Page 20 - Demo

20 | Page February 1 4 I ssueTestimony on rural road safetyThis week, Converse County, Wyo. Commissioner Jim Willox is testifying before Congress on behalf of NACo regarding improving road safety in rural areas.The county role: Counties connect communities, maintaining over 45 percent of U.S. roads and nearly 40 percent of bridges.Why testifying on Capitol Hill matters: Strong intergovernmental partnerships are critical for improving rural transportation infrastructure.Disaster Reform Task Force prioritiesNACo%u2019s Intergovernmental Disaster Reform Task Force recently visited Washington, D.C., meeting with members of Congress and other federal leaders. The task force continues to push for solutions that enhance disaster recovery and preparedness for counties across the nation.Fly-in by the numbers: 25 members of the task force met with 20 House and Senate offices.Key priorities: Priorities for the task force include streamlining FEMA%u2019s Public Assistance Program, creating a universal application for those seeking disaster assistance and promoting financial stability through new legislation.Frequent disasters: Nearly one-third of U.S. counties face at least one presidentially declared disaster annually.