Advocacy Services - Reserve Officers Association

Serving Citizen Warriors Through Advocacy and Education Since 1922

The Officer Online
September/October Issue

advocacy header

The Reserve Officers Association advocates for our nation's Reservists and Guardsmen and their families. As the nation's only organization dedicated to the support of the Reservists across all military branches and their families, we work to support and promote the development and execution of a legislative agenda that ensures an adequate national security and a strong Reserve Component.

In amplifying the voice of Reservists in the halls of Congress and the Pentagon, ROA members determine the issues that most affect the Reserve Component today and develop an annual legislative agenda. Throughout the Congressional year, members vote on and draft legislation, including position papers and resolutions, to address the concerns of Reservists today. Finally, ROA provides testimony to Congress to ensure a prescence in our government for the the men and women of our nation's Reserve Component.

2013 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
Annual agenda items are selected to reflect the current environment our members serve in. Agenda items are member-driven, organized by the legislative counsel, and acted on by the staff with actions such as letter writing, legislative lobbying, and working with the uniformed services. While not fully prioritized or all-inclusive, the agenda provides focus for the association's legislative efforts.
arrow_right_red ROA's 2013 Legislative Agenda

CURRENT ISSUES
To learn about ROA's advocacy and education campaigns, please visit the Current Issues page.
arrow_right_red ROA Current Issues

POSITION PAPERS
Familiarize yourself with ROA's stance on issues and use these papers in your engagement with local elected officials.
ROA Postition Papers

112th CONGRESS RESOLUTIONS
See a list of 2011 - 2008 resolutions. As approved by vote by the National Convention or National Council, these resolutions help set the national advocacy poicies for the Association.
arrow_right_red List of Current Resolutions

TESTIMONY
ROA testifies before Congress as expert witnesses in support of specific national defense issues and as a part of the annual budget authorization and appropriations processes. ROA prepares testimony, answers questions, and provides information for the record.
Recent Testimony

DRAFT LEGISLATION
In keeping an updated and modernized U.S. Code, ROA drafts and submits legislation to identify and provide preliminary language for Congress to vote upon.
ROA Draft Legislation

Hanson at Roundtable 2011

CURRENT ADVOCACY HIGHLIGHTS
ROA Sends Testimony Against LOST Ratification
As requested by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, ROA submitted testimony in the form of a letter last week opposing the ratification of the Law of the Sea Treaty (LOST). As stated in ROA's Resolution No. 10-04, ROA believes that the treaty is not needed to codify the international laws of the sea. Seeing that LOST duplicates existing treaties, risks nullifying U.S. claims to areas of the continental shelf, places U.S. interests under the authority of international agencies, and jeopardizes the safety of ships and crews, ROA believes the treaty ultimately weakens national security.
Read more

LETTERS OF SUPPORT

ROA supports the men and women who develop legislation to better the lives of the Reserve Component and their family members. ROA routinely expresses this support through letters to raise awareness of key issues for Reservists and Guardsmen in the halls of Congress and the Pentagon.

ROA's Letters of Support