For Immediate Release: Wednesday, July 28, 2021
ROCKVILLE, Md., July 28, 2021—Councilmember Craig Rice has been appointed by the National Association of Counties (NACo) as chair of NACo’s Human Services and Education Steering Committee effective Aug. 1. The appointment was made by NACo President Larry Johnson at the conclusion of NACo’s Annual Conference, where county leaders from across the nation convened in Prince George’s County, Maryland for the first time after 18 months of local leadership throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
NACo’s Human Services & Education (HSE) Steering Committee, with over 70 members from across the country, reviews and makes policy recommendations on all matters pertaining to children’s issues, foster care, public assistance and income support, services to senior citizens and individuals with disabilities, immigration policy, social services, and elementary, secondary, and post-secondary education. The Committee’s 2021-2022 Policy Platform and Resolutions address the role of counties in strengthening communities, and protecting and enhancing families, with human services and health expenditures being among the largest parts of county budgets.
“I am excited to take on this leadership role,” said Councilmember Rice. “My experience at the local and state levels on human services issues will help guide the conversation at a national level. In turn, I look forward to the opportunity to bring back to Montgomery County best practices and policies on education, poverty, and homelessness that have been proven by other counties throughout America.”
Councilmember Rice has chaired the Council’s Education and Culture Committee since 2013 and is a member of the Health and Human Services Committee. He also serves as the Council representative to the Maryland Association of Counties where he chairs the Education Subcommittee as well as leads the Diversity Caucus.
“Local issues such as poverty are influenced by national policy and national economics, and in large part beyond the control of local government. As HSE Chair, I plan to focus on the critical collaboration between federal and local governments on the issues that will require national solutions but which must incorporate local input to provide meaningful and lasting local solutions. A primary example is our advocacy for expansion of SNAP and WIC benefits and Universal Meals program for our students at the federal level so that nutritious local produce is obtainable by all at the local level. I look forward to tackling these challenges,” said Councilmember Rice.
Councilmember Rice most recently served as co-chair of NACo’s Broadband Task Force, comprised of three dozen county government officials from across America and charged with studying the lack of reliable broadband access for businesses and families. Their findings were recently released in the report, Broadband Task Force: High-Speed Internet is Essential for All Counties.
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