Policy Priorities

NAML's Public Policy Priorities reflect the expertise and consensus of the NAML membership, developed through a rigorous process led by the Public Policy Committee and formally endorsed by the NAML Board of Directors.
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NAML Public Policy Guidelines

Procedures for developing and approving public policy documents

  1. The Public Policy Committee develops Public Policy Priorities with the assistance of Federal Science Partners.
  2. The proposed Public Policy Priorities are circulated to the NAML membership for input and comment.
  3. The Public Policy Committee revises the Public Policy Priorities based on the input of the membership.
  4. The NAML President, who is a member of the Public Policy Committee, approves the Public Policy Priorities and forwards it to the NAML Board of Directors for approval.
  5. The Public Policy Priorities are approved by the NAML Board of Directors at a regular meeting of the Board of Directors or by a poll of the Board as directed by the President.
  6. The Public Policy Priorities are published to the NAML membership and on the NAML website.

Position Statements and Testimony of NAML

NAML often develops positions or provides testimony that it makes public. A process for the development and the approval of these statements follows.

  1. NAML takes a position. The Public Policy Committee learns of legislation, proposals, or other relevant developments of interest to NAML members, develops a position, and decides on a course of action. The committee must consider relevant details on the topic, sources of information cited by the position, and any plans to use the position to support ongoing or future activities.
  2. Course of action. The course of action must include a specific plan for how the document(s) will be disseminated by NAML. The committee should discuss and consider how these documents might be used by the public and the media. Possible dissemination strategies include but are not limited to
  • Posting the document on the NAML website.
  • Sending the document to specific individuals or groups on behalf of NAML.
  • Requesting NAML members to share with certain members of Congress or other agencies.
  • Sending the document to a particular media outlet (e.g., submit an Op-Ed piece).
  1. Plan for follow-up requests. The Public Policy Committee must consider and plan as best as it can for how requests from the public, the media or other entities will be handled and who will represent NAML.
  2. Approvals. 
  • The Public Policy Committee proposes documents on  a position taken by NAML and a course of action.
  • The NAML President, who is a member of the Public Policy Committee, approves the document(s) and the course of action.
  • The NAML Board of Directors reviews and approves the documents and the course of action by a vote.
  1. Notification. 
  • The Public Policy Committee Chair or other designated individual notifies the NAML regular membership of the activity in a timely fashion.
  1. Dissemination. 
  • The document(s) are issued to the target audience as specified in the course of action over the President’s signature.
  • The documents are normally published on the NAML website.
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