Hes the chief executive of maryland in that beautiful and diverse state. He has been generous with his time, choosing to devote time and energy to our cause while leading the State Government in annapolis. We have been excited to support his chair initiative, informing the progress of other states and other governors as we proceed with the necessary work of revitalizing the economy. At the beginning of his tenure, Governor Hogan chose to work on the issue of improving our aging infrastructure and building the modern systems of connectivity that we need to build a prosperous future. Before theiority pandemic and has taken on greater importance now. Governor hogan will share some of the highlights from his initiative, infrastructure, foundation for success. We look forward to hearing the conclusions and highlights of your policy work. Governo the nga is not just about representing americas governors, its about what americas governors represent. In states all across the country, governors are working together in a bipartisan way, showing leadership and finding solutions to be Serious Problems facing us. I am a lifelong Small Business owner who never Held Elected Office before. I ran for governor because i was concerned about the Small Businesses being lost in our state and the people losing their jobs. Economice best turnaround in america. Then we are faced with this coronavirus, this economic collapse. The Chinese Government has locked down more cities. There is no vaccine as these infections continue. Panic is also rising. Russia is closing the border with china. The infection rate nearly doubled in a day. We just had the first outbreaks in the state of washington. Have a briefing from some of the top experts about dr. Anthony found to and the cdc and a number of other topics. They were talking about what we might be faced with. They gave us a heads up and it allowed the governors to prepare. Korean worked with the ambassador to host a reception for all the governors. Little did i know how important that relationship would become. In south korea, another surge of infections, the entire population urge to stay home. Affected. Ion people when we got our first cases, i declared a state of emergency. On monday i joined Vice President pence in the white house situation room with 52 of americas governors for a teleconference with top officials. Of the 34 states with confirmed cases, eight of them have declared a state of emergency. Covid19 the National Governors association, we dont wear red or blue uniforms. Theres not partisanship, like you see in washington. The governors are individual ceos of their states. We have had 12 calls with every governor in america. Eight of which the president or Vice President was on the call with us. The only way this is going to for anained, quarantined increased number of test. Korea had done a good job on testing. Youmy wife, i said what do think about reaching out to the ambassador . Enough kitsurchased to provide half a million coronavirus tests. They arrived over the weekend. He and the first lady greeted the korean air jet that landed. Seen thee not hospitalizations hit the lowest since the pandemic started. The real enemy is the virus. That is the kahneman enemy. It is going to take the governments working together to try to fight this common enemy. Been suffering out there as a result of the economic collapse. Weve got this twin problem of this Terrible Health crisis where weve got tens of thousands of people dying. And yet we have this incredible economic challenge where weve got millions unemployed and Small Businesses being hurt. We have to balance those needs. Right now the first thing is saving lives. I could not be more proud of governors across the country for stepping up and bleeding in a crisis like this. It shows what leaders are made of. Are safe and care about their neighbors and citizens, we can beat this thing. The nga is not just about representing americas governors, its about what americas governors represent. The governors on both sides of the aisle, finding solutions to be Serious Problems that are so fundamental to our way of life. I am very excited to be turning the gavel over to governor andrew cuomo. I know he will do a great job. I am looking forward to assisting him in any way i can. Wear a mask. Stay six feet apart. Outdoors is safer than indoors. We really can make a difference with simple things. Lets watch this video that should bring back some memories of 2019 and 2020 so far. One of the things that makes america exceptional is when you see something that is broken, we go out and fix it. Nga is not just about representing americas governors. Its about what americas governors represent. In states all across the country, governors are working ,ogether in a bipartisan way showing leadership and finding solutions to be Serious Problems facing us. I am a lifelong Small Business owner who never held office before. I ran for governor because i was concerned about the Small Businesses that were being lost in our state and people were losing their jobs. We created more jobs and businesses. And then we are faced with this coronavirus. This economic collapse. The Chinese Government has locked down more chinese cities. There is no vaccine as these infections continue to rise. Panic is also rising. Russia is closing the border with china. In italy and germany the infection rate right now . Let me jump in here. Looks like we are having technical difficulties. I am not sure what happened. That wrap up to ron and the program. Thank you for joining us. I want to think all of you for being here for this firstever virtual annual summer meeting. We were supposed to be together in beautiful portland, maine for this meeting. It is great to welcome so many of my colleagues, even virtually. I want to thank bill mcbride and the great staff and my staff in maryland and especially i want to thank my fellow governors and their staffs for all of your efforts and your support over the past year. I also want to thank our Outgoing Executive Committee members for their service and to welcome and congratulate the Incoming Executive Committee members. It was the honor of a lifetime to have been chosen by my colleagues to serve as chairman of the National Governors association. I could not be more proud of this organization, of every single one of our governors on both sides of the aisle. End of everything we have accomplished together. In states across the country, at one of the most important moments in history, governors are doing what we do best, we are working together in a bipartisan way, showing leadership, making progress, and finding solutions to these Serious Problems facing us. Ofer has that type leadership been more important than it is right now in america. I began my term as chairman in july in Salt Lake City by launching a national initiative. In august, Massachusetts GovernorCharlie Baker hosted us in boston to discuss ways to reduce traffic congestion. In september we completed a three city Factfinding Mission in australia. We were hosted by the michigan governor where we talked about protecting americas critical infrastructure. Governor gavin newsom hosted us in San Francisco for a discussion on eliminating redtape and smart technologies. We were looking forward to going to phoenix. Hosted us virtually instead to discuss leveraging private sector investments. After our winter meeting in washington in february, the world changed. For all of us, and our focus shifted to battling an unprecedented pandemic. Which has taken a terrible toll on our communities and wreak havoc on our national and state economies. Responding to this crisis has shown the vital role of governors and of the nga. Over the past five months, in the face of the most daunting challenge of our lifetime, americas governors have stepped up and lead. We did not let politics get in the way. We did not hesitate to make tough decisions. We followed the advice of experts and we worked aroundtheclock to build up our Public Health infrastructure and expand our Testing Capacity, build Contact Tracing operations, and provide lifesaving ppe to our doctors, nurses, and first responders. Enemy,onse to a silent that does not recognize state boundaries or political parties, we worked together. Since the ngas first briefing in february, where dr. Fauci and redfield spoke with us, we have held over 50 calls with the governors in states across america, including 32 with the president or Vice President , members of the cabinet and the White House Coronavirus task force, not to mention the other communications weve had together over the past five months. We have looked to each other for ideas, advice, and for help. We have worked across party lines together and when it really mattered, we have spoken with a unified voice. Funding. For title 32 supporting the covid19 response mission, and we convince the federal administration to invoke to defense production act produce ventilators and to make more lifesaving supplies available to the states. We achieved flexibility in funding to sustain Critical Response efforts on the front lines. The National Governors association has been more relevant and more effective than it has ever been before. Our swift, early and aggressive actions and our unified efforts have helped save lives. Of course we all know this crisis is far from over. We continue to battle this Global Pandemic and the economic collapse. We will continue to Push Congress and the administration to follow through on their commitment to provide additional funding for State Governments battling on the front lines. I have no doubt together americas governors will continue to lead and that we will continue to do whatever it takes to get our states and nation back on track. Together we will do what america and americans have always done. We will defeat this deadly virus together. We will get through this. We will come back stronger and better than ever before. Once again, thank you for giving me the honor of serving as your chairman this past year. I especially want to thank my vice chair and the incoming chairman of the nga, andrew cuomo, weve had a terrific working relationship over this past year and i am proud of all the nga has accomplished. And governor cuomo, i wish you and your vice chair all the best and much continued success over the next year. May god bless each and every one of you and the people of your states. Thank you. Thank you, governor. At the beginning i said what a privilege and had been to work with Governor Hogan. What ive learned about him, he is a practical leader who knows how to stay positive and keep moving forward. Even in difficult circumstances. Especially when facing difficult circumstances. We saw these qualities as the pandemic hit hard and Governor Hogan encouraged everyone to look forward and solve problems one by one. He started Holding Conference calls for governors and they bonded together over their vision of keeping the virus at bay while revitalizing the economy. Responded, they saw the governor as problem solvers, and the pandemic capitulated them in the spotlight, serving to make the public more aware of what states and governors do. We have been excited to facilitate this work and create the communications to keep governors in touch with each other. Governor hogan, i know i echo the thoughts of all governors when i say thank you for your leadership during the past year. I know i speak for the staff as well, all of whom have done great work. They also thank you. We are here to help states succeed and help governors succeed and speak with one voice and amplify that voice. It has been exciting to be involved under your leadership. Even though it has been an unforgettable year, filled with difficulty and challenge, it has been among the most rewarding chapters to see governors working so effectively together. Youve elevated the debate and worked across the aisle under difficult circumstances. You have embodied the spirit of nga, working together in a bipartisan fashion to find solutions. Thank you for your bipartisan leadership ringing governors together in this difficult year. Now we have a special message sent by some of your colleagues. Governor hogan, this is your pal, governor baker. I cant imagine this is what you expected when you signed up to be chair we dont think this is what you had in mind. When the pandemic hit, recognizing the value of a bipartisan organization, we started talking on a regular basis about the problems we were facing and solutions. We shared our good ideas, what was working in different areas and how we could work better together. You brought that spirit to be nga this year. We are taking it forward as we work on the pandemic and the economic challenges it created. To fix woman who wants things. It is what american needs, to modernize the system we use on a daily basis and boost our recovery. Projects like getting workers back to work and create economic momentum. That is what we need to do. Thank you for focusing on infrastructure. Americans have seen the governors working together. Finding solutions. You helped us accomplish that. Thank you for your great work. Thanks, larry, for a job well done. Thank you for your work. Thanks, larry. Thank you for your dedicated service. God bless. Thank you very much. I cant thank you enough for all of that. Governor cuomo, i want to wish you the very best of luck. I am excited to have this opportunity to pass this gavel on to you. I look forward to your leadership. It has been great working with you. Thank you. Governor cuomo i got it, larry, thank you very much. First to bill mcbride and the team at the nga, thank you for your service this year. Two Governor Hogan, the honor was ours. The pressure was on. And when the pressure was on, you can see what a person is made of. You rose to the occasion. We all owe you a big thank you. I give you a virtual round of applause. I know every governor joins me in doing that. You have been a friend to us through this impossible past year. I look forward to relying on you as we go forward and continue your counsel as i take the gavel from you. Chairman,th our vice we thank governor hutchinson for his agreement to serve. The question before us now, what should the nga agenda be . The addend t agenda most relevant to the governors. We know what that is. I dont think we have that many options this year. Next year agenda is not going to be a question of discretion, but rather the dictation of reality. Our agenda is americas recovery and revival. First we must manage the covid virus until a vaccine is developed. We need the federal government to work with us in partnership and in that effort. We will need to deal with the consequences and effects of covid, the economic damage it has done is all across the country. And the critical Public Health care needs that covid has exposed and highlighted. This in thell of context of a new chapter in the federalstate relationship. Im sure none of us wanted to deal with covid. The last six month have highlighted the capacity of State Government. Build right is right. Do. Ave shown it is time to redefine the federal partnership. Especially in this coming year when not only are we working through this pandemic, we also have several legislative reauthorizations expiring. We know covid is a problem that affects every state in this nation. It is the great unifier. It does not discriminate. This is a battle for all of us. We know we must resolve this virus together. We know unless covid is defeated everywhere, it will not be defeated anyway. Covid will ricochet across this country. Bouncing from one state to another. Theonly course forward in state and collective interests is to lock arms and to leave this virus no place to spread. We know the weapons needed for the war we must wage. We need unprecedented Testing Capacity and the supply chain to support it. Ppe,ed stockpiles of medicine, supplies, and we need an emergency surge capacity. We need Financial Support for hospitals. This nation has gone through mers and sars and swine flu virus now covid. No one can tell you the name of the next virus or bacteria that is going to attack us. Everyone tells us it is just a matter of time and we have to be ready. Lets institutionalize what we have learned so we are better prepared for the next invasion. Let us design and implement a new Public Health system because we just cannot go through what we went through these past few months again. The covid challenge goes further, as we just heard from our vice chairman. Our schools are facing challenges. They must not only educate students, they have to keep them safe from this virus. Its a new undertaking. The states will work with them. We also need federal support. None of this is easy. All of it is achievable. At the same time we must deal with a secondary effect of covid. It has wreaked havoc on this nations economy. Governor hogan is right. You can quantify the damage by adding together the jobs loss and the deficits of all of our states. Agree thatconomists without providing Financial Assistance for governments, the economy will not rebound as quickly as it would otherwise. Chairman powell, economists across the board agreed. United in telling our washington colleagues they must include 500 billion in unrestricted funding in the upcoming Covid Response legislation. Priority. Top nga this is also the moment to implement the agenda developed last year under Governor Hogan. This is the moment to invest in infrastructure. We need to reinvigorate the economy and replace aging infrastructure. We have talked about it for decades. This is the moment to finally do it. Let the federal government provide the funds. Let the states build it. And the federal staterelationship, that has always been a dynamic tension since first embodied in the constitution, there are checks and balances. There is a federal and state dynamic tension. That was written into the constitution. Theres never been a moment where State Governments have been more instrumental in the lives of the people of this country. State governments are at the forefront and it is a new chapter in the governance of this country. This coming year states will not only be laboratories of democracy, we will also be the engines of economic renewal. We will also be the innovators of a new Public Health system institutionalizing what we learned. There is tremendous possibility in the recognition of the potential of State Government. And most of all, we are committed to achieving progress. That is the essence of our role as governors. That is what we do. As governors we all know at the end of the day there is no red and blue. All of our states have both. We govern for the red, the white, and the blue. That is what we do. This next year will be challenging. All battles are hard. Nobleould not have a more or righteous purpose. I am honored to be standing beside all of you as we lead this nation forward. I am honored to be taking the gavel from Governor Hogan and the great executive committee. Im grateful to be serving with the great vice churchmen chairman and with that i conclude the 112th nga annual meeting. That was a bank of the gavel. [laughter] chad wolf testified thursday on capitol hill. He discussed his agencys response to unrest in portland and the employment of personnel to protest across the nation on racial injustice. Coverage of the Homeland Security committee begins at 10 00 a. M. On cspan, online on cspan. Org, or on the free cspan radio app. Week marks the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombings of hiroshima and nagasaki. Watch washington journal live thursday for a discussion about the bombings with the author of twilight of the gods and the grandson of president harry truman. On sunday watch American History as we look9 00 a. M. Back at how the bombings ended world war ii and their legacy in decades ahead with author of downfall, the end of the Imperial Japanese empire. And professor at American UniversityNuclear Studies institute. Join the discussion with your calls, facebook questions, and tweets. Watch the 75th anniversary of the bombing of hiroshima and nagasaki this thursday on washington journal on cspan and American History tv on cspan3. Willian lacy clay lost the democratic primary in missouris first Congressional District to a nurse. Next on cspan, ms. Buschs victory speech in st. Louis. [applause]