STANDING COMMITTEE · ADVOCACY
Legislation Committee
Tracks legislation affecting the Guard and keeps members informed.
MISSION
Keep the membership informed on proposed legislation affecting the National Guard and its members, and advance the association's legislative goals at the state and federal level.
WHO SERVES
A chair and vice chair appointed by the president, plus one Army and one Air Guard member from each region or chapter. The president serves as an ex-officio member.
Core responsibilities
- Keep members informed on all proposed legislation affecting the National Guard, especially resolutions referred to it by the association
- Publish quarterly legislative updates to the membership, electronically or on paper
- Present a report at the annual conference
Typical duties as written in association bylaws. Your bylaws and standing rules may differ.
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES
Ideas for an active committee
- Build an annual legislative priorities list, approved by the board, from member input and adopted resolutions
- Track state and federal bills on tuition assistance, tax treatment of retirement pay, employment protections, health care and state benefits
- Organize a legislative day at the state capitol for members to meet their legislators
- Run letter-writing and email campaigns when key bills are moving
- Prepare testimony and one-page fact sheets for committee hearings
- Coordinate with national associations on their legislative agendas
- Recognize legislators who champion Guard issues
Good to know: Keep advocacy non-partisan, follow the lobbying limits that apply to your type of non-profit, and make sure members advocate as private citizens — never in uniform or in an official Guard capacity.
ANNUAL CYCLE
- Before sessionSet priorities and prepare fact sheets
- During sessionTrack bills weekly; send action alerts
- QuarterlyPublish the legislative update
- ConferenceReport results and recommend next year's priorities
How to measure success
- Bills passed or improved on the priorities list
- Members participating in legislative day and campaigns
- Quarterly updates published on time
Want help setting up your Legislation Committee?
We can help write its charter, work plan and standing rules.