New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo Takes Reins of Governors Association

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo prepares to speak June 15, 2020, in Tarrytown, N.Y. The NGA has played a visible role in helping the nation navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. (Mark Lennihan/Associated Press)

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New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo emphasized the importance of recovery and revival as he accepted the role of chairman of the National Governors Association.

Cuomo delivered remarks on Aug. 5 at NGA’s virtual summer meeting, which was initially supposed to take place in Portland, Maine, but was moved online due to coronavirus-related concerns. Cuomo, the first governor representing New York to lead the NGA, took the reins from Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan.

In order to recover from the damage to public health and to the economy inflicted by the coronavirus pandemic, Cuomo said states need a supply chain to facilitate more testing options, stockpiles of supplies and financial support for hospitals.

Hogan

Additionally, Cuomo identified the present crisis as a good time to act on his predecessor’s agenda of modernizing infrastructure. Hogan’s yearlong initiative, “Infrastructure: Foundation for Success,” outlined best practices for updating infrastructure and forging public-private partnerships. Cuomo also said there are several critical legislative authorizations that are expiring this year, such as the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act on Sept. 30.

“This is the moment to invest in infrastructure,” Cuomo said. “We need to reinvigorate the economy. Let the federal government provide the funds, and let the states build it.”

Cuomo also called for a new chapter in the relationship between state and federal government agencies. He repeated NGA’s petition for the federal government to direct $500 billion to states to offset the financial shortfalls they have experienced during the pandemic.

“The last six months have highlighted the importance of state governments,” Cuomo said. “We now have shown what states can do. COVID is a problem that affects every state in this nation. It doesn’t discriminate.”

To better prepare in the event of another global pandemic, Cuomo also recommended governors “institutionalize” what they’ve learned during these past several months.

Representatives of the White House Coronavirus Task Force briefed NGA members about the virus in February. In responding to the crisis, Hogan said governors worked together to bolster the “public health infrastructure” and distribute personal protective equipment. He said that, since the February briefing, the governors have held more than 50 calls, looking to each other for ideas and advice.

“In states across the country, at one of the most important moments of our history, governors are doing what we do best,” Hogan said. “We’re working together in a bipartisan way. We continue to battle this global pandemic and this economic collapse. I have no doubt that together America’s governors will continue to lead.”

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson will serve as vice chair of NGA during Cuomo’s tenure. The pair will lead NGA’s nine-member executive committee, which steers the association’s priorities and activities and maintains authority over policy issues. The other members of the committee include Hogan, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Utah Gov. Gary Herbert.

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