CHARLESTON, SC--The National Governors Association (NGA) today announced its new executive committee members; the leadership of NGA's four standing committees; and members of the chair's task force for the 2006-2007 year.

New NGA Chair Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano and NGA Vice Chair Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty will lead NGA's Executive Committee. Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue, Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds and Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle also will serve on the committee.

Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman was named chair of the Economic Development and Commerce Committee, and Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm was named the committee's vice chair.

Former vice chair of the Education, Early Childhood and Workforce Committee, Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire, will now chair the committee and Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell will serve as vice chair.

New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine has moved from vice chair to chair of the Health and Human Services Committee. Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas will serve the committee as vice chair.

Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, who previously served as vice chair of the Natural Resources Committee now will serve as chair, and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson will serve as vice chair.

Additionally, Gov. Napolitano named the members of her Innovation America Task Force, which she will co-chair with Gov. Pawlenty.  Other members include Gov. Sebelius, Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt; Gov. Rendell and Gov. Huntsman.

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The National Governors Association (NGA) is the collective voice of the nation's governors and one of Washington, D.C.'s most respected public policy organizations. NGA provides governors with services that range from representing states on Capitol Hill and before the administration, to developing policy reports on innovative state programs and hosting networking seminars for state government executive branch officials. The NGA Center for Best Practices focuses on state innovations and best practices on issues that range from education and health to technology, welfare reform, and the environment. For more information about NGA and the Center for Best Practices, please visit www.nga.org.