ADVOCACY

Bringing HNBA's Voice to Congress

Last month, HNBA leaders and members convened in Washington, DC, for Advocacy Day 2026, meeting with Members of Congress, congressional staff, committee staff, and coalition partners to advance issues important to the legal profession, the rule of law, and the communities we serve. The planning and implementation of these efforts were led by HNBA Executive Director Jeremy Haldeman, HNBA VP of External Affairs Alex Peña, and the broader HNBA Advocacy Committee.

Over two days of advocacy and engagement, HNBA participants met with congressional offices and committee staff from both parties in the House and Senate, led a briefing for the Congressional Tri-Caucus alongside fellow affinity bar associations, and joined leaders from across government, business, and civic society for the launch of the new U.S.-Mexico Congressional Caucus at the Library of Congress.

Bipartisan Engagement on Key Legal Issues

Consistent with its longstanding nonpartisan mission, the HNBA engaged policymakers across the political spectrum, focusing on key legal and policy issues. HNBA members shared their expertise on issues affecting the legal profession, constitutional governance, immigration policy, voting rights, and civic participation.

Congressional offices expressed strong interest in continuing to engage HNBA members as subject-matter experts — including to provide testimony to Congressional committees, inform policy discussions, and contribute to legislative proposals.

Panel: Who Counts in America?

Advocacy Day featured HNBA's panel discussion, Who Counts in America? Citizenship, Redistricting, and the Future of Latino Political Power, which brought together national experts to examine how citizenship policy, redistricting, and representation shape Latino political power and civic participation.

Coalition Building Across the Legal Community

The HNBA was proud to continue its collaboration with fellow affinity bar associations, demonstrating the power of partnership across the legal community. Together, these organizations elevated shared concerns and reinforced the importance of diverse voices in public policy discussions.

Advocacy is a year-round effort, and the relationships built during Advocacy Day will continue to create opportunities for HNBA members to engage policymakers, contribute legal expertise, and help shape conversations on issues that matter to our profession.