Advocacy Matters More Than Ever

By Laura Walling, Vice President of Government Affairs, Goodwill Industries International, Inc.

Washington is entering a period of significant change. Congress will return from the July 4^th recess with limited legislative days before the August recess and shifting to spending more time back in their districts in the weeks prior to the election. For the second half of the year, Congress will try to address government funding, tax policy, healthcare, infrastructure, workforce programs, and artificial intelligence—issues that will shape communities, employers, and workers across the country.

For Goodwill, the stakes are clear.

Federal investments in workforce development, education, and human services directly affect the opportunities available to the people we serve. As policymakers debate spending priorities and the role of government, organizations that can demonstrate results will be best positioned to make their case.

At the same time, economic and technological change is accelerating. Artificial intelligence is reshaping jobs and skills requirements, while rising energy and transportation costs continue to impact businesses, nonprofits, and families alike. The need for reskilling, upskilling, and career navigation has never been greater.

Healthcare affordability, workforce participation, immigration, and broader economic policies will also influence whether people can access opportunity and achieve economic mobility. These debates may seem distant, but their impact is felt every day in local communities.

That is why advocacy matters.

When Goodwill advocates share local success stories and measurable outcomes, they help policymakers understand what works. They show how workforce training changes lives, strengthens businesses, and grows local economies.

The future may be uncertain, but one thing is not: Goodwill’s mission is becoming more relevant, not less. As technology, demographics, and economic conditions continue to evolve, Goodwill remains a proven partner in helping people prepare for work, advance their careers, and achieve their goal – appealing to both sides of the aisle.

Together, we can ensure that the voices of our communities are heard and that opportunity remains within reach for all.