2020 ANNUAL REPORT

INSIDE

Chair’s Report: North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum Western Governors’ policy work on rural broadband, water, invasive species Celebrate the West: See winners in regional art competition

WGA 2020 ANNUAL REPORT • 1 WGA 2020 ANNUAL REPORT • 2 Dear Friends and Colleagues,

There is no such thing as a “typical” day for a Governor. And • Rural Broadband: WGA earned victories in Congress and most Governors would agree that recent months have been with federal agencies to improve broadband mapping and extraordinarily atypical. adopt a funding approach that benefits rural schools and libraries. Governors have been on the front lines of the battle against the coronavirus pandemic. Whether making difficult • Invasive species: The Governors created the Western decisions about testing, quarantine, or suspension – and Invasive Species Council to improve collaboration on reopening – of commercial activities, Governors have been regional efforts and advocate for the region at the federal resolute in providing the best for their citizens. level.

The impressive effort by Governors has been a national • Shared Stewardship: WGA and the U.S. Department of phenomenon, but Western Governors have led the way in Agriculture, under a Memorandum of Understanding, have protecting both the lives and livelihoods of their citizens been collaborating on land management with projects while maintaining critical services in urban and rural on wildfire disaster response, vegetation management communities. Last July we launched the Reimagining the in utility corridors, and planning to curb the spread of Rural West Initiative, which fortuitously sought to address cheatgrass. many of the challenges western states face during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Chair’s Initiative has examined WGA’s tireless work to improve the state-federal relationship challenges and highlighted opportunities in rural economic remains a top priority, evidenced by the launch of the development, infrastructure and quality of life organized Western Governors’ Center of Excellence for Improving the around three major pillars: Opportunity, Connectivity and State-Federal Relationship. The online repository of WGA Community. resources on federalism issues includes case studies, reports, correspondence and other products of the The Initiative’s regional workshops attracted experts such as Governors’ research and policy work. rural sociologist Ben Winchester to discuss the state of rural communities, as well as an impressive array of experts who A significant benefit of WGA participation is the chance to explored food insecurity, the future of remote work, and the sit down with fellow Governors to share common challenges impact of cultural heritage and tourism. Each workshop was and ideas. This year’s Cabinet Secretary Breakfast was a hosted by a fellow Western Governor, including New Mexico’s great example, as a record-number six cabinet members Michelle Lujan Grisham, Idaho’s Brad Little, and Oregon’s met with a dozen Western Governors to discuss regional Kate Brown, starting with a kickoff workshop in Fargo, North issues at the headquarters of the Department of the Interior Dakota. in Washington, D.C. Last December, 11 Governors and more than 300 others attended the 2019 Winter Meeting in Las When the impact of the pandemic became clear, WGA swiftly Vegas, Nevada, for public discussions of topics such as the launched a webinar series that explored what it meant for epidemic of missing and murdered indigenous women and the rural communities at the heart of the Initiative’s work. advances in agriculture technology. The series gathered experts who explained how to respond to the challenges facing Main Street businesses, shared Over the past several months, we all have had increased best practices to combat the rise in cybersecurity threats, appreciation for the collaborative, effective policy work of and offered ways to overcome new challenges in natural the Western Governors’ Association and of the tireless, never resources management. “typical,” work being done by Western Governors for the benefit of our great region. Out of this extensive work, WGA has developed a special report on the Initiative that shares best practices and policy With gratitude, recommendations to support vibrant rural communities in the West. You will find an Executive Summary of that work in this 2020 Annual Report and the complete report on WGA’s website (westgov.org).

And that is just some of the policy work accomplished by Western Governors in the past year. To name just a few Doug Burgum, Governor, State of highlights: North Dakota

WGA 2020 ANNUAL REPORT • 3 Dear Friend of the West,

A headline in The New York Times earlier this year proclaimed, “Once Political B-Listers, Governors Lead Nation’s Coronavirus Response.” The accompanying article stated that, “(F)or now, the country is turning to governors, some of them little known on the national scene, for reassurance and leadership in a fashion that sharply breaks from the Washington-centric lens through which government has been viewed in a period of national and celebrity-oriented politics.”

Although the notion that Governors have ever been “political B-listers” is patently absurd, there is no gainsaying that they have fought valiantly on the front lines of the Jim Ogsbury addresses the 2019 Winter Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada. national COVID-19 response. They have made excruciatingly difficult decisions designed vegetation management, cheatgrass control, and effective to contain the spread of the coronavirus, while at the same cross-jurisdictional response to western fire events. Our time working diligently to keep supply lines open, government commitment to advance state-federal cooperation is operating and the economy functioning. also reflected in our ongoing work with federal economic development agencies to deliver assistance more efficiently WGA has responded to the crisis by supporting Governors to rural communities. however possible. The Association has served as a research center, information clearinghouse and mechanism for I am confident that WGA will emerge from the current Governors to discuss common issues, best practices, and public health crisis stronger than ever. In the immediate cross-boundary challenges. future, the Association will, under the leadership of its incoming Chair, Governor Kate Brown of Oregon, examine Despite the threat of COVID-19 and the diversion of resources urgent issues in cross-jurisdictional and cross-boundary to address its effects, WGA made meaningful progress emergency management. WGA is also preparing to launch a throughout the year to advance the Governors’ policy regionally important initiative pertaining to electric vehicle priorities. Reimagining the Rural West, the Chair’s initiative of deployment. Governor Doug Burgum of North Dakota, represents one of the most ambitious such projects in the Association’s recent The burden of leadership is ever heavy, but never heavier history. Built around the pillars of opportunity, connectivity than in times of crisis. Western Governors have borne this and community, the initiative produced findings and weight with dignity, resolve and compassion. It is a singular recommendations that will inform gubernatorial policy and honor to be associated with them during this unprecedented WGA’s rural sustainability work for years to come. time in our nation’s history.

A key priority of Western Governors is improving the state- Respectfully, federal relationship. WGA is proud to have made demonstrable progress to advance this critical goal. Pursuant to a shared stewardship memorandum of understanding executed by WGA leadership with the Secretary of Agriculture, Western Governors are working cooperatively with the James D. Ogsbury, U.S. Department of Agriculture on campaigns to promote WGA Executive Director

4 • WGA 2020 ANNUAL REPORT REALIGNING THE STATE- FEDERAL RELATIONSHIP

Improving the state-federal relationship is among the highest priorities of Western Governors. Accordingly, WGA has established itself as a leading resource on the state-federal relationship and works to educate federal partners about legal requirements for, and benefits of, meaningful engagement with states. States are not stakeholders. They are sovereigns, with constitutional powers, delegated authorities, and essential governmental responsibilities. Consequently, Governors aspire to work in authentic partnership with the federal government, both as co-sovereigns and co-regulators. Federal agencies should engage in meaningful consultation with states whenever a proposed federal action will affect state authorities or otherwise implicate state equities.

USFS Public several favorable changes to a Proposed Handbooks will be available for public Participation Rule Directive, published in January 2020 by comment; USFS, to implement revised regulations • Proposed directives will have a Issue: The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) in governing public participation in the minimum 30-day public comment 2015 issued a Request for Information formulation of agency directives. period – up from 15 in the original about involving the public in the Subject to finalization, the proposal now proposal – and significant directives formulation of its directives. WGA reflects the following: must be available for at least 60 days; expressed that the proposed changes and would have a detrimental effect on • USFS has established an internet- states’ ability to monitor and comment based notice-and-comment system • USFS may engage with elected on USFS actions. for interested persons to view officials of state, local or tribal upcoming changes; governments to exchange views, information, or advice on proposed Action: WGA engaged regularly with • The Service will maintain a quarterly or interim directives without being USFS to explore revisions to the schedule of pending and proposed required to charter a committee proposed process that would improve directives on the agency’s website under the Federal Advisory states’ ability to monitor and provide and publish the schedule in the Committee Act. This, in turn, will open input on proposed USFS regulatory Federal Register; changes. the door for increased consultation • Modifications to both the Forest with states and local communities in Result: WGA’s engagement resulted in Service Manual and Forest Service its policy processes.

Above: Former Western Governors, from left, C.L. “Butch” Otter, Matt Mead and Dennis Daugaard addressed the importance of the state-federal relationship at the 2019 Winter Meeting.

WGA 2020 ANNUAL REPORT • 5 Center of Excellence

WGA launched the Western Governors’ Center of Excellence for Improving the State-Federal Relationship. The online repository of WGA resources on federalism issues includes case studies, reports, correspondence and other products of the Governors’ research and policy work to improve the state-federal relationship.

The Center for Excellence was introduced at WGA’s 2019 Winter Meeting in Nevada, where former governors Dennis Daugaard of South Dakota, Matt Mead of Wyoming, and Butch Otter of Idaho participated in the roundtable, “Discussing the Evolving State-Federal Relationship.” Shared Stewardship Collaboration

WGA has undertaken projects developed through a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2018 with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The projects include: WGA has undertaken several projects developed through a Memorandum of Interagency Wildfire Disaster Understanding with the U.S. Department Response: WGA, in collaboration with of Agriculture, including development the Wildland Fire Leadership Council, of a toolkit to address the spread of is introducing a “roadmap” of federal cheatgrass. assistance to enable local governments and states to better address post-fire needs. WGA produced a webinar series Vegetation Management: WGA will gathering feedback and increasing facilitate a dialogue between federal regional communications about agencies, utilities, State Foresters, and response to the pandemic. Of note other key partners to exchange ideas was the COVID-19 Economic Impacts and discuss innovative uses of federal and Mitigation in Rural Communities tools and authorities for projects in segment. The webinar, which highlights utility corridors. The goal is to identify federal resources available to rural a compilation of tools and authorities, communities to mitigate the economic combined with best practices and impacts of the pandemic, features examples, to enhance utility corridor regional leadership of the Departments vegetation management work. Regional Federal of Agriculture, Housing and Urban Agency Leadership Development, and Health and Human Cheatgrass: Western Governors Services, as well as the Environmental partnered with the USFS on a project During the past year, WGA substantially Protection Agency, Small Business to address the spread of cheatgrass expanded its efforts to work more Administration and Federal Emergency and other invasive annual grasses in closely with the Western regional Management Agency. the West. The Governors-appointed leadership of multiple federal agencies. Western Invasive Species Council WGA hosted two gatherings of WGA continues to pursue cooperative worked with state and federal agency numerous agency officials to address efforts with these agencies and others, staff to develop a toolkit for invasive several cross-jurisdictional, cross- especially with respect to securing the grass managers. border issues in the West. economic future of the rural West.

6 • WGA 2020 ANNUAL REPORT CONNECTIVITY

Western Governors are leaders in the effort to expand rural and tribal community access to broadband infrastructure and other connectivity solutions. WGA has advocated for improved broadband coverage maps and flexible funding strategies that promote rural connectivity. The Governors’ new Policy Resolution, Broadband Connectivity, contains recommendations and strategies to accelerate broadband deployment.

Rural Broadband More Connectivity Options During the past year, the Governors Broadband internet is a modern-day also highlighted how rural schools necessity for businesses, individuals, and tribes can provide community schools and government. Western connectivity solutions through use Governors have successfully engaged of Educational Broadband Service with Congress and federal agencies to spectrum. Additionally, in the context of address the challenge of increasing a proposed rule issued by the FCC, WGA broadband access in rural and tribal promoted the use of TV White Spaces, areas across the West. an innovative connectivity solution for Data and Mapping rural communities. Issue: Knowing precisely where U.S. Department broadband access is not available of Agriculture informs effective investment of public dollars. The Broadband DATA Act, S. USDA manages many rural broadband 1822, addresses those investments. deployment programs that support infrastructure investment in western Action: Governors conducted states. Western Governors consider substantial outreach to federal USDA a valuable partner in delivering agencies and Congress in support of connectivity solutions across the West. the Broadband DATA Act. WGA provided ReConnect Program testimony for the House Committee on Energy and Commerce hearing, Issue: USDA recently launched “Legislating to Connect America: ReConnect, its flagship broadband Idaho-based Fatbeam installs fiber- infrastructure program. Improving the Nation’s Broadband based networks, such as this one, that Maps,” and hosted a webinar on help expand broadband connectivity in Action: Governors offered significant Broadband Data and Mapping that the West. feedback on the ReConnect Program, included an in-depth discussion of S. addressing eligibility criteria and 1822 by Congressional staffers. priority areas for investment. funding for internal connectivity Result: The Governors’ efforts produced Result: The ReConnect Program has upgrades through the FCC’s E-Rate an important legislative victory with the funded 22 grant and seven loan- Program. enactment of S. 1822 in March 2020. grant awards in WGA states, totaling Federal Communications Action: Western Governors advocated approximately $123 million and $109 Commission for the permanent adoption of the million, respectively. pilot funding approach and highlighted Permitting Broadband The FCC is the federal agency primarily additional strategies to encourage Infrastructure responsible for supporting rural E-Rate participation by rural schools broadband deployment. Western and libraries. Issue: The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Governors have provided significant manages the permitting and siting of feedback on FCC rulemakings affecting Result: The FCC permanently broadband infrastructure on its lands rural and tribal broadband access. adopted the pilot funding model in across the West. Efficient and consistent December 2019 and incorporated the permitting practices can help accelerate Issue: Prior to a pilot funding approach Governors’ suggested changes to ease broadband infrastructure deployment adopted in 2014, rural schools and administrative burdens for rural schools in rural areas. libraries struggled to access requisite and libraries. Continued on next page

WGA 2020 ANNUAL REPORT • 7 Continued from previous page Issue: Energy production, storage, Result: H.R. 680 was incorporated transmission and distribution into the National Defense Action: WGA provided supportive infrastructure is a frequent target Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020. comments on a proposed rule to of cyber attacks. Safeguarding the modernize and accelerate USFS’s practices Additional Actions for permitting broadband infrastructure. nation’s energy infrastructure is of paramount importance to Governors. Result: In April 2020, USFS published the Western Governors advocated for final rule, maintaining all of the elements Action: Western Governors advocated congressional cybersecurity bills that supported by WGA. for the enactment of H.R. 680, the address governmental and election Securing Energy Infrastructure Act, in infrastructure security. Additionally, Cybersecurity outreach to the House Committee on WGA and the Department of The digital connectivity that supports Science, Space and Technology. The Homeland Security collaborated economic growth and improved quality bill establishes a pilot program within on a briefing about cybersecurity of life also presents challenges. Western the Department of Energy’s national threats associated with the COVID-19 Governors, guided by the policy resolution laboratories to identify security pandemic. Also, at the 2019 Winter Cybersecurity, are committed to increase vulnerabilities in the energy sector and Meeting, Governors discussed the cybersecurity workforce, protect evaluate technology that can be used to the use of blockchain to secure the supply chain, and discourage cyber isolate the most critical systems from government data and thwart cyber intrusions by nation-state actors. cyberattacks. attacks.

COVID-19 RESPONSE

Western Governors have been on the front lines battling the coronavirus pandemic, making difficult decisions daily about testing protocols, quarantine, suspension of commercial activities, and reopening of their states. WGA has committed the full measure of its resources to assist the Governors. In particular, the Association has conducted research on state housing of non- resident COVID-19 patients, resources available to states under federal stimulus legislation, and rapid response plans for rural outbreak clusters, among many other issues.

Federal Outreach infrastructure and other critical needs • A three-part series on COVID-19 The Association engaged with Congress during the pandemic. Economic Impacts and Mitigation in and federal agencies to ensure that the Rural Communities; Staff Support: The Governors requested needs of western states were closely that federal agencies offer coordinated • Rural Health Response to the considered. support for western rural counties coronavirus; Oil and Gas Royalties: WGA insisted and municipalities with limited staff • Improving Airports and Air Service in that the Department of the Interior capacity to respond to COVID-19. “One the Rural West; and of the most significant resources you engage with states regarding proposals • Cybersecurity Threats & have is the thousands of federal civil to suspend or reduce onshore oil and Best Practices. gas royalties, as they are an integral servants with relevant experience to assist with emergency response,” noted component of many western states’ Communications budgets and suspending their collection a letter signed by WGA Chair North would have a direct negative effect on Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and Vice Chair WGA developed “COVID-19 in the West,” states and local governments. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown. a weekly state-by-state breakdown Webinars of the Governors’ policy work that is PILT & SRS: The Governors reminded featured prominently on WGA’s website, Congressional leadership that long- WGA has focused on COVID-19 effects social media and email communications. term certainty of revenue streams from on rural communities and their path In addition, the Association produced a Payment in Lieu of Taxes and Secure forward to economic recovery through weekly ‘special edition’ of its Best of the Rural Schools programs must remain a the Chair Initiative, Reimagining the West news roundup, featuring the latest high priority. These resources will help Rural West. Initiative webinars have developments related to the pandemic rural communities invest in healthcare featured: from across the region.

8 • WGA 2020 ANNUAL REPORT REIMAGINING THE RURAL WEST INITIATIVE

North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, Chair of the Western Governors’ Association, launched Reimagining the Rural West in July 2019 to strengthen rural communities across the West. Rural communities face substantial challenges, but trends and technological innovations in recent years have also presented enormous opportunity. The Initiative leveraged the expertise and experience of rural stakeholders to help Western Governors support vibrant and prosperous rural communities.

Reimagining the Rural West began with surveys and stakeholder outreach to identify the most pressing challenges and promising opportunities facing rural communities. Respondents from across the West helped to focus the initiative on three pillars: Opportunity, Connectivity, and Community.

The Initiative subsequently convened a workshop and webinar series to explore these topics in depth. Workshops were hosted by Western Governors Doug Burgum in North Dakota, Michelle Lujan Grisham in New Mexico, Brad Little in Idaho and Kate Brown in a virtual workshop after the COVID-19 pandemic precluded gathering in Oregon. Workshops and webinars assembled local leaders, state policymakers, federal partners, community development organizations, business leaders, and WGA Chair Doug Burgum launched the Initiative to help rural communities rural experts to share best practices and successfully tap into the opportunities offered by an increasingly technological world. discuss policy recommendations. After the emergence of the COVID-19 public career, and midcareer workers pursuing and diverse base of small businesses health crisis, the Initiative shifted its new skills – has the chance to succeed and location-neutral jobs increases focus to the impacts of the pandemic and prosper. resiliency and provides more and on rural communities and held several varied opportunities for innovation webinars on response and recovery. • Increase flexibility of economic and growth. development funds to include The Reimagining the Rural West investments in community assets that • Educate and train rural citizens for the Special Report presents the Initiative’s improve quality of life. Development jobs available in their communities. findings and recommendations to programs that focus on quality of life A nimble and responsive workforce strengthen rural communities using help build rural communities that development system that integrates the three thematic pillars This report are desirable places to live and work. K-12 education, post-secondary presents the Initiative’s findings and Such programs also promote business education, and regional employers is recommendations development and draw new residents needed to keep pace with economic while protecting the community’s rural change. Opportunity: Economic development in character. the rural West should strive to create Connectivity: Improve the quality of an environment in which everyone – • Create an environment in which connectivity in rural areas, including new entrepreneurs, seasoned business businesses, entrepreneurs and remote broadband and transportation networks, owners, recent graduates starting a workers prosper. Fostering a stable Continued on next page

WGA 2020 ANNUAL REPORT • 9 Continued from previous page so that rural communities can access essential goods and services, plug in to the global economy, and enjoy the myriad benefits that ease of connection provides.

• Increase and improve broadband connectivity. Improvements in mapping, better coordination in deployment, and increased investment are all needed to expand connectivity in the rural West.

• Improve the quality of transportation connectivity. Good transportation networks are essential to rural quality of life, connecting residents to jobs, educational opportunities, health care, and social services that may be unavailable in their immediate community. In the West, where rural areas are vast and communities are separated by rugged terrain, air service is a necessity.

Community: Deliver the tools and resources to enable rural communities to provide residents with basic needs such as clean water, housing and food security. Empower local decisionmakers in the development and implementation of their own vision for the future.

• Strengthen local leadership and capacity. More funding, and more consistent funding, is needed for institutions, training, and technical assistance to help communities comprehensively address development needs and conduct post- disaster recovery work.

• Improve the efficacy of federal and state programs to support critical infrastructure in the rural West. Rural applicants must navigate a complex bureaucracy of federal and state programs to access the resources they need to strengthen their communities. Federal agencies should work with each other and with From top: Governors Brad Little of Idaho, state agencies to ensure their programs Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico and are as accessible as possible to rural Kate Brown of Oregon hosted workshops at communities. which experts discussed the challenges facing rural communities. Reimagining the Rural West provided a valuable regional forum to highlight the immense opportunity in the region and to examine the work that remains to be done Read, download the Reimagining so that rural communities have the tools the Rural West Initiative report at and resources they need to achieve their full Westgov.org potential.

10 • WGA 2020 ANNUAL REPORT WORKING LANDS ROUNDTABLE The Working Lands Roundtable is a platform for the performance of WGA policy work and the implementation of gubernatorial priorities relating to natural resources in the West. The Roundtable examines regional resource management issues and assembles a broad coalition of stakeholders to identify emerging threats to western working landscapes. In 2019, WGA convened two Roundtable workshops — tapping the expertise of hundreds of resource management and policy experts —­ and executed a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to pursue collaborative projects regarding wildfire response, vegetation management and invasive annual grasses.

Collaborative Conservation interests. Rejecting this narrative, Next Steps WGA is leading an effort through Western states are home to diverse WGA will continue its ongoing work the Roundtable to develop holistic, and bountiful fish and wildlife and identify emerging challenges collaborative, proactive and populations, which contribute to to cross-boundary working lands innovative solutions to challenges economic opportunity and quality conservation in the West. This facing western fish and wildlife of life. Investments in fish and effort will be pursued in part populations. This effort to advance wildlife conservation are imperative through biannual Roundtable collaborative conservation will yield to maintaining resilient working workshops and working groups. In opportunities for more proactive landscapes managed according to 2020, WGA will facilitate discussions conservation of at-risk species and principles of multiple use. on natural resource data facilitate greater coordination among mobilization and standardization, Species conservation and working stakeholder groups to conserve and socio-economic factors that lands development are, however, mutually identified priority habitats influence the health of working often characterized as competing and working landscapes. landscapes.

Idaho Gov. Brad Little hosted a Working Lands Roundtable meeting in Boise in 2019.

WGA 2020 ANNUAL REPORT • 11 WORKING LANDS ROUNDTABLE

INVASIVE SPECIES

Invasive species cause substantial harm to ecosystems, economies, and communities in the West. Western Governors, guided by WGA Policy Resolution 2019-06, Biosecurity and Invasive Species Management, have created the Western Invasive Species Council, sought new mechanisms to enhance regional invasive species coordination, and shared recommendations with Congress and federal agencies on improving invasive species management.

Western Invasive Species Council

Western Governors launched the Western Invasive Species Council (WISC) in 2019 to enhance coordination between states, improve collaboration on regional biosecurity and invasive species control efforts, and advocate for regional needs at the federal level.

To date, 17 Western Governors have appointed members to WISC, created as part of the Policy Resolution on Biosecurity and Invasive Species Management. The council, which meets quarterly, addresses cross boundary and cross jurisdictional invasive species management challenges identified by the Governors. Among these efforts are projects to identify best practices that Attendees of the WGA Invasive Mussel Leadership Forum hosted by Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak prevent the movement of feral swine watched a live demonstration of watercraft inspection and decontamination at Lake Mead along interstate and international National Recreation Area. (Photo courtesy National Park Service) borders and address the large-scale infestation of cheatgrass and other relatively intact “core” areas; 2) case combat the spread of aquatic invasive invasive annual grasses across the studies highlighting the application of species in western waters. West. these practices in Idaho and Wyoming; WISC has formed an interagency and 3) a new geospatial data layer to The Governors also applauded the U.S. committee to discuss ways to stop help state and local officials manage Fish and Wildlife Service for releasing the movement of feral swine across invasive annual grasses at home, while the new manual, Dreissenid Mussel interstate and international borders. also offering opportunities to identify Rapid Response in the Columbia River Since forming in February, this new cross-boundary collaborative Basin. The manual resulted from a committee has worked to develop a projects. prior collaboration between the U.S. Department of the Interior, WGA, states, transboundary action plan that includes Invasive Mussels short- and long-term strategies and tribes, federal agencies, and others to address invasive mussels. goals. Western Governors continue to vigorously protect western waters from The cheatgrass project is producing a In August 2019, Western Governors the spread of aquatic invasive species, toolkit for land managers to address hosted the WGA Invasive Mussel including invasive quagga and zebra the spread of invasive annual grasses Leadership Forum in Las Vegas, Nevada, mussels. in the West, including species such at which Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak as cheatgrass, medusahead, and The Governors supported the bipartisan presented a keynote address. The forum ventanata. The toolkit is comprised legislation, Stop the Spread of Invasive assembled state, federal and tribal of three elements: 1) a roadmap for Mussels Act of 2019, which would agency staff to determine common invasive grass management in the West, empower state and federal agencies to interagency priorities for the prevention with new best management practices act as full partners in invasive species and containment of invasive zebra and for the identification and protection of containment efforts to more effectively quagga mussels in the western U.S.

12 • WGA 2020 ANNUAL REPORT WORKING LANDS ROUNDTABLE

FOREST AND RANGELAND MANAGEMENT

Shared Stewardship MOU in utility corridors. WGA is also compiling divert funds from forest health and Under a Shared Stewardship applicable tools, authorities and best fire prevention programs to pay for Memorandum of Understanding practices, to enhance utility corridor wildland firefighting operations. After (MOU), WGA and the U.S. Department vegetation management. years of encouraging Congress to end of Agriculture (USDA) have been this budgetary practice, a fire borrowing Cheatgrass: Western Governors partnered collaboratively addressing many fix was enacted, and the FY2020 with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to regional land management needs. appropriations cycle marks the first address the spread of cheatgrass and federal budget in years to preclude fire Interagency Wildfire Disaster other invasive annual grasses in the borrowing. This represents a significant Response: WGA, in collaboration West. The Western Invasive Species victory for Western Governors and will with the Wildland Fire Leadership Council, whose members are appointed by improve fire and land management in Council, is introducing a “roadmap” Western Governors, worked with state and western states. of federal assistance to help local federal agency staff to develop a toolkit governments and states to better for invasive grass managers. The toolkit Western Governors earned another address post-fire needs. It will promote contains a new data layer of invasive grass significant policy victory when the U.S. federal interagency cooperation in prevalence in the West, best practices Environmental Protection Agency issued post-disaster response and improved for invasive grass management, and case its “Final Exceptional Events Guidance: coordination with state and local studies of cross-boundary efforts to Prescribed Fire on Wildland that May governments, working toward a goal of utilize those best practices. Influence Ozone and Particulate Matter more cost-effective, time-efficient, and Concentrations.” Western Governors WGA and USDA are considering additional durable post-fire restoration projects. thanked EPA for consulting with states areas for collaboration under the Shared and incorporating the expertise of Vegetation Management: WGA Stewardship MOU. state air quality agencies into the assembled a working group of utilities Wildfire Guidance. The directive includes and state and federal agency staff to simplified exceptional events guidance explore how to improve vegetation Western Governors have long supported for prescribed fire and additional tools management rules and protocols. The efforts to end the practice of “fire to address the air quality effects of principal goal is to reduce wildfire risk borrowing,” by which federal agencies uncharacteristic wildfire.

As part of the Shared Stewardship Memorandum of Understanding with USDA, WGA is collaborating with the Wildland Fire Leadership Council to introduce a “roadmap” of federal assistance to enable local governments and states to better address post-fire needs.

WGA 2020 ANNUAL REPORT • 13 WORKING LANDS ROUNDTABLE

WATER

Clean, reliable water supplies are a crucial resource for communities, industries, habitats, and farms, essential to maintaining quality of life and ecosystems throughout the West. States are best suited to speak to the unique nature of their water laws and hydrology and are primarily responsible for water supply planning within their boundaries. WGA continues Western Governors’ long history of successful policy development and advocacy for the protection of states’ primary authority over the management, allocation, development, and protection of water resources.

U.S. Corps of Engineers asked that the Corps recognize state process for the Water Supply Rule in Reservoir Operations authority under a system of cooperative September 2019, then announced its federalism. official withdrawal of the proposed Issue: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ rule in January 2020. While this was proposed Water Supply Rule would have Citing the coalition’s work, a bipartisan a significant victory for Western asserted authority over, and limited group of 19 western U.S. Senators Governors, WGA continues to pursue states’ ability to access, waters expressly wrote to OMB in September 2019, legislative solutions to prevent the reserved to states under federal law and advocating that, “the Water Supply emergence of a similar rule in the the U.S. Constitution. Rule be withdrawn, and the Corps be future. The Governors also demand instructed to comply with state water Action: WGA has served for years as that the Corps’ reservoir operations laws in the exercise of its authority.” The a national leader in protecting states recognize and defer to state laws and Senators also echoed the Governors’ from the impacts of the proposed rule authority. concerns that, “the Corps has failed to through vigorous advocacy to regulatory meaningfully consult with states, on a State Authority over and congressional leadership. In the government-to-government level, during past year, WGA further exercised its Groundwater Resources the development of the Proposed Rule, leadership by establishing a coalition In House and Senate testimony on FY20 contrary to the directives of Executive of state associations, which urged the appropriations, Western Governors Order 13132 [Federalism].” White House Office of Management and encouraged Congress to adopt Budget (OMB) in August 2019 to withdraw Result: The Corps announced a six- express and unambiguous language to the proposed rule. The coalition also month suspension of the rulemaking Continued on next page

The Oahe Dam on the Missouri River, operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, creates Lake Oahe, the fourth largest man-made reservoir in the country.

14 • WGA 2020 ANNUAL REPORT WORKING LANDS ROUNDTABLE

Continued from previous page for the addition of language for the programs; the National Oceanic statutory codification of EPA’s Water and Atmospheric Administration’s protect states’ plenary authority over Transfers Rule; National Integrated Drought groundwater resources and provide Information System; and the U.S. • Delivery of testimony to the U.S. clear direction to federal administrative Geological Survey’s Groundwater Senate Committee on Environment agencies to respect such authority. and Streamflow Information and Public Works, expressing Western Program; FY20 Senate Appropriations report Governors’ support for America’s language expresses that the federal Water Infrastructure Act of 2020 and • Robust federal investment in Clean Water Act (CWA) regulates impacts the Drinking Water Act of 2020. The water delivery and wastewater to navigable waters, while regulation of Governors also requested additional infrastructure; groundwater remains outside the Act’s provisions to address: state authority jurisdiction. The report language also over waters impounded in Corps’ • Adequate and dedicated funding notes that, through the CWA, Congress reservoirs; enhanced federal aquatic of EPA’s Clean Water and Drinking intended for groundwater pollutants to invasive species management Water State Revolving Funds and be regulated though the CWA’s non- authority; and the statutory the Water Infrastructure Financing point source program and other federal codification of EPA’s Water Transfers Innovation Act; and and state laws. Rule; and

Federal Water Legislation • Requests in FY 21 House and Senate • Express prohibition of the use Appropriations testimony for: of FY 21 appropriations funds for WGA continues to advocate for any activity that would, or has federal legislation that advances the • Adequate and dedicated funding for the potential to, usurp states’ water policies of Western Governors, federal water supply data programs, plenary authority over groundwater including: including the Natural Resources resources, as well as language • Support for provisions of S. 1932, the Conservation Service’s Snow Survey ensuring that state authority over Drought Resiliency and Water Supply and Water Supply Forecasting groundwater resources is respected Infrastructure Act and a request and watershed restoration by federal administrative agencies.

SPECIES MANAGEMENT

Task Force on species protections. Task Force to, “coordinate with the Western Collaborative Conservation recommendations will encourage Governors’ Association on collaborative innovation and regulatory flexibility, conservation efforts benefiting wildlife WGA created the Task Force on utilize cross-boundary and inter- and the lands they rely on.” Collaborative Conservation to develop disciplinary approaches to conserve policy recommendations to increase large-scale threats to working Settlement Agreements: Congress the efficacy and incidence of proactive, landscapes, and promote greater adopted appropriations language in voluntary species conservation coordination among land management 2020 urging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife efforts. The Task Force consists of partners. Service to avoid entering into multi- state and federal government officials; species settlement agreements unless non-governmental organizations; Appropriations government officials in the states where landowner, agricultural and the species are located are a party to industry representatives; and other State Wildlife Data: For the seventh stakeholders. The Task Force is working consecutive year, Congress directed that agreement. on regional conservation strategies the Department of the Interior and the Endangered Species Act Transparency: for at-risk species, while enhancing United States Forest Service to utilize 2020 Appropriations language the integrity and viability of western state fish and wildlife data and analyses encouraged increased transparency working landscapes. to inform land use, land planning and in ESA decision-making. However, this related natural resource decisions. Western Governors have long does not include sharing of information recognized voluntary approaches to Collaborative Conservation: In the that a state or Governor has determined species conservation as a valuable, 2020 Consolidated Appropriations Act, is prohibited by a law relating to the collaborative alternative to regulatory Congress encouraged Federal agencies protection of personal information.

WGA 2020 ANNUAL REPORT • 15 WORKING LANDS ROUNDTABLE

PUBLIC LANDS

NEPA Improvements PILT & SRS Funding Western Governors have long been leaders The federal government must honor its in addressing sage grouse conservation historic Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILT) and invasive annual grasses management. agreement with states and counties in The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) the West and provide predictable and and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) adopted full funding for Secure Rural Schools identical National Environmental Policy (SRS) programs. As the Governors note Act (NEPA) categorial exclusions (CEs) in in their renewed Policy Resolution, 2020 promoting restorative vegetation Tax-Exempt Federal Lands and Secure management activities in sage grouse Rural Schools, these payments are vital and mule deer habitat. These CEs, in a to the provision of state and county victory that reflects Governors’ multi-year public goods and services, such as roads, advocacy, will help increase the pace, emergency response, and wildlife and scale and cross-boundary coordination Crater Lake, Oregon. NPS photo natural resources protection. Thanks to of cheatgrass control, native vegetation the Governors’ continued advocacy, FY20 seeding, and habitat restoration on public consistently advocated for flexible Appropriations included full funding for lands. and responsible strategies to PILT and reauthorization of SRS. improve the effectiveness and Additionally, the BLM adopted a suite of efficiency of the NEPA process. statutorily established CEs that: streamline National Park Service USFS’s proposed rule delivers grazing permit renewal processes; Maintenance Backlog multiple victories for Western standardize grazing practices; and support Governors, as it would establish a responsible energy management on public Western Governors have consistently landscape-scale CE supporting forest lands. The Governors’ policy resolutions urged Congressional leadership to restoration activities and clarify on Public Lands Grazing and Energy in the fund deferred National Park Service the agency’s use of “determination West contain recommendations that align maintenance projects, which total of NEPA adequacy” procedures with the procedures established in the CEs. over $12 billion in estimated costs. and “extraordinary circumstances” Acknowledging the importance of this The USFS proposed substantial updates reviews. The proposed changes are gubernatorial priority, Congress allocated to its agency-specific NEPA procedures awaiting final approval by the Office an additional $75 million in FY20 funding in June 2019. Western Governors have of Management and Budget. to address deferred maintenance needs.

HEALTH CARE

COVID-19 has not been the only health Barbara Collins is the to help states and local governments care concern confronting Western Principal of Mission High consider and address SDOH, as social School in Las Vegas, Governors. factors, “have an enormous influence on the nation’s first public individual health risks and outcomes.” The Governors approved an updated school for students in recovery from substance resolution, Physical and Behavioral abuse. She spoke about At WGA’s 2019 Winter Meeting, the Health Care in Western States. It affirms the school’s mission with Governors hosted a public conversation that patients should have the same the Governors at the with Barbara Collins, the principal of access to behavioral health care as 2019 Winter Meeting. Mission High School in Las Vegas, about they have for physical health care, (SDOH) – including economic stability, her experience at the first public school signals the importance of integrating education, social and community in the nation designed for students in physical and behavioral health context, and neighborhood and recovery from substance misuse. Her services, and supports efforts to built environment – have on health powerful testimony led to an engaging improve the quality and quantity of outcomes and well-being. Accordingly, discussion with Governors on how to behavioral health services. the Governors encouraged Congress improve behavioral health access in The resolution also recognizes the to consider H.R. 4004, the Social states and address the needs of at-risk role that social determinants of health Determinants Accelerator Act, as a tool youth.

16 • WGA 2020 ANNUAL REPORT MEETINGS AND OUTREACH

At meetings in Colorado and Nevada, Western Governors engaged in spirited public conversations regarding some of the region’s most pressing public policy issues. U.S. Cabinet Secretaries and other influential thought leaders joined the Governors for these discussions.

MEETINGS

2019 Annual Meeting June 10-12, Vail, Colorado The Annual Meeting drew 12 Governors and nearly 400 attendees to Colorado for public discussions on boosting rural broadband capability, the dangerous growth of illicit fentanyl, and WGA’s creation of online education pioneer Western Governors University. The Governors released the Biosecurity and Invasive Species Initiative Special Report and announced projects to be implemented under a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

ATTENDING GOVERNORS: Top photo, from left: then WGA Vice Chair Doug Burgum (North Dakota), Laura Kelly (Kansas), Kristi Noem (South Dakota), then WGA Chair David Ige (Hawai’i), Brad Little (Idaho) Lou Leon Guerrero (Guam), Jared Polis (Colorado), Gary Herbert (Utah), Steve Sisolak (Nevada), Kate Brown (Oregon), and Mark Gordon (Wyoming). Not pictured, but in attendance, Management, National Parks and the (Idaho), Gary Herbert (Utah), WGA Vice Michelle Lujan Grisham (New Mexico). West, and Wildlife Migration Corridors Chair Kate Brown (Oregon), Doug Ducey and Habitat. (Arizona), Jared Polis (Colorado). From SPEAKERS: Administration guests included left, top row: David Ige (Hawaii), WGA Interior Secretary David Bernhardt Chair Doug Burgum (North Dakota), and Housing and Urban Development 2019 Winter Meeting Kevin Stitt (Oklahoma), Kristi Noem Secretary Ben Carson. Keynote speakers Dec. 13-14, Las Vegas, Nevada (South Dakota), Steve Bullock (Montana), included Vail Resorts CEO Rob Katz, best- Eleven Governors and more than and Steve Sisolak (Nevada). selling author Craig Johnson, pollster 300 attendees gathered for public Frank Luntz, and Royal Canadian Mounted discussions of such important topics SPEAKERS: Beth Ford, CEO of Police Sergeant Eric Boechler. as reinvigorating rural economies in Land O’Lakes, and entrepreneur and inventor Dean Kamen. WESTERN GOVERNORS’ FOUNDATION: the West, the epidemic of missing and WGA debuted its reinvented foundation, murdered indigenous women, and RESOLUTIONS: The Governors which leverages the collective influence, advances in agriculture technology. WGA formally approved policy resolutions camaraderie and commitment of former also launched the Western Governors’ on Strengthening the State-Federal and current Western Governors to promote Center of Excellence for Improving the Relationship, States’ Share of Royalties the welfare of the West. State-Federal Relationship, an online and Leasing Revenues from Federal Lands repository of resources on federalism and Minerals, Tax-Exempt Federal Lands RESOLUTIONS: The Governors formally issues. approved policy resolutions on Federal- and Secure Rural Schools, Financial State Land Exchanges and Purchases, ATTENDING GOVERNORS: Bottom photo, Assurance Regulation, and Physical and Biosecurity and Invasive Species from left, bottom row: Brad Little Behavioral Health Care in Western States.

WGA 2020 ANNUAL REPORT • 17 Cabinet Secretary Breakfast Rural West Initiative, Clean Water Act, the series highlights different aspects Working Lands Roundtable, the launch of the Initiative, examining challenges Six cabinet members met with a dozen of the Western Invasive Species Council, and opportunities in rural economic Western Governors to discuss regional and the Mussels Forum hosted by WGA in development, infrastructure, and quality issues during the annual Cabinet Las Vegas. of life in the West. The podcast, which Secretary Breakfast meeting in February has been downloaded more than 1,000 at the headquarters of the Department Much of this coverage was included in times, may be heard on the WGA website, of the Interior in Washington, D.C. significant media outlets throughout as well as on the platforms of Podbean, Governors and Cabinet members at the the country, including Politico, The Hill, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. event included, from left in photo above: E&E News Greenwire, Associated Press, Eugene Scalia (Labor), Kristi Noem Bloomberg, Stateline/Pew, Christian Livestreaming, Video (South Dakota), Kevin Stitt (Oklahoma), Science Monitor, National Review, New Jared Polis (Colorado), Andrew Wheeler York Post, Washington Times, San WGA hosted its first full-scale virtual (Environmental Protection Agency), Francisco Chronicle, Las Vegas Review meeting, when the COVID-19 pandemic Steve Sisolak (Nevada), David Ige Journal, Huffington Post, Breitbart, forced cancellation of a planned (Hawaii), David Bernhardt (Interior), United Press International, Fox News, Chairman’s Initiative workshop during Gary Herbert (Utah), Steve Bullock Governing, Yahoo Finance, Denver Post, March in Oregon. That inaugural effort, (Montana), Laura Kelly (Kansas), Brad The Missoulian, Bismarck Tribune, Miami along with livestream broadcasts of 30 Little (Idaho), Kate Brown (Oregon), Herald, Colorado Springs Gazette, Fargo other Initiative workshop sessions, 13 Doug Burgum (North Dakota), Lou Leon Forum, Idaho Statesman, Santa Fe New webinars, and two videos produced by Guerrero (Guam), Ben Carson (Housing Mexican, Salt Lake Tribune, and the WGA, attracted more than 6,600 views and Urban Development), Betsy DeVos Albuquerque Journal. and 1,200 hours of viewing during the (Education), Sonny Perdue (Agriculture), year on WGA’s YouTube Channel. and WGA Executive Director Jim Ogsbury. DIGITAL OUTREACH Website, Social Media Media Coverage ‘Out West’ Podcast Debut Traffic on WGA’s website experienced Western Governors continued to receive WGA expanded its digital footprint with steady growth throughout the 2020 Fiscal extensive positive media exposure, with the launch of Out West, the official Year, with Reimagining the Rural West coverage of their policy work noted in podcast of the Western Governors’ Initiative webpages alone earning more more than 160 stories and op-eds that Association. The podcast was introduced than 15,000 pageviews. Aggressive social appeared on more than 1,300 media in January with a series on Reimagining media outreach efforts continued on outlets during the past year. The media the Rural West, the Chairman’s Initiative Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, which covered such topics as the Annual and of North Dakota Governor and WGA deliver up to 50,000 impressions a day to Winter meetings, the Reimagining the Chair Doug Burgum. Each episode of WGA’s followers.

18 • WGA 2020 ANNUAL REPORT CELEBRATE THE WEST

From left: Cowboy Dream by Julia Pachev; Long Day’s Work by Alexandria Hagerman; Snow in the Desert by Michelle Yao.

The fourth year of WGA’s Celebrate the West regional art competition challenged high school students to create works inspired by their state or life in the West. More than 450 pieces of art from the 19 WGA member states, as well as Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, were entered in the competition. Winning artwork was displayed at WGA’s 2019 Annual Meeting in Colorado, where meeting attendees viewed the winning artwork from each state and voted for the top three overall.

Top Three 2019 State Winners

• Julia Pachev of Utah took • Alaska: Megan Kline, South Anchorage High • New Mexico: Mariana Quiroz Fonseca, School, Cornelia, acrylic paint Cibola High School, Sunrise on the Sandia, home first place ($1,250) acrylic paint for the charcoal pencil • Arizona: Michelle Yao, Arizona College Prep piece, Cowboy Dream. Erie, Snow in the Desert, oil paint • North Dakota: Rose Soori, Fargo North High School, In the Badlands, acrylic paint • California: Hannah Pon, Ruth Asawa School • Alexandria Hagerman for the Arts, Forward Steps, oil painting • Northern Mariana Islands: Kelly Ann of Hays High School Sablan Pangelinan, Kagman High School, in Kansas took home • Colorado: Elisia Fernandez, Harrison High The Culture in the Island of Saipan, acrylic School, Golden Mountains, acrylic paint paint second place ($750) for the graphite and charcoal • Guam: Jasmine Sun, Academy of Our Lady • Oklahoma: Grace Lee, Freshman Academy drawing, Long Day’s Work. of Guam, Nature at Bay, oil pastel with Broken Arrow, Green Deserts, acrylic paint colored pencil • Oregon: Daelyn Wilson, Oregon Virtual • Michelle Yao of Arizona • Hawai’i: Berkana McDowell, Le Jardin Academy, The Relentless Mountains, oil College Prep Erie in Academy, Ho’omana’o Kauai, hard pastels paint Arizona took home third • Idaho: Cason Neal, Homeschool, • South Dakota: Camryn Bird, New place ($500) for the oil Mountain Beauty, acrylic paint Technology High School, The Great Spirit, painting Snow in the oil pastel • Kansas: Alexandria Hagerman, Hays High Desert. School, Long Day’s Work, graphite and • Utah: Julia Pachev, Homeschool, charcoal Cowboy Dream, charcoal pencil

View all the “Celebrate the West” • Montana: Tawnya Thompson, Homeschool, • Washington: Yaxuan Mao, Issaquah High winning entries on the WGA website: A Treasured Moment, watercolor School, Sunlit, oil paint Westgov.org/ • Nevada: Spencer Gabe, Bishop Gorman • Wyoming: Anne Harder, Homeschool, celebrate-the-west High School, Heatwave, oil paint The Truly Wild West, oil and acrylic paints

WGA 2020 ANNUAL REPORT • 19 FINANCES

WGA income is derived from Western Governors’ annual dues, sponsor contributions, meeting registration fees, grants, investment income, and other sources. WGA income totaled $5 million for the fiscal year, with approximately 29% of that amount received from federal agencies to provide technical assistance to states and other contractors. The following is excerpted from the audit report of JDS Professional Group, Certified Public Accountants, Consultants and Advisors. The information is for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019.

Revenues Expenses July 1, 2018—June 30, 2019 July 1, 2018—June 30, 2019

Investment Winter & Annual Income Governors’ Development Meeting 2.5% Annual Dues and Outreach 27.1% 11.8% 2.1% Policy Advocacy Federal Grants & Development 28.6% 28.6%

Other Revenue 1.2% General & Meeting Sponsorships Administrative State Technical and Registrations 15.8% Assistance & Pass Through 56.0% 26.4%

Governors' Annual Dues $594,000 Policy Advocacy and Development $1,426,379 Meeting Sponsorships State Technical Assistance $2,823,885 $1,316,432 and Registrations and Pass Through Funds Federal Grants $1,440,593 General & Admin $787,595 Investment Income $125,171 Development and Outreach $106,325 Other Revenue $58,069 Winter & Annual Meeting $1,349,788 Total $5,041,718 Total $4,986,519

20 • WGA 2020 ANNUAL REPORT WESTERN GOVERNORS

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Governor Doug Burgum Governor Mike Dunleavy Governor Steve Sisolak North Dakota Alaska Nevada WGA Chair Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham American Samoa New Mexico

Governor Kate Brown Governor Doug Ducey Governor Ralph Deleon Guerrero Torres Oregon Arizona Northern Mariana Islands WGA Vice Chair Governor Gavin Newsom Governor Kevin Stitt California Oklahoma

Governor David Ige Governor Jared Polis Governor Kristi Noem Hawai’i Colorado South Dakota Past WGA Chair Governor Lou Leon Guerrero Governor Gary Herbert Guam Utah Governor Brad Little Governor Jay Inslee Idaho Washington Governor Laura Kelly Governor Mark Gordon Kansas Wyoming Governor Steve Bullock Montana

WGA STAFF WGA STAFF ADVISORY COUNCIL

James D. Ogsbury Bill Whitacre Kip Knudson Courtney Kerster Executive Director Policy Advisor Alaska New Mexico

Holly Propst Kevin Moss Iu Joseph Pereira Jace Beehler Policy Director/ Policy Advisor American Samoa North Dakota - WGA SAC Chair Deputy Director Laura Cutlip Katie Fischer Mr. Angel Demapan Troy Timmons Policy Advisor Arizona Northern Mariana Islands Director of Strategic Initiatives Lauren Cloward Katie Wheeler Mathews Samantha Davidson Policy Associate, California Oklahoma Sarah Olsen Foundation Associate Director of Development Jonathan Asher Annie McColaugh Amanda Nelson Colorado Oregon - WGA SAC Vice Chair Joe Rassenfoss Meeting Planner Communications Kymberly Sparlin Kennedy Noem Director Toni Vigil Executive Assistant/ Hawai’i South Dakota Tyler Losier Office Manager Sam Eaton Gordon Larsen Communications Idaho Utah Specialist Deb Kinsley Logistics Manager Vijay Ramasamy Casey Katims Zach Bodhane Policy Advisor Dan Baer Kansas Washington Finance Manager Ward Scott Patrick Holmes Rob Creager Policy Advisor Montana Wyoming

Lauren DeNinno Brad Crowell Policy Advisor Nevada

WGA 2020 ANNUAL REPORT • 21 22 • WGA 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 23 • WGA 2020 ANNUAL REPORT WGA 2020 ANNUAL REPORT • 24