After evaluating the past two years of conducting legislative workshops, we feel it will be more advantageous to move the workshop back to early March timeframe.

The President’s budget goes to Congress on the first week in February if it is submitted on time. It then takes a few weeks for Congress to digest the submission, and then the hearings begin between Congress and DOD to explore the budget submission and all of the policy changes being suggested.

The NDAA begins to take shape in March. Holding the workshop in February is too early to influence the legislation. March is ideal but February is too early.

In March, Congress is starting to seek out associational feedback on budget and policy issues submitted by the Executive Branch, and the personal vignettes from workshop participants will help shape that policy.

March may or may not be a good time for the EC to meet. The 4Q 2018 meeting will be held in either late October or early November. The 2Q 2019 meeting is usually at or near the site visit dates in May.

Maybe the EC will still want to meet in February in a location TBD. Maybe the EC will want to meet in March just prior to the workshop. Maybe the EC will decide to meet virtually for 1Q 2019. Your choice.