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Addressing a host of Guam issues and a visit with President Obama tops
Governors' Washington DC trip
February 17, 2009
Governor Felix P. Camacho today left for Washington D.C. to attend the 2009 National Governors Association Winter Meetings. The Governor will join nearly 50 governors at the annual meeting, which will include sessions with the President, members of his Cabinet, congressional members, academic leaders, business executives and other experts for discussions on a host of issues and challenges facing the states and territories.
"Rebuilding, repairing and maintaining a national infrastructure system that supports America's economic competitiveness, facilitates economic growth and is environmentally sustainable, will be the key topic on the governors' meeting agenda," said Governor Camacho. "This is a great opportunity to join my colleagues in examining recent trends and conditions across the nation related to what is happening in Guam and in the U.S. Mainland and discuss strategies to increase the skills and competitiveness of our American workforce."
The three-day event at the J.W. Marriott will feature keynote addresses by T. Boone Pickens, founder and chairman of BP Capital Management, who will discuss his plan for reducing America's dependence on foreign oil through new infrastructure investments. Other speakers include John W. Rowe, chairman and chief executive of Exelon Corporation, who will offer the utility perspective on energy infrastructure investment in the context of efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and Dr. Robert Atkinson, president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, who will discuss approaches other nations are taking to fund and finance transportation.
As a member of the NGA's Natural Resources Committee, Governor Camacho will join Chairwoman Sarah Palin, Governor of Alaska, in discussions focused on energy infrastructure as a vital link to our 21st Century economy.
During the seven-day trip, Governor Camacho is scheduled to attend meetings of the Pacific Basin Development Council, of which he is currently President. Additionally, Governor Camacho will attend the annual meetings of the Interagency Group on Insular Areas to be chaired by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Meeting focusing on Guam's ocean and near-shore conservation efforts.
"This trip to Washington D.C. will be critical in ensuring the policies of the new administration are consistent with the work we have done over the past six years for the benefit of the people of Guam," said Governor Camacho. "I have been assured that our Buildup needs are a top priority of policy makers in our Nation's Capital and continue to stress to them that this effort must be mutually beneficial to the mission of our armed forces and the people who call our island 'home'".
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