It is a privilege to represent the Beehive State in Washington, D.C. I initially began my current role in the Herbert Administration by traveling regularly (every other week) to D.C. to represent Utah's interests. Now I have moved just 10 miles from the U.S. Capitol and work just two blocks from the Capitol, where I represent Utah each day. 
Considering the billions of dollars that flow from the federal government to the states and the volumes of laws and regulations promulgated in the District of Columbia that impact the states, the 55 states and territories take keen interest in the affairs of the federal city. In addition to conducting their own work, the states work together to protect their varied interests.
To this end, the states created an association, the National Governors Association (NGA), to protect their interests. The NGA is led by an executive committeecomposed of nine sitting governors. Two of the governors on the executive committee lead the association as the chair and vice chair - always one Republican and one Democrat. These two governors are their party's leaders in the affairs of the NGA. Governor Herbert is currently the vice chair of the NGA and in July will take over as the chair of the association. This means that Utah leads the NGA's GOP caucus in the work done within the association. Colorado Governor, John Hickenlooper, is the current chair of the NGA.
The photo above is of Governor Hickenlooper's Washington Representative, Jena Griswold, and me. 
It has been a great experience to work with the GOP caucus and advance the issues important to Republican states. It has also been rewarding to work with my Democratic colleagues to find common ground. Of course the states have their differences, but generally speaking, pragmatism prevails as states stick together.