As we look ahead to a new Congress which will convene in January, the Goodwill Industries International (GII) government relations team is proactively working on our public policy agenda for the 116th Congress. While the party that ultimately controls the House and Senate may determine how much weight is given to a particular issue or how we will advocate around an issue, the issue itself is still important.
When creating our public policy agenda we solicit a wide variety of input from local Goodwill® organizations leadership and employees, subject matter experts, coalition partners and you – our advocates. Whether you identify as a shopper, donor, volunteer, or a person who has benefitted directly from Goodwill services, your voice is important as we think about the areas to focus on when working with Congress and the Administration in the new year. Take this short survey to lend your voice to the creation of our agenda.
Our legislative agenda focuses on issues that affect Goodwill as a nonprofit social service provider and the issues that impact the individuals and families that we serve and their ability to embark on a career pathway. Please take this brief survey to tell us the issues that are important to you.
In addition to lending your voice to this conversation, there are other actions you can take to engage in the legislative process and make a difference – all of which can occur virtually or in-person at the local, county, state, and federal level. You can meet with your lawmakers and tell them what issues are important to you, attend hearings, or provide testimony. As a supporter of Goodwill you can also lend your voice by:
- taking action through our Legislative Action Center;
- encouraging your family and friends to register for our alerts/updates; and
- following us on Twitter @GoodwillCapHill.
These tools help us remind lawmakers that their constituents not only feel the impact of their decisions, but they are paying attention and keeping track until the next election. During this next Congress, we hope continue to be a valuable resource to our stakeholders, garner more grassroots support, and advance Goodwill’s legislative agenda.
Imagine if the 128,000 people employed by local Goodwill organizations weighed in our agenda. What if the 38.6 million people who received services contacted their members of Congress? If only our 105 million donors were receiving our alerts and updates to stay informed of issues pertaining to Goodwill’s mission. The possibilities are endless. The collective impact is immeasurable. The potential is great, but only with your help.
