FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:    Nan Summerall, Executive Assistant
                (941) 335-2224

FORT MYERS, Fla. (October 5, 2001) – Commissioner Bob Janes, District #1, Lee County Board of County Commissioners, has recently been named a member of the National Association of Counties’ (NACo) Health Steering Committee by NACo President Javier Gonsalves.

NACo’s 11 steering committees form the policy-making arm of the association. Each committee is comprised of approximately 60-100 county officials who meet several times during the year to examine issues critical to local government.

The Health Steering Committee focuses on health care delivery and financing including indigent care; health care for the uninsured; Medicaid; Medicare; long-term care; local public health programs; mental health; substance abuse; and developmental disabilities.

The steering committee’s recommendations on legislative policies and goals are presented to the NACo’s membership during the association’s Annual Conference. If approved, the recommendations become part of the American County Platform, which is the basis of NACo’s efforts in representing counties before Congress and the White House.

NACo is the only national organization representing county governments in the United States. Its goals are to improve county government, act as a liaison with other levels of government, present the county position on national issues and advance public understanding of the role of counties.