With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Civil Air Patrol's innovative National Legislative Days effort is going virtual in 2021. Over the next two weeks, NLD delegations from all 52 wings will meet online with their states' congressional leaders with the usual intent — to educate lawmakers about CAP's indispensable public service role as a congressionally chartered nonprofit Total Force partner of the U.S. Air Force.
"Our approach this year is different, but our intent is the same,” said John Swain, government relations director. "We want to thank our U.S. representatives and senators for their support, update them on our missions and ask for their continued support.”
Without the annual face-to-face meetings in Washington, D.C., the challenge will be to create that personal touch via virtual meetings. CAP delegations will be meeting many of their lawmakers for the first time, as nearly 300 legislators are new to Congress.
"It will be a little more work than usual, but our government relations advisors and their teams are up to the task,” Swain said.
This year's initiative will be held through Feb. 28, or longer if needed.
