2,000 City Leaders to Convene Next Week in Washington to Advocate for Infrastructure Partnerships at the National League of Cities Congressional City Conference

WASHINGTON, March 8, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than 2,000 mayors, councilmembers and other delegates from around the country will gather in Washington, D.C., March 11-14 for the National League of Cities' (NLC) annual Congressional City Conference. The theme of the conference is "Rebuild With Us," NLC's campaign to partner with the federal government to rebuild and reimagine America's infrastructure. The conference is open to credentialed press; please RSVP with Tom Martin ([email protected]) to register.

Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), U.S. Labor Secretary R. Alexander Acosta, U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, U.S. Chamber of Commerce CEO Tom Donahue, Special Assistant to the President DJ Gribbin, and F.C.C. Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel are among the featured speakers. See the complete list below.

Beyond infrastructure, other topics addressed at the conference will include the most pressing challenges currently facing cities, including the opioid epidemic, the future of work, immigration, marijuana policy, and state preemption. 

WHAT: NLC's 2018 Congressional City Conference. (Click here for the complete conference schedule.)

Event highlights include:

Press Conference: NLC leadership will kick off the conference and share why 2,000 local leaders are convening in the nation's capital for the week. They will discuss city infrastructure priorities and respond to federal actions to address pressing city challenges.

WHEN: Monday, March 12, 10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
WHERE: Marriott Wardman Park (outside of press registration on first floor)

3 General Sessions

1. Monday Opening General Session:
WHEN: Monday, March 12, 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
WHERE: Marriott Wardman Park, Marriott Ballroom

SPEAKERS: 

• Mayor Mark Stodola, Little Rock, Arkansas, NLC President 
• Mayor Muriel Bowser, Washington, D.C.
• Bob Schieffer, political journalist

2. Monday Afternoon General Session:
WHEN: Monday, March 12, 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
WHERE: Marriott Wardman Park, Marriott Ballroom

SPEAKERS: 

• U.S. Labor Secretary R. Alexander Acosta
• U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson
• Jessica Rosenworcel, Federal Communications Commissioner
• Tom Donahue, CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
• Panel on Infrastructure Featuring:
• Gale Brewer, Manhattan borough president, New York City
• Rachel Hundley, councilmember, Sonoma, California
• Rebecca Viagran, councilmember, San Antonio, Texas
• Clarence E. Anthony, NLC CEO and Executive Director

3. Tuesday Closing General Session:
WHEN: Tuesday, March 13, 12:30 pm - 2:15 pm
WHERE: Marriott Wardman Park, Marriott Ballroom

SPEAKERS:

• Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ)
• Senator Tim Scott (R-SC)
• Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) 
• Anna Maria Chávez, lawyer, activist and former CEO of Girls Scouts of the USA

16 Workshops to Help City Leaders Address Current Issues (selection below):

• Future of Work: Building a Jobs Pipeline to the Middle Class (Monday, March 12 @ 10:45 am)—Get insights from business, workforce and training provider communities about strategies to build strong workforce development pipelines in cities.
• Game-Changer for Affordable Housing (Monday, March 12 @ 10:45 am)—The unmet and growing need for affordable housing is a key impediment to economic improvement for cities—regardless of size. This workshop will focus on ways city leaders can work with Congress and the private sector to make safe, healthy, and affordable housing a priority.
• Rising Tide of Preemption (Monday, March 12 @ 10:45 am)—Gain an understanding of how local governments are being preempted, how to adapt and protect your city in the face of enacted changes, and how to fight back against further preemption by the federal government.
• Successful Strategies to Address the Opioid Crisis (Monday, March 12 @ 1:45 pm)—With national resources limited and local initiatives many and varied, find viable solutions to combat the opioid crisis in your community.
• Smart Technology Coming to Your City (Tuesday, March 13 @ 8:45 am)—From drone deliveries to autonomous vehicles, smart cities equipped with emerging technology are getting a lot of attention in Washington. Get the latest updates on how Congress and the Administration plan to regulate this technology in cities.
• Social and Economic Impact to Cities of Heightened Immigration Enforcement (Tuesday, March 13 @ 8:45 am)—Gain a better understanding of the workforce, public safety and general economic impacts of immigration reform under the current Administration and discuss strategies local leaders are undertaking to make their cities more welcoming. 
• Future of Marijuana Policy (Tuesday, March 13 @ 10:45 am)—Learn how the current fate of marijuana is changing and what cities can reasonably expect for the future of marijuana policy in the U.S.
• Preparing for the Census: What's in Store for 2020 (Tuesday, March 13 @ 10:45 am)—City leaders rely on the Census to provide an accurate count of residents to ensure proper appropriation of federal funding, congressional representation and general study of their communities. What can cities do to make sure the 24th Decennial Census is a success for everyone?

The National League of Cities (NLC) is dedicated to helping city leaders build better communities. NLC is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages, representing more than 218 million Americans. www.nlc.org

Editor's Note: Please RSVP with Tom Martin ([email protected] or 202-626-3186) to register and receive credentials.

SOURCE National League of Cities

Related Links

www.nlc.org