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    Washington Letter June 2016

     

    Legislation & Lobbying

    Practical lobbying reference guide for state and local bars now available

    The ABA Governmental Affairs Office and the National Association of Bar Executives Government Relations Section have collaborated to produce All Politics Is Local: A Practical Guide to Effective Advocacy for State and Local Bars. This “nuts and bolts” guide is intended to help bar professionals navigate the legislative terrain and to empower bars to develop and deliver influential and effective messages to lawmakers.

    Featured Articles

    Federal Government

    ABA president conveys association efforts to combat money laundering

    ABA President Paulette Brown expressed the association’s concerns last month over proposed legislation that would subject many lawyers to the anti-money laundering (AML) and suspicious activity reporting (SAR) requirements of the Bank Secrecy Act and thus undermine the attorney-client privilege, the confidential lawyer-client relationship, and state court regulation of lawyers. Brown also outlined the many positive steps the ABA and the legal profession are taking to fight money laundering in ways that avoid these negative consequences.

    Legislation & Lobbying

    ABA urges Congress to strengthen child welfare system programs

    The ABA is urging Congress to strengthen federal programs that provide services and support to families in the child welfare system and expressed support this month for H.R. 5456, bipartisan legislation passed by the House June 21. In a June 20 letter to the leadership of the House Ways and Means Committee and its Subcommittee on Human Resources, ABA Governmental Affairs Director Thomas M. Susman said that the ABA supports reform of the federal child welfare financing structure to end fiscal incentives to place children in foster care.