OKLAHOMA CITY – Members of the National Governors Association traveled to Oklahoma City over the weekend for the organization’s annual Summer Meeting.
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, the NGA chairman, said the bipartisan event welcomes governors from across the country to examine issues like AI, education, economic development, infrastructure, affordability and restoring dignity to politics.
Oklahoma kicked off the event Thursday evening with a welcome reception at The Jones Assembly restaurant in Oklahoma City and a meeting of the Council of Governors, a 10-member federally established body instituted to work with federal officials to address issues relating to the National Guard, national security, homeland defense, and disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.
“I’m honored to welcome governors from across the nation to Oklahoma for the National Governors Association Summer Meeting,” Stitt said. “In Oklahoma, we have a tradition called the Oklahoma Standard, which celebrates service, honor and kindness. Governors work together in that same spirit, and I know we’ll have constructive discussions this week on how to best serve our states and our country.”
Stitt said the governors met with federal leaders representing the National Guard Bureau, Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Defense Department.
On Friday, Stitt, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and governors from both sides of the political aisle sat down with NBC News’ Kristen Welker for a Bipartisan Governors Town Hall.
In addition, Moore and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox will join RAISE US co-founders former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and former Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb for a conversation on AI and the future of work. And, later that day, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz will join governors for a discussion on health priorities.
As the NGA Chair, Stitt had a year-long initiative, “Reigniting the American Dream.”
Stitt said he championed the bipartisan effort to equip every learner, to promote innovation and economic mobility, and to power America’s future.
“The American Dream is still alive and well, and governors are working together to make sure every American has the opportunity to chase their dream,” Stitt said. “I believe that you can accomplish any dream if you’re willing to work hard for it. I’m proud of the work we’ve done together to empower people to chase their dreams, and I’m excited to celebrate that here in Oklahoma City this week.”
Stitt’s effort drew praise by NGA Chief Executive Officer Brandon Tatum.
“Governor Stitt’s Reigniting the American Dream initiative is the right conversation at the right time,” Tatum said. “The American Dream hasn’t changed but achieving it takes a fresh approach in the AI age. Governors are laserfocused on providing strong schools, career pathways, reliable energy and a thriving business environment that builds communities where hard work can turn into real opportunity. Across party lines and state lines, governors are proving that when we clear barriers, open doors and invest in people, we can help more Americans write their own American Dream story.”
Stitt’s efforts were featured in a documentary titled “Reigniting The American Dream.” The full-length piece features fellow governors alongside business leaders like Mark Cuban sharing obstacles and opportunities they encountered in their only-in-America paths to success. The 1-hour documentary is available on YouTube and features interviews with more than 50 Americans across generations, backgrounds, and political perspectives.
Along with the American Dream initiative, Stitt worked to produce a playbook featuring energy policies, titled “Ensuring America’s Energy Leadership: A State Roadmap for Energy Security, Economic Growth, and Grid Resilience.”
Stitt also released the Governors Compact on Entrepreneurship, which he said would unleash a new generation of entrepreneurs by identifying a variety of ways governors can make entrepreneurship a priority their states and territories.
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M. Scott Carter is an award-winning political and investigative reporter with more than 40 years’ experience covering federal and state government and politics in Oklahoma. He can be reached at scott.carter@swoknews. com.