The National Governors' Conference first met in 1908. The Conference has played an increasingly vital role in vigorously representing the interests of the states in the federal system. At the last meeting of the Governors in Washington, D. C., on March 6-7, 1974 it was determined to revise the operations of the National Governors' Conference to strengthen even further the conference by reorganizing it to better meet the needs of the states and by allocating to it increased state resources in order to enhance its capacity to implement national policy objectives of the nation's governors.

As an instrumentality of the State of Washington and of all the states, the work of the National Governors' Conference is also the work of Washington State government. The time for state government to acquire its rightful status as a full partner in the federal system will never be more opportune. I totally support the moves to strengthen the National Governors' Conference and I share the conviction of my fellow governors that the National Governors' Conference is the best vehicle to guarantee a role for the State of Washington and for all the states in the determination of national policy.

NOW, THEREFORE,I, Daniel J. Evans, Governor of the State of Washington, do direct that the following actions be taken to implement in this state the policies and programs adopted in the future operations program by the National Governors' Conference on March 7, 1974:

1. Executive department directors and other members of the cabinet shall effect broad distribution of National Governors' Conference bulletins, information letters and special reports within their departments and agencies and shall encourage appropriate personnel to maintain, through my office, contact with conference staff in Washington, D.C.

2. Task forces of key state people may be assembled from time to time for temporary duty in Washington, D. C., or other locations by the National Governors' Conference for in-depth working sessions on issue analysis and policy development, and where appropriate, to contact and communicate with agencies of the federal government and the Congress of the United States. To the fullest extent possible and subject to authorization and approval by the Office to serve on such task forces. Compensation and expenses incurred by state government personnel in temporary assignments to the National Governors' Conference with the authorization of my office, shall be paid in a manner mutually agreed to by the National Governors' Conference and the State of Washington, consistent with existing state law as amended hereafter.

3. All contacts by executive branch personnel with federal agencies and officials or with the United States Congress on national issues in federal-state relations should be undertaken with full awareness of current conference policies, positions and objectives. Executive branch personnel should not, except under direction of the Office of the Governor, advocate policies and positions on national issues which are in conflict with the National Governors' Conference policy. This shall likewise apply to executive branch personnel participation in the development of policy positions or resolutions in various interstate, regional and national organizations of which such personnel or the State of Washington are members.