August 2019 — MELISSA BALLARD

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Checking In At The Legislature: August 2019

I recently had the opportunity to travel to Ghana, Africa where my family helped at a school which provides care and services for the homeless. This was my first visit to Africa, and it was a very eye-opening experience.

While in Ghana, I made the conscious effort to look at the similarities and differences between our country and Ghana through a legislative lens. The profound poverty that most Ghanaians struggle with every day made me want to do more. As I saw the magnitude of the challenges in Ghana, I saw how all governments worry about things like clean water sources and usage, transportation, education, crime, affordable housing, poverty, and others. While traveling in Ghana, my mind went back several times to my recent visit to the Utah Navajo Reservation, the comparisons are dramatic. Observing the extreme poverty, the need for safe and well-built homes, the lack of industry, the lack of farming and nutrition, and the need to improve literacy and education are just a few of the extreme needs our governments have in common. However, we don’t need to go to Ghana or the Navajo Reservation to see such needs. Many of these needs exist in our own neighborhoods right here along the Wasatch Front. If we take the time to look we will find the needs and together we can help make lives better.

I find it very satisfying to be a part of the work that is being done within the State of Utah to improve our community in all facets. Celebrating success, lifting the downtrodden, and encouraging a culture of self-reliance are hallmarks of what makes Utah a marvelous place to live.

Thanks to each of you for what you continue to contribute to our community and state. There’s much to do, but this is a great place to live.

-Melissa

In this issue:

Ghana
Attending the Board of Regents and Trustees state gathering in Cedar City
American Legislative Exchange Council in Texas
Spearheading a Hydrogen Roundtable in Utah
Vice President of the United States Mike Pence visits Utah
United Nations Civil Society Conference in SLC, meeting with Muslim Televangelist

Items of Interest:

For August 2019 legislative interim items, click here.
Update on Medicaid expansion, Prop 3 in Utah with federal waiver denied, click here for more information.
Since the passage of Prop 2 in 2018, here are the cannabis problems the legislature is looking to address soon. 1. Counties raised concerns in the spring over distributing medical cannabis from the state central fill medical cannabis pharmacy. 2. Cultivators are required to cultivate indoors or outdoors, but not both, creating inefficiencies. 3. Research universities within the state need a path to research medical cannabis that does not violate state law.
Tax restructure in Utah still has a clean slate. For information on why we need a tax structure change in Utah, click here. To send input and ideas, click here.
I’ll be speaking at the closing ceremony of the North America Smart Energy Conference in Salt Lake City, discussing smart energy, energy storage, and hydrogen fuel cells with professionals from all over North America. The date is Sept 23-26. Please find more information here.
Good or bad, commercial drones will soon be coming to Utah. We have been discussing essential legislation that will regulate where they fly. Our hope is to enact legislation that will limit drones to the roadways and minimize the intrusion of commercial drones flying over our homes. Click here for more information.

Palace Gold School In Ghana, Africa

Traveling to Ghana was an incredible experience. I loved spending time with these happy children.

Attending The Board Of Regents And Trustees State Gathering In Cedar City

I had the opportunity to attend the Board of Regents and Trustees state gathering. While there, I shared the following three ideas. First, the importance that each member of the Board of Regents know precisely what the current job needs are across the state and correlating those needs with institutions of higher learning. We need to correlate where and how the higher educational institutions and technical colleges educate and prepare the workforce to adjust to those needs. Second, I encouraged all institutions to consolidate scholarship offices. This would provide for a simpler and more efficient application and scholarship process. Third, I would like to see a coordinated effort with “The Keys to Success” in each of the High Schools and the higher educational institutions. The coordinated effort would help streamline students directly into their chosen technical or higher education path and related job training. The meeting was very productive, and it was great to hear all the attendee's ideas.

Attending the American Legislative Exchange Conference

I attended the American Legislative Exchange conference in Austin, Texas, with many Utah legislators to discuss good policy that supports our constitution and economy.

Pictured are Utah legislators with the Texas Speaker of the House, Dennis Bonnen in the Texas House Chambers.

Hydrogen Roundtable

I organized a Hydrogen Roundtable. In attendance were CEOs, representing companies from around the nation associated with hydrogen fuel, Utah business owners, and Utah legislators. We discussed the need for interstate strategic planning for hydrogen use and how Utah businesses could be at the forefront of a hydrogen market. Hydrogen can store electricity, power our homes and buildings, hydrogen fuel can be used to provide various modes of transportation across the Wasatch Front, yet create zero emissions, thus aligning with our desire to have a sustainable environment and improving the current impact of our air quality across the Wasatch Front. Stay tuned for more to come.

Vice President Mike Pence's Visit To Utah

Vice President Mike Pence visited Utah, providing encouragement and praise for the people of Utah. I was struck by his sincerity that God is at the helm and want us to be successful. As he closed his speech he said, ”And finally, I leave here today with renewed faith in Him who said those words that we’ve had above the mantel in our home for 20 years — the words from the Book of Jeremiah that read: ‘I know the plans I have for you…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ That He who made those promises will yet bless this one nation under God. I have faith.”

The United Nations Civil Society Conference

The United Nations Civil Society Conference was held in Salt Lake City this week. This is the first time this conference has ever been held outside of New York City. The United Nations Civil Society Conference was an amazing networking opportunity for Non-government organizations (NGOs) from all around the world. Providing opportunities to learn from each other, collaborate ideas and efforts, and present solutions to build inclusive and sustainable cities and communities. Volunteers, organized by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, assembled 500,000 meals during the conference. I met with the Ensign College of Public Health in Ghana, which collaborates with the University of Utah School of Medicine. This group works to prevent recidivism, improve air quality, support women, and provide help to women in Africa seeking to be elected to public office; they also provide sustainable housing in addition to other areas of focus. It was a great conference with people from all over the world!

Meeting Mr. Mohamed Hanafiah Bin Abdul Malik

I met with Mr. Mohamed Hanafiah Bin Abdul Malik, an Islamic televangelist from Malaysia, and two directors of Malaysian schools. We talked about bringing together multiple religions in a community acting together, united in volunteering, and strengthening the physical and emotional needs of families in their communities. Working together to increase hope, faith, improving policies and practices that ultimately strengthen families within a community, helping alleviate poverty, and protect the values for freedom of the individual and freedom of religion.

Learn More About Melissa