Legislative Conference

In This Section



Notes from the Backpack Podcast

Join PTA For Your Child


2023 Legislative Conference

2023 Virtual National PTA Legislative Conference

Join PTA members and other passionate advocates for National PTA’s 2023 Virtual Legislative Conference (LegCon), March 7-8 to …

  • Network with fellow PTA advocates
  • Get an update on emerging health and safety issues for children and families
  • Hear from members of the Administration and congressional champions
  • Learn how to make an impact on policy decisions
  • Speak with your members of Congress about issues important to you and your community at Virtual Hill Day

Health & Safety for Every Child

This year we are focused on better health and safety measures for every child in our country. Building on the victories from the previous Congress and work with the Administration, LegCon attendees will learn more about where we believe we can make a significant contribution to federal policy development, including in the areas of …

  • Family engagement
  • Welcoming and supportive schools for all students
  • School safety and preparedness
  • Digital inclusion

PTA Takes Action - Health & Safety for Kids

Kids at the Capitol



Not available to watch some the sessions live? No worries! All LegCon 2023 sessions will be viewable for 90 days after the conference ends—that means you can go back and watch a session on-demand through June 7!

So don’t miss the chance to expand your knowledge of the ins and outs of federal law, grow your advocacy skills, explore National PTA’s legislative priorities for the 118th Congress and virtually meet with your federal representatives on Capitol Hill.



Speakers


Miguel Cardona

Dr. Miguel Cardona, U.S. Secretary of Education


Dr. Miguel A. Cardona was sworn in as the 12th Secretary of Education March 2, 2021. Through his leadership, the Department of Education is focused on achieving academic excellence and accelerating learning for all students; delivering a comprehensive and rigorous education for every student; eliminating the educator shortage for every school; investing in every student's mental health and well-being; providing every student with a pathway to multilingualism; and ensuring every student has pathways to college and a career.

Learn More

Over the last two years, Secretary Cardona led the nation's efforts to safely and successfully reopen schools for in-person learning, while distributing historic federal education funding for P-12 schools and colleges; working to increase higher education access, affordability, and student success; and leading unprecedented federal efforts to transform the country's student loan system.

Across all these areas, Secretary Cardona has highlighted the urgency of seizing this moment through intentional collaboration—particularly working in partnership with parents, families, students, and educators—and the opportunity we have, as a nation, not only to recover from the pandemic, but to reimagine a higher-performing and more equitable education system that works better for all.

Secretary Cardona previously served as the Commissioner of Education in Connecticut, where his approach to leadership focused on partnerships. He has two decades of experience as a public-school educator. He began his career as an elementary teacher. A lifelong Meriden resident, Secretary Cardona attended Central Connecticut State University for his bachelor's degree as well as UCONN, where he completed his master’s degree, his doctorate and his superintendent certificate. His greatest source of pride is his family. Secretary Cardona and his wife Marissa are the proud parents of two children.


 

Thomas Vilsack, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture


Thomas J. Vilsack was confirmed as the 32nd United States Secretary of Agriculture Feb. 23, 2021 by the U.S. Senate. He was nominated by President Joe Biden to return to a role where he served for eight years under President Barack Obama.

Learn More

Under Secretary Vilsack’s leadership, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is building back better by restoring the American economy, strengthening rural and historically underserved communities, responding to threats of climate change, creating good-paying jobs for American workers and the next generation of agricultural leaders and investing in our kids and our families.

Secretary Vilsack is spearheading a transformation of the food system by creating more, better and fairer markets and ensuring that the food system of today and the future is more resilient and more competitive globally. It will also offer consumers affordable, nutritious food grown closer to home. Secretary Vilsack continues to take bold, historic action to reduce barriers to access for historically underserved communities. By working to ensure all aspects of civil rights and equity are integrated, USDA is rooting out generations of systemic racism and building systems and programs inclusive of all USDA employees and customers.

Secretary Vilsack is also focused on ensuring Americans have consistent access to safe, healthy and affordable food. USDA is investing in bold solutions that enhance food safety, improve the various far-reaching and powerful nutrition programs in the Department and reduce food and nutrition insecurity in America.

Thomas Vilsack


 

Lisa Murkowski

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)


Lisa Murkowski, Alaska’s senior U.S. Senator, is a third generation Alaskan proudly serving as the first Alaskan born senator.

Learn More

Senator Murkowski was born in Ketchikan and raised in towns across the state, including Wrangell, Juneau, Fairbanks and Anchorage. She is married to Verne Martell and they have two grown sons.

Since joining the Senate in 2002, Senator Murkowski has worked tirelessly for Alaskans and earned a reputation in the Senate for her ability to work collaboratively and across the aisle to reach common sense solutions. Senator Murkowski is well-known for her love and dedication to her state, which means putting Alaska first.

A leader on energy and public lands issues, Senator Murkowski recognizes that sound national policy will promote not only job creation and economic growth, but also higher standards of living and greater global stability. She supports the safe and efficient production and use of all forms of domestic energy, as well as research to help develop emerging technologies. Senator Murkowski continues to pursue policies to advance renewable energy, increase energy efficiency and make America’s energy cleaner, more affordable and more reliable.

Senator Murkowski has long-advocated for the Arctic as a national priority and continues to push the United States to invest in the infrastructure and assets critical to supporting an Arctic strategy. She is leading the charge to recapitalize and expand America’s fleet of icebreakers and has introduced legislation to raise the nation’s presence in the Arctic through two bills that support responsible research and development as well as giving those who live in the region a greater voice on policy and research.

She is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee (Subcommittees –Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies; Defense; Energy and Water Development; Homeland Security; Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies), ranking member of the Interior-Environment Subcommittee, member of Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee and vice chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.


 

Dave Cullen, Journalist and New York Times Best-Selling Author


Dave Cullen has been covering the Nation’s blight of mass murders for two decades, first with ”Columbine,” then ”Parkland: Birth of a Movement” which were both bestsellers, and a Vanity Fair profile of Gabby Giffords. He is completing a book on gay soldiers, which will be a quarter century in the making.

Learn More

“Columbine” is the consensus definitive account of the horror that inspired two decades of killers. ”Parkland” takes a fresh approach, focusing on the response, and refusing to name the killer. It is a story of hope: the genesis of the extraordinary March for Our Lives (MFOL) movement. Cullen was with the MFOL students from the beginning, with unparalleled access behind the scenes.

“Columbine” made two dozen Best of 2009 lists and won several major awards, including the Edgar and Goodreads Choice Awards. It has been translated into eight languages, appears on several all-time True Crime Top 10 lists and Slate named it one of the 50 Best Nonfiction Books of the quarter century.

“Parkland” has made ten major year-end Best Lists, been nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award (Best Nonfiction of 2019) and longlisted for the American Library Association's Andrew Carnegie Medal For Excellence.

Dave has written for New York Times, London Times, Vanity Fair, BuzzFeed, Politico, Guardian, Washington Post, New Republic, Newsweek,  Daily Beast, Slate, Salon, The Millions, Lapham's Quarterly, etc., and has appeared on most of the major networks in the US, and across Europe, Asia, Australia and South America.

Dave is a former gay army infantry grunt. He lives in Brooklyn and is uncle to 11 cool humans and one adorable corgi, Bobby Sneakers.

Dave Cullen


Questions?


Contact National PTA Government Affairs staff at LegCon@PTA.org



Sponsors

Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids

Platinum Sponsor

GoGuardian_300x300

Gold Sponsor

Everytown for Gun Safety

Silver Sponsor

Share Our Strength

Silver Sponsor

Discord

Bronze Sponsor