WASHINGTON, D.C. — Logan County Commissioner Joe Antram began this month in Washington, D.C., attending the National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference from March 1-4, gleaning insights about the new administration and advocating for the Logan County community.
Commissioner Antram serves as the secretary of the County Commissioners Association of Ohio (CCAO). As a statewide leader and advocate for local policy, CCAO sponsored his attendance at the National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference.
During two general sessions, featured speakers included two cabinet secretaries along with members of Congress from both the U.S. House and Senate. Conference attendees shaped NACo’s legislative agenda, received updates on key federal policies and advocated for county priorities on Capitol Hill.
“This was a great opportunity to share the Logan County perspective with other county delegates from all over the nation. I was also able to reinforce strong intergovernmental partnerships with federal officials on issues important to Logan County,” Antram said.
Issues covered at the conference included tax and budget reconciliation, SALT and tax-exempt municipal bonds, disaster preparedness and management, artificial intelligence (AI), behavioral health and the county implications of policies being implemented during the first 100 days of the Trump Administration and the 119th Congress.
Attendees also participated in a Federal Agency Expo, with more than 60 federal program offices sending representatives to meet with conference participants and build intergovernmental partnerships.
“I was able to learn more about key innovations in rural policy and practice. Remarks by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins that previewed her vision for restoring rural prosperity to America were especially compelling,” Commissioner Antram said.
“U.S. Secretary of Veteran Affairs Doug Collins spoke of his efforts to streamline inefficiencies across his department and recognized the critical role county leaders have in aiding veterans’ access to benefits and healthcare.”
The conference culminated in an Advocacy Day of Action, positioning attendees to advocate for county federal policy priorities.
Commissioner Antram was able to meet with Senators Jon Husted and Bernie Moreno and Congressman Jim Jordan. Topics discussed included needed Medicaid support for residents of county-owed retirement centers; streamlining FEMA processes in emergency situations like the tornado event that devastated neighborhoods at Indian Lake one year ago; and recent developments in the international grain market and how it may impact the bottom line for farmers in West Central Ohio.
“Federal policies have direct and long-lasting impacts on county governments and our residents,” said NACo President James Gore. “With a new administration and Congress fewer than 100 days in, NACo’s Legislative Conference is an essential opportunity to connect with our intergovernmental partners and advocate for county priorities that help our communities thrive.”
For more details about the 2025 Legislative Conference, click here.
