(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today joined Governor Bob Ferguson (WA), Governor Josh Green (HI), Governor Maura Healey (MA), Governor Kathy Hochul (NY), Governor Tina Kotek (OR), Governor Lou Leon Guerrero (GU), Governor Dan McKee (RI), Governor Matt Meyer (DE), Governor Wes Moore (MD), Governor Phil Murphy (NJ), Governor Gavin Newsom (CA), Governor Jared Polis (CO), Governor JB Pritzker (IL) and Governor Josh Stein (NC) to announce the launch of the Governors Public Health Alliance, a new coalition of governors designed to protect the health of people across the U.S.
“Connecticut is proud to join an alliance that strengthens our collaboration with other states and protects the health and wellbeing of our residents, while preparing against future threats,” Governor Lamont said. “Whether it was during the COVID pandemic or any other public health crisis, it’s important for governors to speak with one voice and communicate clearly with our communities to keep them safe. Once again states are stepping up, amid federal uncertainty, to ensure our residents have the information they need to stay protected.”
The Governors Public Health Alliance will serve as a nonpartisan coordinating hub for governors and their public health leaders, supporting governors and their states in coordinating and collaborating to protect the public’s health by facilitating data sharing and communication about health threat detection, emergency preparedness and response, public health guidance and policy, and deployment of experts.
It also facilitates national coordination on public health at the gubernatorial level — complementing existing mechanisms and interfacing with entities across the county. This includes the Northeast Public Health Collaborative, of which Connecticut is a member, and assists state public health laboratories in sharing resources and expertise to strengthen regional readiness.
The Governors Public Health Alliance is supported by the Governors Action Alliance (GovAct), a nonprofit, nonpartisan initiative that supports governors in protecting fundamental freedoms, including public health. The Alliance is advised by leading public health experts, including former CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen; former Alaska Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink; and Dr. Raj Panjabi, former White House Senior Director for Global Health Security and Biodefense. As an initiative of GovAct, the Alliance will also be advised by GovAct’s Bipartisan Advisory Board of former governors and former senior federal officials.
“With many health threats at our doorstep, collaboration and communication between governors is essential to protect the health of families and save lives,” former CDC Director and former North Carolina Secretary for Health and Human Services Dr. Mandy Cohen said. “This alliance creates the framework to support the national coordination needed to safeguard communities.”
“Governors are being asked to do more with less — daily. And yet the challenges keep growing,” Julia Spiegel, founder and CEO of GovAct, said. “GovAct is here to help bring capacity, expertise, and know-how so that governors have the tools they need to act decisively, together, to protect the health and well-being of their people.”
Participating states have already begun sharing best practices, receiving briefings from public health experts, and coordinating on executive actions governors can take to strengthen public health protections, including standing orders or directives to preserve access to COVID-19 vaccines.
The Alliance will continue to provide governors and their teams with toolkits and timely briefings on major policy developments in public health, share coordinated strategies ahead of high-profile events, and offer opportunities to discuss health security issues.
The Alliance’s website will soon be available at www.govsforhealth.org.