Governors Urge Congress to Halt Federal Preemptions of State Laws, Voice Support for Federalism Act of 1999

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Washington, D.C.-The nation's governors are calling on Congress to stem the tide of a disturbing new federal trend-implementing broad federal preemptions that restrict states' own laws and policies. Testifying before the House Government Affairs Committee, NGA Executive Director Raymond C. Scheppach voiced the governors' support of the bipartisan Federalism Act of 1999 (H.R. 2245) and urged that the landmark bill move as quickly as possible.

"While shifting power to the states with one hand, the federal government has been busy taking power away from states with the other hand. The independence and responsibility that devolution has given states in certain areas is being offset …