Four decades strong: the voice of state legislatures.

• Author: Ramsdell, Molly
• Position: 40 YEARS

Advocacy may look somewhat different than it did in 1975, but from the time NCSL was created, legislative leaders knew states needed a force to watch out for the states' interests, protect the authority of state legislatures and be the states' united voice in our nation's capital. So when NCSL was formed from the merger of three legislative organizations, an office in Washington, D.C., was part of the plan.

Since 1976, NCSL's presence in Washington, D.C., has grown into a formidable advocacy force, nationally recognized to be the united, bipartisan voice of all state legislatures.

For 40 years, the organization has worked to enhance and protect the role of states and state legislatures within our federal system, and that hasn't always been easy. NCSL has fought off threats by the federal government to take over the regulation of insurance, to control the administration of elections, to remove any flexibility in administering block grants, to preempt state agriculture policies, to shift costs to states, and more.

Through changes in politics, parties and presidents, NCSL has stood on behalf of states to oppose unfunded federal mandates, fight against unwarranted federal preemption of state authority, and preserve state legislatures' flexibility to innovate and be responsive to the unique needs and strengths of their residents.

Guided by state-federal policies approved by at least three-fourths of the states, NCSL staff inform and educate Congress and the administration on the potential effects and possible unintended consequences of proposed federal laws and regulations. How does all this get done? NCSL's Washington, D.C. office:

* Brings state legislators to the nation's capital to testify before Congress and its committees.

* Organizes events where hundreds of state legislators descend on Capitol Hill to advocate on issues of importance to state legislatures.

* Meets regularly with members of Congress and the administration.

* Writes letters to key congressional members and administrative personnel.

* Submits comments to federal agencies.

* Informs legislative leaders and legislators on what's happening in Washington and what they can do about it through the newsletter, "Capitol to Capitol."

* And, through the State and Local Legal Center, files amicus curiae briefs with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of state and local governments.

NCSL's victories for states, achieved with the help of state lawmakers from around the country, have been...