ABA Journal

Report from Governmental Affairs

111 ABA Journal Report from Governmental Affairs articles.

We Need You: Member input will help set ABA legislative priorities

The 118th Congress is scheduled to open Jan. 3. New and returning senators and representatives will likely confront significant challenges of interest to the legal profession, including some that could impact how attorneys serve their clients throughout the country.

ABA works to provide nonpartisan info and protect access to the ballot box

Optimizing Outreach: In-person lobbying is returning, but digital advocacy will remain

The pandemic forced organizations like the ABA to adopt new ways to connect with their elected officials and lobby for policy changes of interest to their professions. In-person lobbying was the meat and potatoes of ABA advocacy for decades, but closing the halls of Congress to the public for more than two years elevated digital communications to the forefront.

Matters of Life and Death: ABA advocacy helps ensure constitutional protections in capital cases

Death penalty cases are difficult. The crimes are often shocking, and justice for the victims and their families is always a concern. The ABA does not take a position on the morality or constitutionality of the death penalty. But it is committed to ensuring capital punishment is applied in a fair, unbiased and accurate manner, including engaging with governments to ensure due process.

Join ABA Day 2022: Celebrating 25 years of advocacy on the Hill

This year, we will celebrate the 25th anniversary of this event during the week of April 4. The ongoing pandemic has restricted our ability to meet face-to-face in Washington, but we have adjusted our advocacy strategy and techniques. As in 2020 and 2021, ABA Day 2022 will be held virtually.

Global Impact: The ABA’s advocacy has influence on the international stage

The ABA’s efforts to improve laws and regulations and defend the rule of law are not limited to the United States; the ABA’s voice is also heard around the world. Opening jurisdictions to U.S. law firms, strengthening the rule of law, and improving the quality of laws through education, law reform and advocacy are important components of the ABA’s global work.

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program is a case study of ABA advocacy

The ABA started advocating for the creation of PSLF in 2002, and our steadfast support continues today. The program provides a financial tool to support government and nonprofit service providers who help ensure the delivery of vital services to the public, regardless of how rural or underresourced a community is. It is also a recruitment and retention tool that helps reduce student loan debt obligations for eligible professions, including public service lawyers.

ABA leads efforts to deliver legal services to veterans

ABA lobbying efforts are an important member service

One of the most valuable benefits enjoyed by every member of the American Bar Association—and indirectly, by every attorney in America—is the ABA’s advocacy on their behalf in Washington, D.C.

ABA-backed Family Justice Initiative has improved access to counsel in child welfare cases

For parents and their children, the child welfare legal system can be confusing and intimidating. That’s where a good lawyer comes in.

Advocate for important issues by engaging Congress online at ABA Day 2021

117th Congress has opportunities for bipartisan criminal justice reforms

Hundreds of criminal justice bills were introduced but ultimately died at the end of the last Congress. The good news for those seeking change is that most of the problems were specific to the 116th Congress, and the 117th presents new opportunities for progress.

You can help determine the ABA’s goals for the 117th Congress

The legislative agenda for this past year has essentially been placed on hold, so there is a plethora of unfinished business confronting the soon-to-be-organized new Congress: criminal justice, immigration, election security, gun violence, infrastructure, appropriations, health care, national security and more.

2020 Elections: A year of challenges

Congress battles over liability shields for businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic

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