Policy News Gov. Cox launches new health initiative Gov. Spencer J. Cox announced the formation of a new effort focused on reducing health care costs and improving health outcomes for Utahns. The Utah Sustainable Health Collaborative is the first of its kind in Utah and the U.S. âThe costs of health care have become debilitating for many Utahns and rising premiums are threatening the economic future of many Utah businesses,â Gov. Cox said. âAs a result, Iâm calling on providers, payers, patients, community based organizations, nonprofits, legislators, employers, and others to come together and create a more sustainable, value-based approach to health care that will benefit all Utahns.â The primary function of this patient-centric collaborative will be to convene and unite a broad group of partners to pilot different models of health service delivery, access, and payment; teach and learn from one another, and ultimately enable the health system to scale successful outcomes statewide to be most beneficial to all Utahns. (Read More) 45th annual Women & Business Conference and ATHENA Awards Luncheon The Salt Lake Chamber will honor Natalie Gochnour, Associate Dean in the David Eccles School of Business and Director of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah, as the 2021 ATHENA Leadership Award recipient at this yearâs Women & Business Conference and ATHENA Awards Luncheon on November 19, 2021, at the Grand America Hotel. In addition to the ATHENA Leadership Award, six women will receive Pathfinder Awards at the conference. (Read More) Celebrating diversity: EDCUtah âWe Are Utahâ videos now available With the support of Comcast, the Economic Development Corporation of Utah (EDCUtah) and its Center for Economic Opportunity & Belonging (CEOB) have published three short videos to highlight opportunities that the Utah business community offers to diverse talent. âWe recently convened a group of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) practitioners at large Utah employers to share best practices for recruiting, retaining and supporting diverse talent in Utah,â said Theresa A. Foxley, president and CEO of EDCUtah. âThis group identified the need for a number of shared assets, including videos to help dispel misperceptions and to welcome diverse talent into Utah.â (Read/Watch More) Senate takes up defense bill with Romney measures to counter Chinaâs abuses, support Afghan partners & bolster Hill Air Force Base The Senate this week is considering the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2022 with key amendments offered by U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) to counter Chinaâs aggression and human rights abusesâincluding a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympicsâsupport our Afghan partners following the United Statesâ disastrous withdrawal, and bolster Utahâs Hill Air Force Base in its work to support our national security. âWe must take decisive action to confront Chinaâs growing aggression and dissuade them from pursuing a predatory path around the world,â Senator Romney said. (Read More) Sens. Romney, Bennet release GAO report recommending improvements to the Emergency Watershed Protection Program U.S. Senators Mitt Romney (R-UT) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) today released a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report highlighting the challenges faced by Western communities in the aftermath of wildfire and detailing opportunities for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to improve its Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP) to more effectively serve communities across the West as they recover. After a destructive wildfire season, Romney and Bennet heard many community suggestions on improvements to federal wildfire recovery programs and requested that the GAO examine the USDAâs EWP program in November 2019. GAO accepted the request on December 10, 2019, and started auditing the program shortly thereafter. âThis report underscores the challenges faced by communities in Utah and throughout the West in the aftermath of wildfires,â Romney said. (Read More) Sens. Romney, Casey introduce bipartisan legislation to invest in early childhood education leadership programs U.S. Senators Mitt Romney (R-UT) and Bob Casey (D-PA) today introduced the Creating Early Childhood Leaders Act, bipartisan legislation that would better prepare school leaders, including principals, to facilitate high-quality early childhood education programs and provide support to teachers. As states expand pre-kindergarten programs, elementary school principals, superintendents, and other school leaders are increasingly responsible for early education classrooms. âThe importance of early childhood development cannot be overstated,â Senator Romney said. âThese are critical years for a childâs brain development and it is absolutely essential that leaders in our school districts are adequately prepared to support early childhood development teachers and programs. Thatâs what this common-sense, bipartisan legislation seeks to accomplish: ensure our educational leaders in Utah have the necessary resources and training, in hopes that we will more effectively support the early development of our next generation.â (Read More) DAY 17: Sen. Lee continues fight against Bidenâs vaccine mandate Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), for the seventeenth day, spoke against President Bidenâs vaccine mandate on the Senate Floor today (Nov. 18) and asked the Senate to pass by unanimous consent his bill to protect the federal workforce from President Bidenâs federal workforce vaccine mandate.(Read/Watch More) | 