The ABA and the Government About the Government Affairs Office (GAO) The ABA's Governmental Affairs Office (GAO) serves as the "eyes, ears and voice" of the organized bar in the nation's capital. The GAO legislative staff monitors congressional and executive branch developments of interest to the organized bar and informs the constituencies within the bar about these developments. The GAO publishes and distributes two publications: the bi-weekly Washington Summary, which abstracts the Congressional Record and the Federal Register to highlight congressional action on legislation and proposed rules and regulations of fe