Webster County Engineer Jamie Johll joined nearly 2,000 county leaders from across the country for the National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference Feb. 21-24. Conference attendees shaped NACo’s legislative agenda, received updates on key federal policies, and advocated for county priorities on Capitol Hill.

Attendees also participated in a Federal Agency Expo, with nearly 50 federal program offices sending representatives to meet with conference participants and build intergovernmental partnerships.

Attendees heard from speakers including:

•Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

• Lee Zeldin, Environmental Protection Agency administrator

• Alex Meyer, deputy assistant to the president and director, White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs

• U.S. Rep.Tom Emmer, R-Minnesota, majority whip, U.S. House of Representatives

• U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, R-Missouri, chairman, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

• U.S. Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Pennsylvania, chairman, House Committee on Agriculture

• U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Oregon, co-chair, Bipartisan Mental Health Caucus

• U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Arkansas,; chairman, House Committee on Natural Resources

“Federal policies have direct and long-lasting impacts on county governments and our residents,” said NACo President J.D. Clark. “NACo’s Legislative Conference is an important opportunity for county leaders to strengthen relationships with our intergovernmental partners, tell our county story and advocate for county priorities that help our communities and residents thrive.”

Johll said: “As with any conference, a major benefit is the opportunity to network with colleagues from across the state and country. This conference also has benefits on other levels. Steering committees provide benefits on a national level. Several years ago, I was honored to be appointed by the Iowa State Association of Counties (ISAC) to the NACo Transportation Steering Committee. This committee helps guide matters pertaining to federal transportation legislation, funding, and regulation and their impact on county government.”

“Meetings with our Iowa legislators and their staff have benefits on both statewide and local levels,” he added. “Our Iowa contingency included representatives of multiple county departments from around the state — Board of Supervisors, engineer, auditor, treasurer, attorney, as well as ISAC. As we met with our legislators, our conversations focused on transportation funding, federal farm and health care policy, and ensuring that Iowa counties receive direct access to federal disaster and infrastructure dollars. We had meetings with Congressman Zach Nunn, Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, Congressman Randy Feenstra, Sen. Joni Ernst, Sen. Chuck Grassley and Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks.

“Webster County also gets a tangible benefit — federal grant money,” Johll said. “My department has recently received two grants totaling $14.7 million. These meetings with our legislators in Washington, D.C., had a direct impact on securing those highly competitive grants.”