The COG Board of Directors’ policy committees helped advance the region’s work this year, including in the areas of equity, inclusive growth, resilience, mental health, and food security. Elected officials from across the region showed outstanding leadership as chairs of each committee, paving the way for more progress in 2022. Read about some of the committees’ core work and accomplishments in 2021 below.
The Chesapeake Bay and Water Resources Policy Committee (CBPC) chaired through November by former City of Gaithersburg Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles, focused on water and climate resiliency in 2021; flooding concerns are driving these conversations. The CBPC advocated for increased and sustained federal funding for water infrastructure in the lead up to the new infrastructure bill. It also penned a letter of support for the Interstate Commission of the Potomac River Basin’s Travilah Quarry feasibility study to assess the ability to convert the quarry to a reservoir that could provide drinking water resiliency for the region. The CBPC’s annual forum with the EPA and states also focused on resiliency, with participants agreeing that this is, and will continue to be, a top priority for water programs.
The Climate, Energy, and Environment Policy Committee (CEEPC) chaired by Prince George’s County Council Member Deni Taveras, celebrated several accomplishments this year. COG and its members again received international recognition for their plan, developed by CEEPC, to mitigate climate change locally and work for a more climate resilient region. The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM), a global alliance working toward a resilient and low emission society, found COG’s regional greenhouse gas emission reduction goals and Metropolitan Washington 2030 Climate and Energy Action Plan fully compliant with the global standards of best practices for climate planning. COG and local government partners also teamed up through CEEPC to educate area leaders and residents about this challenge and connect them with opportunities for action through a new platform—DMV Climate Partners at climatepartners.org.
The Food and Agriculture Regional Member Policy Committee (FARM) chaired by District of Columbia Councilmember Mary Cheh, was made a permanent policy committee of the COG Board in October. The committee collaborated through the year across jurisdictions to find opportunities to enhance food security and build a more resilient, connected food and farm economy, especially given increased instances of food insecurity brought on by economic hardship due to COVID-19. FARM is currently working to complete a Healthy Food Access Policy Compendium for the region.
The Human Services Policy Committee (HSPC), chaired by Prince William County Supervisor Andrea Bailey, focused on mental and behavioral health as COVID-19 continues to disrupt the lives of area residents. Specifically, the group explored strategies to address mental and behavioral health as it intersects the areas of child welfare, homelessness, substance dependency, and stigma. To broaden the impact, the HSPC developed a Resolution to Cooperate Regionally to Address Mental Health Stigma that will be brought before the COG Board of Directors in early 2022; it calls on area jurisdictions to enhance awareness about mental health stigma and awareness, improve access to care to ensure all residents can achieve mental wellness, and support culturally competent providers to address cultural stigma associated with mental illness.
The Region Forward Coalition (RFC), chaired by Arlington County Board Member Libby Garvey focused on opportunities to weave equity into conversations about advancing the COG vision for a more prosperous, accessible, livable, and sustainable region. The coalition, which represents many sectors, covered a wide range of topics with a diverse group of organizations, including Connected DMV, Enterprise Community Partners, Greater Washington Partnership, WMATA, NVTA, the Capital Area Food Bank, and Brookings. It held in-depth discussions on inclusive growth and affordable housing, transportation access, an equitable recovery from COVID-19, and regional climate risks and vulnerabilities.