Governor Bentley Leads Off National Governor’s Association Winter Meeting, Elected to Lead Delta Regional Authority, Discusses Healthcare Repeal and Replacement with President Trump and Cabinet

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley and actress Jennifer Garner shake hands at the National Governors Association (NGA) Winter Meeting in Washington, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017. Gov. Bentley, this year's Chair of the NGA Education and Workforce Committee, has long been an advocate of early education and has greatly expanded Alabama's high quality First Class Pre-K program. Jennifer Garner is involved with the childrenÕs education nonprofit organization Save the Children. (Photo by Jose Luis Magana for the Alabama Governor's Office)
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley and actress Jennifer Garner shake hands at the National Governors Association (NGA) Winter Meeting in Washington, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017. Gov. Bentley, this year's Chair of the NGA Education and Workforce Committee, has long been an advocate of early education and has greatly expanded Alabama's high quality First Class Pre-K program. Jennifer Garner is involved with the childrenÕs education nonprofit organization Save the Children. (Photo by Jose Luis Magana for the Alabama Governor's Office)

WASHINGTON – Governor Robert Bentley returned to Alabama Monday after four days of meetings with the nation’s governors that included in depth discussions with President Trump and members of the Trump Administration on state’s roles in the anticipated repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act. Governor Bentley joined his governor colleagues for the annual Winter Meeting of the National Governor’s Association in Washington DC. NGA announced a record attendance for the four-day slate of meetings focusing on policy and best practices for states.

Governor Bentley led off the weekend of meetings as Chair of the NGA Education and Workforce Committee. This year, NGA chose to dedicate the Opening Session to Early Childhood Education, with Governor Bentley and Co-Chair Washington Governor Jay Inslee. Alabama’s Top-Ranked high quality First Class Voluntary Pre-K program was a central highlight of the session, with Governor Bentley drawing national attention to Alabama’s highly successful program. “Alabama’s Pre-K is such a standout success, we have the statistics and the results to show the nation how our children, especially in low-income and rural areas, are thriving because of our quality program”, said Governor Bentley. “Governors across the country see what Alabama is doing and now want to implement the same formula for success in their states.”

Monday, Governors met with President Trump and Vice President Pence for the first time as a collective group to begin earnest discussions on the role state’s must have in the repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid expansion. Governor Bentley on Saturday also met for similar discussions with Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price.

Governor Bentley was elected by the Governors of Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri to lead as State Co-Chair of the Delta Regional Commission The Delta Regional Commission is made up of eight states in the Mississippi River Delta and Alabama Black Belt.

Governor Bentley also attended the winter meeting of the Republican Governors Association, which now has a record 33 republican governors in its membership. He also attended the Governors quorum of the Appalachian Regional Commission, a federal-state partnership representing the 13 states of Appalachia.

Video of Governor Bentley’s remarks at the Opening Session of the National Governors Association can been viewed here.

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02-25-17 Governor Bentley Chairs Education and Workforce Committee at NGA Winter Meeting

Provided by the Office of the Governor of Alabama | governor.alabama.gov