then Add to Home Screen.
NGAUS hosted 46 attendees from 29 states at its annual two-day Legislative Workshop earlier this month with one major theme: working with the 54.
The event was an opportunity for congressional affairs officers and state Guard association officials to discuss the association’s current legislative priorities and the NGAUS government affairs team, said Jon Eisberg, the association’s new vice president for government affairs.
“It was a huge success,” he said.
With afternoons free for visits to Capitol Hill, attendees also were able to meet and discuss legislative priorities with their lawmakers and staff.
Retired Maj. Gen. Francis M. McGinn, the association president, welcomed the group to open Day One.
The agenda also included in-depth discussion on NGAUS priorities for the fiscal 2027 defense bills including the association's top priority: Duty Status Reform.
Other association legislative priorities include GI Bill Parity and Army and Air Guard equipment modernization. The full list is available here.
The association’s government affairs staff also laid out an engagement-cycle plan that highlights major timelines and events happening throughout the year.
Continuing with the personnel theme, Army Brig. Gen. Carrie Perez, the director of Army Personnel Management (G1) at the National Guard Bureau provided her insights into the need for military technician reform, fostering nuanced discussions about personnel issues experienced across the 54.
In addition, Air Force Maj. Gen. Randy Efferson, the special assistant to the director of the Air Guard, spoke about the future of the Air Guard and received important feedback from attendees.
The workshop also featured a congressional staff panel. Collin Sabine, the legislative director for Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-N.C., and Grace Jones, the military legislative assistant for Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., addressed the workshop regarding issues on the Hill and best practices when interacting with an office.
Timing was a big change this year. Instead of holding the workshop in February, the government affairs team hosted the event to align with the association’s premiere welcome-back reception to kick off the Second Session of the 119th Congress.
This allowed attendees of the Legislative Workshop to invite their congressional delegations to continue building relationships.
The reception was one of the association’s largest events with roughly 200 attendees including five House members: Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Mich.; Rep. Scott DesJarlais, R-Tenn.; Rep. Trent Kelly, R-Miss.; Rep. John McGuire, R-Va.; and Rep. Matt Van Epps, R-Tenn.
Many congressional staff from both chambers also attended the reception designed to welcome back lawmakers for the second session of the 119th Congress and inform them of NGAUS priorities.
—NGAUS staff report
