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    September 2020 Washington Letter

     

    Federal Government

    Thousands of Poll Workers Needed for 2020 Elections

    On Sept.1, Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) contacted the American Bar Association about the unprecedented challenges associated with the upcoming 2020 elections, including the pressing threat of a severe shortage of poll workers. Many experienced poll workers, who are primarily over 60 years old and at higher risk from coronavirus, are opting to stay home this year, thereby creating the need for innovative solutions and a call to action.

    This Month's Articles

    Government

    ABA Advocacy on the Global Stage

    Members of the ABA often cite as one of the significant reasons for belonging to this august organization our advocacy for the rule of law, for equality and equal rights, and for the independence of the profession and the judiciary. While the ABA President is our principal spokesperson when it comes to advocating policies to governmental officials, the Governmental Affairs Office is charged with leading and coordinating that advocacy and has done so since the association opened its office in the Nation’s Capital in 1957.

    Advocates of the Month

    We are proud to recognize Elizabeth Rindskopf Parker, Harvey Rishikof, and Suzanne Spaulding as our Advocates of the Month for September 2020. Elizabeth, Harvey, and Suzanne have worked with the ABA, the judiciary, and other organizations to develop resources to combat disinformation attacks, cyber assault, and loss of public trust. Their work was important in the recent introduction of the bipartisan ‘Educating for Democracy Act’ of 2020 in the House of Representatives which would spend $1 billion on civics education in order to create a new generation of engaged citizens. Their collective years of experience in national security law led them to support civic education as a national security imperative and as an important way to protect our democratic institutions and the rule of law. Elizabeth and Harvey serve as counselors to the Standing Committee on Law and National Security, having earlier served as Chairs.  Elizabeth was General Counsel to the CIA and the NSA and recently retired as Executive Director of the State Bar of California, while Harvey currently teaches law at Temple University and conducts polity and cybersecurity research at the University of Maryland, after years of public service in the Director’s Office at the FBI, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the office of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Suzanne, also a former chair of the Committee,  and now a member, is a Senior Adviser for Homeland Security and Director of the Defending Democratic Institutions project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies after leaving DHS as the Undersecretary for the National Protection and Programs Directorate.

    Legislative Research Tip

    Congress.gov provides access to numerous congressional committee materials for both current and past congresses. From the www.congress.gov/ home page, go to the “Committees” link to browse House and Senate committee resources including reports, hearings, and links to current Committee webpages. Committee publications such as bill text, correspondence, and other background materials can be located under the “Committee Materials” tab in the drop-down menu to the left of the main search box, and can also be narrowed by topic or congress.

    About the Washington Letter

    The ABA Washington Letter is a monthly publication produced by the Governmental Affairs Office to report and analyze congressional and executive branch action on legislative issues of interest to the ABA and the legal profession. The newsletter highlights ABA involvement in the federal legislative process and focuses on the association's legislative and governmental priorities and other issues on which the ABA has policy.

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