Salem, OR—Governor Tina Kotek traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in the 2023 Winter Meeting of the National Governors Association, which was held from February 9 to 11 and included meetings with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, federal officials and leaders from business, academia and philanthropy.

While in D.C., Governor Kotek also met with the members of Oregon’s Congressional delegation and set up individual meetings with federal department leaders to advocate for partnerships on her top priorities: housing and homelessness, behavioral health and addiction care, and education.

“We need true partnership with the federal government to tackle Oregon’s biggest challenges. Based on the constructive conversations I had in D.C., I am optimistic that we will continue making progress together,” Governor Kotek said.

The Winter Meeting is one of the two annual convenings of the National Governors Association, the bipartisan organization representing governors from the 55 states and territories. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris hosted the dinner at the White House on Saturday for Governors and First Spouses.

During the week, Governor Kotek held one-on-one meetings with U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Marcia Fudge, U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra, and U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona.

Governor Kotek and Secretary Fudge discussed the governor’s executive orders aimed at tackling the state’s housing and homelessness crisis, as well as federal support to address housing and homelessness. Oregon recently received $9.5 million in grants from HUD as part of a larger federal grant distribution, and Governor Kotek advocated for additional funding to help solve rural and unsheltered homelessness.

On Thursday, Secretary Cardona and Governor Kotek discussed the need to maximize the impact of federal pandemic relief dollars, continue investing in summer learning and targeted early literacy strategies, and ensure all schools are safe learning and working environments.

During their Friday meeting, Governor Kotek and Secretary Becerra discussed the importance of the 1115 Medicaid waiver. The state recently negotiated to leverage federal funding to support investments in health-related social needs, including housing and nutrition support that are critical for a person’s overall health outcomes.

Governor Kotek also lifted up Oregon’s priorities in a Western Governors Association meeting that included Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack and Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis Richard McDonough. She also appeared on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, joining a panel with five other women governors from around the country.