State Officials Hold National Meeting in West Virginia

Immigration, education and state lending standards are among the topics of discussion at The Council of State Governments’ 2006 Spring National Committee and Task Force meetings at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va.

More than 500 state officials and policymakers are expected to attend the sessions May 7-10.

Dr. Gene Cohen, director of the Center on Aging, Health and Humanities at George Washington University and author of The Mature Mind, will discuss the scientific proof presented in his book that shows the mind actually improves with age, creating tremendous potential for growth and satisfaction in the later years. He will discuss the implications his findings have for state policymakers during his luncheon address Monday.

Other topics on the four-day meeting agenda include:

• Recent trends in state lending standards including subprime mortgage, payday and title loans, and moves to eliminate state and local government lending regulations by establishing uniform, federal standards;

• Immigration issues, focusing on federal initiatives to improve border security and comprehensive immigration reform efforts at the federal level.

• Preventing the spread of avian influenza: An agricultural perspective;

• Healthy aging in rural America;

• Healthy environments for the nation’s students, focusing on efforts to create environments that foster healthy lifestyles and ultimately influence obesity among students.

All sessions are open to the press. However, registration is required. For more information, contact Jack Penchoff at (859) 244-8153 or jpenchoff@csg.org.

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CSG is the premier multibranch organization forecasting policy trends for the community of states, commonwealths and territories on a national and regional basis. CSG alerts state elected and appointed officials in all three branches of government to emerging social, economic, and political trends; offers innovative state policy responses to rapidly changing conditions; and advocates multistate problem-solving to maximize resources and competitiveness. Since 1933, CSG has promoted excellence in decision-making and leadership skills and championed state sovereignty.