Western Governors To Meet

Western Governors will kick off their Annual Meeting Sunday in Sedona, Arizona, when they consider actions they can take on several fronts: spur Congress to act on comprehensive immigration reform; increase clean & diverse energy resources in the West; encourage successful land & water conservation strategies; & help prepare states for a potential avian flu outbreak.

Gov. Janet Napolitano, Chair of the Western Governors' Association, will host her colleagues June 11th – 13th in Sedona.

“These are all issues that present tremendous challenges to our individual states, the region & our country,” Napolitano said. “I look forward to hearing from my colleagues & experts in the field about the best strategies & options for making significant progress in addressing all of them.”

Plenary sessions & speakers include:

* Joseph T. Kelliher, Chairman, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
* Jeff Sterba, Chairman, President and CEO of PNM Resources.
* William J. Keese, former chairman of the California Energy Commission & co-chair of the WGA Clean & Diversified Energy Advisory Committee.
* Joseph Desmond, California Under Secretary for Energy Affairs.
* Sheryl Carter, Natural Resources Defense Council’s Energy Program.
* Jim Sims, Western Business Roundtable.
* Dan Trunfio, Global Bio-fuels Manager, Shell Downstream Incorporated.

Monday, June 12 -- Growth and Conservation Strategies for the West
* David Hayes, former Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Interior & currently partner at Latham Watkins.
* Bennett Raley, former Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary for Water & Science, & currently partner at Trout, Raley, Montaño, Witwer & Freeman.
* Dr. Rollie Sparrowe, founding Board Member of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.
* Duane A. Smith, Executive Director, Oklahoma Water Resources Board.

Tuesday, June 13 -- Pandemic Flu: Prepared or Panicked?
* Dr. Stephen Prior, President of Quantum Leap Health Sciences.
* Dr. Reed Tuckson, senior vice-president of consumer health & medical care advancement for the United Health Group.
* Chris Viehbacher, President, US Pharmaceuticals, GlaxoSmithKline.
* Dr. Michael Samoszuk, Chief Medical Officer, Roche Diagnostics Corporation.

Tuesday, June 13 – Board Meeting – Comprehensive Immigration Reform & Adoption of Policy Resolutions
Among other action items governors will:
* discuss future actions to spur Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform this year. * adopt policy resolutions that will guide the association’s work on key issues.
* discuss wildland fire management issues & 2006 wildfire season.
* elect a new Chair and Vice Chair for the coming year.

The meeting will be held at the Enchantment Resort in Sedona. An agenda & other meeting details are available on the Web at www.westgov.org.