ASHA's Advocacy Priorities
The Public Policy Agenda (PPA) reflects what ASHA members say matters most and highlights the top advocacy priorities for audiologists and speech-language pathologists at the federal and state levels.
Transition to a Biennial Public Policy Agenda
In 2025, the Government Affairs and Public Policy Board (GAPPB) voted to shift from developing a PPA annually to developing it every other year. This change aligns ASHA’s advocacy cycle with the two-year Congressional calendar (for example, the 2025–2026 Public Policy Agenda covers the 119th Congress).
Advocacy efforts often require the full two-year term to introduce, refine, and build support for legislation. Moving to a biennial PPA will:
- Provide GAPP staff two full Congressional years to pursue and achieve legislative priorities; and
- Improve efficiency and resource use by aligning federal and state initiatives across the same timeline.
Who Determines ASHA’s Advocacy Priorities?
The GAPPB, comprised of ASHA member volunteers, identifies priorities based on broad input from:
- Advocacy-related boards and committees;
- Online CEO chats, town halls, webinars, and social media engagement;
- Direct member feedback;
- Staff monitoring of emerging trends in audiology, schools, clinical practice, and health care; and
- Member survey on advocacy needs and opportunities.
What is the Public Policy Agenda (PPA)?
The PPA outlines ASHA’s top federal and state advocacy priorities and provides a framework for the ASHA’s Advocacy team to develop specific, actionable objectives.
While the PPA highlights key areas of focus, ASHA remains committed to advocating for or against policies that affect members and the individuals they serve—even if those topics are not explicitly listed in the agenda. The PPA is distributed widely to lawmakers, policymakers, coalitions, and other stakeholders and serves as a vital tool for raising awareness of the professions.
Process for Developing the PPA
Year One (Development Year):
| January–March | The GAPPB reviews and analyzes results from the previous November–December member survey. |
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Throughout the Year |
Input is gathered from ASHA staff on emerging trends in audiology, schools, clinical practice, and health care, as well as from collaboration with ASHA boards and committees, including the Committee of Ambassadors. |
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July–August |
Draft PPA text is refined based on all collected input. |
| October | PPA is presented to ASHA’s Board of Directors for approval. |
| November | PPA is released at ASHA’s annual convention. |
Year Two (Implementation and Evaluation Year):
ASHA staff carry out the advocacy objectives, provide progress updates, and share emerging issues with the GAPPB, which may also monitor progress and report on issues they learn about through member and stakeholder engagement.
| November-December | Members are surveyed to gather feedback and identify new or evolving priorities for the upcoming PPA. |
Revisiting Past Years
Making changes to federal and state policy can take years. Priorities often carry over many years in order to achieve these long-term goals. We are always growing and changing to advocate for what matters most to members. Curious about past year's advocacy priorities, actions, and accomplishments?
2025
2024
2023
2022
- 2022 Public Policy Agenda [PDF]
- 2022 Advocacy Achievements recap [PDF]
- 2022 Comment Letters and Testimony
