The Legislative Priorities Survey from the ABA Governmental Affairs Office is your opportunity to provide your input on what issues in the new Congress are most important to you. At the end of each Congress, we survey the entire ABA membership by email to learn what policy issues the ABA should focus on as the voice of the legal profession.
GAO launched the Legislative Priorities Survey for the 117th Congress on Nov. 18. ABA members received emails asking for input, but any member can also access the survey here. We are keeping the survey open until Dec. 31.
It takes less than 10 minutes to complete, and the input provided is indispensable to informing the ABA’s advocacy priorities, especially during these fraught times.
The survey results will be presented to the Board of Governors at the ABA Midyear Meeting in February. The board will consider your input, along with the following criteria, to determine whether an issue should be made a priority:
- Breadth and strength of the ABA interest.
- Importance to the practice of law.
- Public perception of the profession.
- Opportunity for impact.
- Potential for achievement.
- Timeliness of issue.
- Expertise of lawyers on the issue.
- Importance to society.
- Importance to the administration of justice.
Once the board approves the association’s legislative and federal policy priorities for use during the upcoming Congress, GAO will publish the information on our website. These priorities will guide ABA leadership, the GAO’s team of lobbyists and our grassroots outreach supporting our advocacy efforts for the next two years.
Congress’ legislation agenda for last year was essentially placed on hold because of the pandemic 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. Congressional action in the upcoming 117th Congress will have long-lasting consequences for lawyers, our clients, and the nation.
The ABA values its members’ input and encourages everyone to participate. Respond to the survey and volunteer to participate in our advocacy efforts by joining our Grassroots Action Team here. We need your help to ensure the voice of the American legal profession is heard on Capitol Hill.