WHEREAS, amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory engineers 4 applied space science to create a prototype high-pressure ventilator with 1/7 the parts of a traditional 5 ventilator - all readily available in the supply chain, and
6 WHEREAS, eight U.S. manufacturers will now produce the device, and
7 WHEREAS, in May of 2020, NASA and the first privately built spacecraft used by NASA launched 8 astronauts into space from U.S. soil for the first time in nine years, and
9 WHEREAS, this public-private collaboration may usher in a new era of space flight, and
10 WHEREAS, NASA accomplishments like these ripple through the fabric of American society 11 benefitting manufacturing, medicine, technology, the study of science, and more.
12 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Lieutenant Governors Association 13 (NLGA) applauds NASA for its application of space science to enhance life on this earth and in space.
14 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that NLGA supports NASA in successful collaborations which 15 support innovation and the economy in the United States.
ADOPTED, this day, the _____ of July, 2020.
Sponsors: Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth (R – Alabama), Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist (D – Michigan), Lt. Governor Josh Green (D – Hawaii), Lt. Governor Kevin Meyer (R – Alaska)
Page 1 of 1
National Lieutenant Governors Association
1 Resolution In Support of Sustainable Infrastructure Solutions to Improve Driver 2 Safety and Support Economic Growth
3 WHEREAS, all states require high-quality, durable infrastructure to advance economic growth, boost 4 productivity, support business growth, create jobs, ensure automotive safety, provide a cleaner 5 environment, and improve opportunities and quality of life for all residents, and
6 WHEREAS, commerce requires well-maintained roads, railroads, airports, and ports so that 7 manufacturers can obtain raw materials and parts to deliver finished products to consumers, and
8 WHEREAS, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) rated U.S. infrastructure a D+ or “poor” 9 in its most recent report card on the condition of America’s infrastructurei, and
10 WHEREAS, ASCE estimates the cost of bringing America’s roads and bridges to a state of good repair 11 (a grade of B) by 2025 will require $2 trillionii, and
12 WHEREAS, rebuilding our nation’s roadways can be done in a way that simultaneously enhances the 13 resilience of the infrastructure, balances long-term costs, incorporates technologies that increase driver 14 safety, and mitigates environmental impacts, and
15 WHEREAS, scrap tires are a valuable commodity that can be beneficially recycled into a cost-effective 16 material for a number of civil engineering applications, and
17 WHEREAS, according to the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association, the percentage of scrap tires 18 consumed by beneficial end-use markets has increased from 11 percent in 1990 to 81.4 percent in 19 2017iii, and
20 WHEREAS, continuing the successful management of scrap tires requires expanding economically 21 viable and environmentally sound markets for their consumption, and
22 WHEREAS, adding ground rubber from scrap tires into asphalt has demonstrated performance, safety 23 and environmental benefits including: longer lasting roads that crack and rut less than traditional asphalt, 24 less road spray in wet weather, quieter pavement, and better gripiv, and
25 WHEREAS, researchers at Arizona State University found that adding ground rubber into asphalt to 26 produce rubber modified asphalt mitigates roadway runoff by reducing tire abrasion by 50 percent 27 compared to concrete roadwaysv, and
28 WHEREAS, rubber modified asphalt may be recycled indefinitely, forever diverting scrap tires from 29 landfills, and Page 1 of 3
National Lieutenant Governors Association
30 WHEREAS, these benefits demonstrate the lifecycle impacts of the use of rubber modified asphalt as a 31 sustainable, innovative pavement material which serves motorists, neighborhoods, state departments of 32 transportation and the environment, and
33 WHEREAS, the use of tire-derived aggregate (large shreds of scrap tires) in stormwater infiltration 34 galleries has been found by CalRecyclevi and the University of Minnesotavii to effectively reduce 35 pollutants entering stormwater in urban areas, and
36 WHEREAS, the use of ground tire rubber in rubber modified asphalt and the use of tire-derived 37 aggregate in stormwater infiltration galleries are two examples of innovative solutions to improve the 38 resiliency of infrastructure, reduce lifecycle costs, and promote recycling of scrap tires, and
39 WHEREAS, these benefits are primarily derived by state and local governments, which own over 90 40 percent of non-defense public infrastructure assetsviii and pay 75 percent of the cost of maintaining and 41 improving themix.
42 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Lieutenant Governors Association 43 recognizes the use of scrap tires in rubber modified asphalt and stormwater infiltration galleries as 44 solutions to advance the development of sustainable infrastructure.
45 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Lieutenant Governors Association encourages 46 projects to demonstrate and further research the potential benefits of infrastructure projects that create 47 more sustainable roadways and drive markets for recycled materials, such as scrap tires.
48 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Lieutenant Governors Association will be an 49 engaged forum for collaboration among states to pursue investments in high-quality, durable 50 transportation infrastructure that increases driver safety and mitigates environmental impacts.
ADOPTED, this day, the _____ of July, 2020.
Sponsors: Lt. Governor Pamela Evette (R – South Carolina), Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist (D – Michigan), Lt. Governor Randy McNally (R – Tennessee), Lt. Governor Kevin Meyer (R – Alaska), Lt. Governor Lynn Rogers (D – Kansas), Lt. Governor Josh Tenorio (D – Guam)
i American Society of Civil Engineers 2017 Infrastructure Report Card: https://www.infrastructurereportcard.org/ ii Ibid. iii U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association: 2017 U.S. Scrap Tire Management Summary https://www.ustires.org/system/files/USTMA_scraptire_summ_2017_072018.pdf Page 2 of 3
National Lieutenant Governors Association iv CalRecycle factsheet: GreenRoads – Paving the way with recycled tires: https://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/docs/cr/tires/greenroads/factsheet.pdf v Arizona State University for Arizona Department of Transportation: “Tire Wear Emissions for Asphalt Rubber and Portland Cement Concrete Pavement Surfaces” at 18, 19 (2006). https://azdot.gov/sites/default/files/2019/05/ tire-wear-emissions-for-asphalt- rubber-portland-cement-concrete-April2006.pdf vi CalRecycle Presentation “Civil Engineering Applications Using TDA” at 12, 16 (2017). https://www.green- technology.org/gcsummit17/images/LID_with_TDA_tires_Joaquin_wright.pdf vii University of Minnesota Report: “The Impact of Stormwater Infiltration Practices on Groundwater Quality” at 58 (2014). http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.739.3625&rep=rep1&type=pdf viii Center on Budget and Policy Priorities calculations of Bureau of Economic Analysis data on Fixed Assets, 2015. ix Statement of Peter R. Orszag, Director, Congressional Budget Office, before the Committee on Finance, United States Senate, “Investing in Infrastructure,” July 10, 2008.
Page 3 of 3
National Lieutenant Governors Association
1 Resolution Recognizing The Importance of the 2020 Census and Encouraging 2 Participation Towards a Complete Count
3 WHEREAS, the Constitution of the United States requires an actual enumeration of the population 4 every 10 years (required by Article I, Section 2), with the 2020 count having begun in remote Alaska in 5 January 2020 and elsewhere in the United States in March 2020, and
6 WHEREAS, the goal of the decennial census is to count every person in the United States once, and 7 only once, and in the right place, while eliminating the undercounting and overcounting of specific 8 population groups, problems prevalent in previous censuses, and
9 WHEREAS, the 2020 Census is quick, safe, and easy to complete, with respondents having the ability 10 to complete the census online for the first time, as well as over the phone or through the mail, and
11 WHEREAS, United States Code section 2108(b) of title 44 prohibits the Census Bureau from sharing 12 any personally identifiable information from the decennial census with any part of government or private 13 entity, for any purpose, and
14 WHEREAS, the decennial census is a cornerstone of the representative democracy of the United States, 15 as the data collected through the decennial census is the basis for apportioning among the States seats in 16 the U.S. House of Representatives; and is provided to the States for drawing congressional and 17 legislative district lines, and
18 WHEREAS, complete and accurate census data will help ensure that resources for education, health 19 care, rural development, workforce training, housing, transportation, and other matters are allocated 20 fairly and accurately.
21 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Lieutenant Governors Association: 22 1. Recognizes the importance of the 2020 Census and supports participation and partnerships in helping 23 to ensure a complete, fair and accurate count, and 24 2. Encourages all U.S. residents of the states and territories to respond to the 2020 Census to ensure 25 that all people living in the U.S. are included.
ADOPTED, this day, the _____ of July, 2020.
Page 1 of 2
National Lieutenant Governors Association
Sponsors: Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz (D – Connecticut), Lt. Governor Pamela Evette (R – South Carolina), Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist (D – Michigan), Lt. Governor Kate Marshall (D – Nevada), Lt. Governor Randy McNally (R – Tennessee), Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser (R – Louisiana), Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford (R – Maryland)
Page 2 of 2
National Lieutenant Governors Association
1 Resolution In Support of Cooperative Purchasing in State Government
2 WHEREAS, government procurement and cooperative purchasing plays a significant role in the quality and 3 efficiency of business and government throughout the United States, and
4 WHEREAS, state purchasing operations engage in or have direct responsibility for purchasing goods and 5 services; executing and implementing contracts; creating forecasts and procurement strategies; and developing 6 working relationships with suppliers and state government agencies, and
7 WHEREAS, state and local governments spent $3.25 trillion in 20191, which directly impacts the national and 8 international economies, and
9 WHEREAS, cooperative purchasing is a trusted, efficient, and modern procurement tool used in all 50 states and 10 five U.S. territories to streamline state procurement, and
11 WHEREAS, cooperative purchasing is procurement conducted by or on behalf of one or more government units 12 for the purchase of products and services available for use by other state and local governments through 13 cooperative purchasing statutes or joint exercise of powers statutes, and
14 WHEREAS, the cooperative, competitive, transparent public solicitation and contract award process has many 15 benefits for state and local governments, including administrative efficiencies, competitive national-scale volume 16 pricing, and cost efficiencies generated from economies of scale, and
17 WHEREAS, cooperative procurement is rooted in an open and fair competitive process that ensures maximum 18 competition among industry vendors to the benefit of government, and
19 WHEREAS, the cooperative purchasing solicitation process meets, and often exceeds, government procurement 20 standards and complies with state and federal laws and regulations.
21 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Lieutenant Governors Association expresses 22 support for cooperative purchasing and other procurement strategies that increase cost savings to taxpayers, 23 improve the procurement process at the state and local level, and result in improved efficiencies in state and local 24 government.
ADOPTED, this day, the _____ of July, 2020.
Sponsors: Lt. Governor Mike Cooney (D – Montana), Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist (D – Michigan), Lt. Governor Adam Gregg (R – Iowa), Lt. Governor Tim Griffin (R – Arkansas), Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long (D – Delaware), Lt. Governor Randy McNally (R – Tennessee), Lt. Governor Kevin Meyer (R – Alaska)
1 GovTech Navigator, https://www.govtech.com/navigator/numbers/us-state---2019local-gov-by-the-numbers_121.html Page 1 of 1
National Lieutenant Governors Association
Resolution in Recognition of National Arts & Humanities Month
WHEREAS, the arts and humanities enhance and enrich the lives of all Americans, and
WHEREAS, the arts and humanities affect every aspect of life in America today including the economy, social problem solving, job creation, education, creativity, and community livability, and
WHEREAS, cities and states – through their local and state arts agencies and representing thousands of cultural organizations – have celebrated the value and importance of culture in the lives of Americans and the health of thriving communities during National Arts and Humanities Month for several years, and
WHEREAS, Americans for the Arts will again coordinate this year a national awareness campaign of activities for National Arts and Humanities Month, and
WHEREAS, the nation's 95,000 cultural organizations, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the nation's 4,500 local arts agencies, the arts and humanities councils of the 50 states and U.S. jurisdictions, and the President of the United States have participated in the past and will be asked to participate again this year in this national celebration, and
WHEREAS, the nonprofit arts industry also strengthens our economy by generating $166.3 billion in total economic activity annually, $27.5 billion in government revenue, and by supporting the full-time equivalent of 5 million jobs, and
WHEREAS, the creative economy drives tourism and commerce, supports American workers, makes up 4.5% of the annual GDP and supports economic development, and
WHEREAS, the month of October 2020 has been designated as National Arts and Humanities Month.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Lieutenant Governors Association urges lieutenant governors and seconds-in-command to build partnerships with their local arts agencies and other members of the arts and humanities community in their cities to proclaim, to participate in, and to celebrate the month of October as National Arts and Humanities Month.
ADOPTED, this day, the _____ of July, 2020
Sponsors: Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist (D – Michigan), Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long (D – Delaware), Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser (R – Louisiana)
Page 1 of 1
National Lieutenant Governors Association
1 RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF ROBUST BROADBAND INTERNET 2 AVAILABILITY, ADOPTION, AND USE PROGRAMS
3 WHEREAS, in this era of COVID-19 response and recovery, the nation experienced dramatic shifts to 4 and unprecedented use of tele-health, tele-education, e-commerce, and more, and
5 WHEREAS, the National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA) believes that widespread efforts 6 to promote broadband availability, adoption, and use improve the nation’s long-term competitiveness in 7 a global market, and help to achieve broader improvements in the quality of American life, and
8 WHEREAS, according to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 99% of Americans in urban 9 areas have access to high-speed fixed service, while not quite 80% of rural Americans have access, and 10 just 76% for residents on tribal landsi, and
11 WHEREAS, about 17 million Americans are unable to reap the benefits of the digital ageii, and
12 WHEREAS, Americans that do not have broadband at home are disproportionately lower-income 13 households, racial and ethnic minorities, veterans, seniors, rural residents and people with disabilities; 14 86% of all Hispanics do not subscribe to broadband at home, while 82% of African Americans do not; 15 only 70% of Americans with less than a high school diploma subscribe to broadband at home, and the 16 adoption rate for those with annual household incomes less than $35,000 is only 68%iii, and
17 WHEREAS, data from the U.S. Census Bureau and National Telecommunications and Information 18 Administration shows that 60% of non-adopters cite lack of need or interest as the main reason that they 19 do not subscribe to broadband at home; and 19% cite cost of service or equipment as the main reasoniv, 20 and 21 WHEREAS, while a complex mix of lack of digital skills, cost, and inaccessible hardware and software 22 often work together to limit adoption, and
23 WHEREAS, there are a number of broadband availability and adoption initiatives, and
24 WHEREAS, in 2019, the FCC launched the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund directing up to $20.4 25 billion to expand broadband in unserved rural areas, representing the biggest single step ever by the FCC 26 toward closing the rural digital divide, and
27 WHEREAS, while the federal government has provided important financing for Internet adoption 28 efforts, state and local governments are often in the best position to identify barriers and circumstances 29 unique to their communities, and
Page 1 of 2
National Lieutenant Governors Association
30 WHEREAS, a number of public-private partnerships have been designed to close the digital divide in 31 communities across the country, and
32 WHEREAS, programs include Comcast’s Internet Essentials program, the nation’s largest and most 33 comprehensive broadband adoption program for low-income Americans - connecting millions of people 34 to the internet since 2011, and expanding significantly in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, and
35 WHEREAS, creating the conditions necessary to promote broadband availability and adoption requires 36 multi-stakeholder initiatives from the federal, state and local governments, non-profits and philanthropic 37 organizations and the private industry.
38 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the NLGA recommends that state and territorial 39 governments promote the availability and adoption of broadband through outreach and education, as 40 well as policies directed toward people not connected to the internet for financial, socioeconomic, or 41 digital literacy reasons.
42 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the NLGA calls upon all levels of governments to work cooperatively 43 with the private sector, nonprofits, and academia to develop robust broadband availability, adoption, and 44 use programs.
ADOPTED, this day, the _____ of July, 2020.
Sponsors: Lt. Governor Pamela Evette (R – South Carolina), Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist (D – Michigan), Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long (D – Delaware), Lt. Governor Kate Marshall (D – Nevada), Lt. Governor Randy McNally (R – Tennessee), Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford (R – Maryland) i https://broadbandmap.fcc.gov ii https://broadbandmap.fcc.gov iii https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=broadband&lastDisplayedRow=25&table=S2802&tid=ACSST1Y2018.S2802&hidePreview=tr ue; and https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=B28004&lastDisplayedRow=24&table=B28004&tid=ACSDT1Y2018.B28004&vintage=2018 &hidePreview=true iv https://www.ntia.doc.gov/data/digital-nation-data-explorer
Page 2 of 2
National Lieutenant Governors Association
1 RESOLUTION ON THE IMPORTANCE OF BIOSIMILAR MEDICINES FOR 2 PREVENTING, TREATING AND CURING DISEASES, AND SAVING COSTS IN 3 STATE GOVERNMENT
4 WHEREAS, "biosimilars" are generic biologic medicines approved by the United States 5 Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as highly similar to the originator biologic medicine such that 6 they work in the same way and have no clinically meaningful difference in safety or efficacy, and
7 WHEREAS, biosimilars are approved by the FDA based upon the agency's rigorous standards for 8 safety, potency, efficacy and purity, and
9 WHEREAS, an estimated 1.2 million U.S. patients could gain access to biologics by 2025 as the result 10 of biosimilar availability—with an added benefit to female, lower income, and elderly individuals, and 1
11 WHEREAS, in the EU, 58 biosimilars have been approved and launched while only 17 have been 12 launched in the U.S., and 2
13 WHEREAS, just two percent of the U.S. population uses biologic drugs; and in 2010, the year the 14 biosimilars pathway was created, specialty drugs comprised 25 percent of the national drug spend; and 15 the latest data shows that now nearly half (47.7 percent) of all prescription drugs spending is for 16 specialty drugs, and 3
17 WHEREAS, biosimilars cost nearly 30 percent less than the originator biologics, on average, and are 18 estimated to save the United States health care system as much as $54 billion over the next decade, and
19 WHEREAS, from 2018 to 2020 the potential systemic health savings if biosimilars were used instead of 20 biologics is $24.8 billion, and 4
21 WHEREAS, increased use of biosimilars is estimated to save Medicaid programs between $417 million 22 and $1.2 billion annually, and commercial payers $1.2 to $3.3 billion annually, and 5
1 Biosimilars Council. (2017, September). Biosimilars in the United States: Providing More Patients Greater Access to Lifesaving Medicines. Retrieved from http://biosimilarscouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Biosimilars-Council-Patient-Access-Study.pdf 2 National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions “Biosimilars in the Pharmacy Benefit – Employers Driving Appropriate Use and Transparency.” website 3 The Erisa Industry Committee (ERIC) “BIOSIMILARS: Employers and Employees See Savings, More Competition Needed” https://www.eric.org/biosimilar-initiative/ 4 The Biosimilars Forum https://supportbiosimilars.com/ 5 Pacific Research Institute “The Biosimilar Opportunity: A State Breakdown” www.pacificresearch.org Page 1 of 2
National Lieutenant Governors Association
23 WHEREAS, U.S. self-insured companies could have saved $1.4 billion on just two biologics in 2018 if 24 they utilized biosimilars in their drug spend and patients who took the biosimilar on average had 12 25 percent and 45 percent less out-of-pocket costs than those who took the biologic; and 6
26 WHEREAS, anticompetitive behaviors, such as contracts and policies that prevent biosimilars from 27 being included on formularies and that can prevent patients from switching to biosimilars along with 28 misaligned reimbursement incentives for providers, are inhibiting patient access to, and system savings 29 from, the use of biosimilars.
30 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Lieutenant Governors Association hereby 31 recognize that biosimilar medicines are a critical tool in preventing, treating, and curing disease, as well 32 as lowering spending, and therefore urge the states to identify options to provide enhanced coverage for 33 biosimilar drugs and provide recommendations for improved access.
ADOPTED, this day, the _____ of July, 2020.
Sponsors: Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long (D – Delaware), Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser (R – Louisiana)
6 The Erisa Industry Committee (ERIC) Biosimilars: cost savings and competition. Page 2 of 2