STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA OFFICE OF THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR DANIEL J FOREST LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR The Honorable Mitch McConnell Majority Leader, U.S. Senate 317 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 April 4, 2018 Dear Senator McConnell: Today, my colleagues and | ask for your help to further streamline and improve the delivery of ‘government services in the realm of SNAP, Medicaid, and unemployment insurance programs. The are many barriers erected by federal laws and regulations that constrain both federal and state governments from utilizing the most efficient and effective business processes to administer these programs. Recent guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to increase state flexibility in Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and the positive reaction from governors of both parties to these inges, demonstrate a path forward. Current federal laws and policies mandate the use of government workers and prohibit the use of private-sector workers for certain administrative functions. In many cases, these functions ean be performed more effectively and affordably through private-sector partners or nonprofit organizations, rather than by state employees. To this point, the Congressional Budget Office recently found that government workers can cost as much as 53 percent more than private-sector workers, States need greater flexibility and accountability to better support individuals and households in accessing the health and welfare benefits for which they qualify, and moving them back into the workforce, As Lt. Governors from across the country, we urge you to sponsor or support legislation to eliminate these impediments to innovation, cost savings, and better program integrity. An example of positive legislation in this regard is H.R. 1333 (Freedom to Use Contracting Entities Act), Also, similar amendments could be made in the SNAP program and the Unemployment Compensation law to allow states more flexibility in administering these programs. With your help, states ean have much greater flexibility to drive change and make government more accountable. We encourage you to take these simple steps to make government more cost- effective and efficient for our citizens. Sincerely, Dan Forest Rebecca Kleefisch Lt. Governor of North Carolina Lt, Govenor of Wisconsin HAWKINS-HARTNESS HOUSE 310 N, BLOUNT ST., RALEIGH, NC 27601 919-733-7350wns ‘Tim Griffin Lt. Governor of Arkansas ACop, Adam Gregg Lt. Governor of lowa Mbit ELL zo. Michael Parson Lt. Governor of Missouri Por Sonford Brent Sanford Lt. Governor of North Dakota "Naw Mag how Mary Taylor Lt. Governor of Ohio Reedy Mreds Randy McNally Lt. Governor of Tennessee gb loot Mitch B Carmichael Lt. Governor of West VirginiaSTATE OF NORTH CAROLINA OFFICE OF THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR DANIEL J FOREST LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR The Honorable Charles E. Schumer Minority Leader, U.S. Senate 322 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 April 4, 2018 Dear Senator Schumer: Today, my colleagues and I ask for your help to further streamline and improve the delivery of government services in the realm of SNAP, Medicaid, and unemployment insurance programs. There are many barriers erected by federal laws and regulations that constrain both federal and state governments from utilizing the most efficient and effective business processes to administer these programs. Recent guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to increase state flexibifity in Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and the positive reaction from governors of both parties to these changes, demonstrate a path forward Current federal laws and policies mandate the use of government workers and prohibit the use of private-sector workers for certain administrative functions. [n many cases, these functions can be performed more effectively and affordably through private-sector partners or nonprofit organizations, rather than by state employees. To this point, the Congressional Budget Office recently found that government workers can cost as much as $3 percent more than private-sector workers States need greater flexibility and accountability to better support individuals and households in accessing the health and welfare benefits for which they qualify, and moving them back into the workforce, As Lt. Governors from across the country, we urge you to sponsor or support legislation to eliminate these impediments to innovation, cost savings, and better program integrity. An example of positive legislation in this regard is H.R. 1333 (Freedom to Use Contracting Entities Act). Also, similar amendments could be made in the SNAP program and the Unemployment Compensation law to allow states more flexibility in administering these programs, With your help, states can ha more accountable, We encourage you to take these effective and efficient for our citizens. much greater flexibility to drive change and make government iple steps to make government more cost= Bebecine Legfoiehd Dan Forest Rebecea Kleefisch, Lt, Governor of North Carolina Lt, Govenor of Wisconsin HAWKINS-HARTNESS HOUSE 310 N. BLOUNT ST., RALEIGH, NC 27601 919-733-7350debe Rer Tim Griffin Lt. Governor of Arkansas ‘Adam Gregg Lt. Governor of lowa Miah LL Eocon. Michael Parson Lt. Governor of Missouri Passenger Brent S Lt. Governor of North Dakota avg agp ore Mary Taylor Lt, Governor of Ohio Reedy Wreds Randy McNally Lt. Governor of Tennessee A f Lute Mitch B Carmichael Lt. Governor of West VirginiaSTATE OF NORTH CAROLINA OFFICE OF THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR DANIEL J FOREST LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, ‘The Honorable Paul Ryan Speaker, U.S. House of Representatives 11-232 The Captiol Washington, D.C. 20515 April 4, 2018 Dear Speaker Ryan: Today, my colleagues and | ask for your help to further streamline and improve the delivery of government services in the realm of SNAP, Medicaid, and unemployment insurance programs. There are many barriers erected by federal laws and regulations that constrain both federal and state governments from utilizing the most efficient and effective business processes to administer these programs. Recent guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to increase state flexibility in Medicaid and the Supplemental ‘Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and the positive reaction from governors of both parties to these changes, demonstrate a path forward, Current federal laws and policies mandate the use of government workers and prohibit the use of private-sector workers for certain administrative functions. In many cases, these functions can be performed more effectively and affordably through private-sector partners or nonprofit organizations, rather than by state employees. To this point, the Congressional Budget Office recently found that government workers can cost as much as 53 percent more than private-sector workers. States need greater flexibility and accountability to better support individuals and households in accessing the health and welfare benefits for which they qualify, and moving them back into the workforce. As Lt. Governors from across the country, we urge you to sponsor or support legislation to climinate these impediments to innovation, cost savings, and better program integrity. An ‘example of positive legislation in this regard is H.R. 1333 (Freedom to Use Contracting Entities Act). Also, similar amendments could be made in the SNAP program and the Unemployment Compensation law to allow states more flexibility in administering these programs. ibility to drive change and make government With your help, states can have much greater fl imple steps to make government more cost- more accountable. We encourage you to take these effective and efficient for our citizens. incerely Dan Forest Rebecca Kleefisch Lt. Governor of North Carolina Lt. Govenor of Wisconsin HAWKINS-HARTNESS HOUSE 310 N. BLOUNT ST., RALEIGH, NC 27601 919-733-7350Thabo Ren ‘Tim Griffin Lt. Governor of Arkansas Adam Gregg Lt. Governor of lowa ae Michael Parson Lt. Governor of Missouri Pou forgo Brent Sanford Lt. Governor of North Dakota Mag ag hae Mary Taylor Lt. Governor of Ohio Reedy RON Randy McNally Lt. Governor of Tennessee ge f laatl Mitch B Carmichael! Lt. Governor of West VirginiaSTATE OF NORTH CAROLINA OFFICE OF THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR DANIEL J FOREST LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR The Honorable Nancy Pelosi Minority Leader, U.S. House of Representatives 233 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 April 4, 2018 Dear Representative Pelosi Today, my colleagues and | ask for your help to further streamline and improve the delivery of ‘government services in the realm of SNAP, Medicaid, and unemployment insurance programs. There are many barriers erected by federal laws and regulations that constrain both federal and state governments from utilizing the most efficient and effective business processes to administer these programs, Recent guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to increase state flexibility in Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and the positive reaction from governors of both parties to these changes, demonstrate a path forward. Current federal laws and policies mandate the use of government workers and prohibit the use of private-sector workers for certain administrative functions. In many cases, these functions ean be performed more effectively and affordably through private-sector partners or nonprofit organizations, rather than by state employees. To this point, the Congressional Budget Office recently found that government workers can cost as much as 53 percent more than private-sector workers. States need greater flexibility and accountability to better support individuals and households in accessing the health and welfare benefits for which they qualify, and moving them back into the workforce. As Lt. Governors from across the country, we urge you to sponsor oF support legislation to eliminate these impediments to innovation, cost savings, and better program integrity. An example of positive legislation in this regard is H.R. 1333 (Freedom to Use Contracting Entities Act), Also, similar amendments could be made in the SNAP program and the Unemployment ‘Compensation law to allow states more flexibility in administering these programs With your help, states can have much greater flexibility to drive change and make government more accountable. We encourage you to take these simple steps to make government more cost- effective and efficient for our citizens. Sincerely, Dan Forest Rebecca Kleefisch Lt. Governor of North Carolina Lt. Govenor of Wisconsin HAWKINS-HARTNESS HOUSE 310 N, BLOUNT ST., RALEIGH, NC 27601 919-733-7350Jha bn ‘Tim Griffin Lt. Governor of Arkansas M Ga Adam Gregg Lt. Governor of fowa Mi Leno Michael Parson Lt. Governor of Missouri Poor Sonfird Brent Sanford. Lt. Governor of North Dakota "nawy Sef eee Mary Taylor Lt. Governor of Ohio Ready Mreds Randy MeNally Lt. Governor of Tennessee wf atl Mitch B Carmichael Lt, Governor of West Virginia