NCRA PAC Governing Board member Lance Oviatt recently attended the Wyoming Professional Court Reporters Association’s 2026 convention, held Sept. 18-19 in Big Horn. An official court reporter for Wyoming’s 9th Judicial District, Oviatt encourages colleagues to build personal connections with policymakers and support the profession’s advocacy in Washington, D.C.
His involvement began in 1996 with an effort to increase the page rate for official transcripts in Idaho. The work took three years and included meetings with legislators, Idaho Supreme Court justices, and the governor.
“The experience taught me that we cannot remain silent observers; we need to actively advocate for our profession,” Oviatt said.
That experience also shaped his advice to reporters who feel uneasy about political involvement. He encourages them to think about the people making decisions and the relationships they can build within their own communities.
“Many people are put off by the thought of being politically active,” he said. “In reality, what we need are reporters willing to make personal connections with people of influence.”
For Oviatt, those connections help explain the value of NCRA PAC and its role in supporting congressional candidates who champion the court reporting and captioning professions. He sees the benefits of that advocacy extending throughout the profession.
“We often hear reporters ask, ‘What does NCRA do for me?’” Oviatt said. “The NCRA Political Action Committee is one of the major ways our Association can support the advocacy that protects and expands opportunities for all court reporters, not just NCRA members.”
Drawing on his many appearances before legislative committees in Idaho and Wyoming, Oviatt understands that direct advocacy can be intimidating. He also recognizes that reporters have different levels of time and interest to devote to it. Supporting NCRA PAC offers eligible members another way to participate in the profession’s federal advocacy.
“I believe supporting NCRA PAC is essential to the survival and growth of our profession,” he said.
Members can learn more about NCRA PAC and contribution eligibility by visiting NCRAPAC.com.
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