AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION for AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION
What was lobbied
16 issue areas, each in the filer's own words, with who lobbied on it and where.
Law Enforcement/Crime/Criminal Justice LAW
S.1377, H.R. 2868, the Ensuring Quality Access to Legal (EQUAL) Defense Act, which would provide broad supports for indigent defense representation. H.R. 5546, the Effective Assistance of Counsel in the Digital Era Act, which would ensure that the attorney-client privilege applied to digital messages sent between federal prisoners and their lawyers. H.R.6414, the COVID-19 Correctional Facility Emergency Response Act of 2020, which would establish the Pandemic Jail and Prison Emergency Response grant program for states to encourage early and compassionate transfer of those incarcerated to home confinement. S.3201, the Temporary Reauthorization and Study of the Emergency Scheduling of Fentanyl Analogues Act, which would extend the current authority for prosecuting offenses involving such analogues while also preventing a consequent rise in the use of mandatory minimum sentences in connection with such cases. S. 1074, the Restoring Education and Learning Act of 2019 - concerning the restoration of Pell Grant eligibility for prisoners. H.R. 4018, a technical corrections bill to amend the Second Chance Act of 2007 to ensure that good time credits awarded to elderly inmates are included when the Bureau of Prisons calculates when the prisoner may be eligible to participate in the Elderly Offender Home Detention Pilot Program. H.R. 1585, Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act Activity in support of federal legislation concerning the sealing of criminal records and related information. Activity in support of authorizing judges to allow persons to remain free following a criminal conviction if the likely sentence would not include incarceration and the prosecution would not object. Activity in support of the greater use of Early and Compassionate Release to release inmates to home detention in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Proposed changes to Customs and Border Protection Directive No. 3340-049 (Border Search of Electronic Devices Containing Information, dated August 20, 2009), Customs and Border Protection Directive No. 3340-049A (Border Search of Electronic Devices, dated January 4, 2018), and Immigration and Customs Enforcement Directive No. 7-6.1 (Border Searches of Electronic Devices, dated August 18, 2009) to prevent border officials from reading, duplicating, seizing, or sharing attorney-client privileged or confidential client documents or information contained on attorneys laptop computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices at U.S. border crossings unless the officials first obtain a subpoena based on reasonable suspicion or a warrant supported by probable cause Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection Proposed Rule on Amendments Relating to Disclosure of Records and Information; Docket No. CFPB-2016-0039; RIN 3170-AA63, 81 Fed. Reg. 58310 (August 24, 2016)-provisions (1) expanding the Bureaus discretion to share confidential information it receives from supervised and regulated entities with other foreign, state, and other governmental agencies and (2) prohibiting subjects of investigations and other recipients of civil investigative demands from disclosing information regarding the Bureaus investigation
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| HOLLY O'GRADY COOK | — |
| DAVID EPPSTEIN | — |
| LARSON FRISBY | — |
| KENNETH GOLDSMITH | — |
Trade (domestic/foreign) TRD
General communications regarding trade in legal services and market access for U.S. lawyers and firms overseas.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| HOLLY O'GRADY COOK | — |
| KRISTI GAINES | — |
Health Issues HCR
Issues relating to reform to strict liability health fraud legislation know as "Stark Law."
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| HOLLY O'GRADY COOK | — |
| DAVID EPPSTEIN | — |
Foreign Relations FOR
Funding for Democracy, Rights and Governance programs and Contributions for International Organizations General issues on appropriate implementing instruments for democracy and rule of law programs Issues regarding actions to be taken against Burmese government for accountability for crimes against Rohingya and delivery of humanitarian assistance.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| HOLLY O'GRADY COOK | — |
| KRISTI GAINES | — |
Medicare/Medicaid MMM
H.R. 4161, the Coordination of Medicare Payments and Worker's Compensation Act - to establish clear criteria for when a Medicare set-aside may be reviewed by Medicare, provides a time frame for CMS to review set-aside submissions and provides an optional direct payment of set-aside amounts to Medicare.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| HOLLY O'GRADY COOK | — |
| DAVID EPPSTEIN | — |
Housing HOU
S.3030, the Eviction Crisis Act - to authorize a grant program through the State Justice Institute to create and expand community problem-solving courts such as housing courts, to help prevent or mitigate the impact of evictions.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| HOLLY O'GRADY COOK | — |
| KENNETH GOLDSMITH | — |
Government Issues GOV
H.R. 1694, the Native American Voting Rights Act of 2019 General advocacy on filling Judicial Vacancies S. 822, Cameras in the Courtroom Act S. 2064, H.R. 1164, the Electronic Court Records Reform Act H.R. 2429, the ALJ Competitive Service Restoration Act H.R. 1566, legislation to reform the Foreign Agents Registration Act H.R. 1522, Congressional and Executive Foreign Lobbying Ban Act S. 1762, Foreign Agents Disclosure and Registration Enhancement Act Draft Department of Justice guidance allowing government attorneys to participate in legal professional association activities. Office of Management and Budget Request for Information on Improving and Reforming Regulatory Enforcement and Adjudication; Docket No. OMB-2019-0006; 85 Fed. Reg. 5483 (January 30, 2020)-recommendations for certain amendments to the Administrative Procedure Act and other proposed reforms to the administrative adjudication process. Communications to urge including legal services in any definition of "essential services" in the context of a potential national stay at home order.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| DENISE A CARDMAN | — |
| HOLLY O'GRADY COOK | — |
| LARSON FRISBY | — |
| THOMAS MICHAEL SUSMAN | — |
Education EDU
Activity in support of preservation of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program S.1203, H.R. 2441, the What You Can Do For Your Country Act - to strengthen and increase transparency behind administration of the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Higher Education Reauthorization-provisions related to student loans
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| HOLLY O'GRADY COOK | — |
| LARSON FRISBY | — |
| KENNETH GOLDSMITH | — |
| JAMES ALOYSIUS HOGAN | — |
| THOMAS MICHAEL SUSMAN | — |
Banking BAN
Advocating in favor of legislation that would allow banks to service cannabis-related businesses.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| HOLLY O'GRADY COOK | — |
| DAVID EPPSTEIN | — |
Financial Institutions/Investments/Securities FIN
Draft legislation exempting attorneys engaged in litigation activities from the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and from the regulatory authority of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and other agencies. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Proposed Rule on Debt Collection Practices (Regulation F); Docket No. CFPB-2019-0022; RIN 3170-AA41, 84 Fed. Reg. 23274 (May 21, 2019)-provisions creating a safe harbor for meaningful attorney involvement in debt collection litigation submissions. S. 1978 and H.R. 2513, Corporate Transparency Act; and S. 2563, ILLICIT CASH Act -legislation requiring small businesses and their attorneys to disclose detailed information about the businesses beneficial owners to the Treasury Departments Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and requiring FinCEN to disclose the information to other governmental agencies and financial institutions on request S. 1889, TITLE Act-provisions requiring states, small businesses, and their attorneys to obtain and disclose detailed information about the businesses beneficial owners to FinCEN and requiring FinCEN to disclose the information to other governmental agencies and financial institutions on request, and provisions subjecting attorneys that act as formation agents to the anti-money laundering and suspicious activity reporting requirements of the Bank Secrecy Act S. 779 and H.R. 1712, Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act-provisions subjecting attorneys that act as formation agents to the anti-money laundering and suspicious activity reporting requirements of the Bank Secrecy Act.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| HOLLY O'GRADY COOK | — |
| LARSON FRISBY | — |
| THOMAS MICHAEL SUSMAN | — |
Civil Rights/Civil Liberties CIV
S.463, H.R.1185, the Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act S.920, H.R.1940, the New Parents Act H.R.2450, the Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act - to regulate sexual orientation or gender-identify conversion therapy H.R. 7, S.270, the Paycheck Fairness Act S.J. Res. 6, H.J. Res 35, H.J. Res. 38, the Equal Rights Amendment S. 840, H.R. 1784, the Healthy Families Act H.R. 5 and S. 788, the Equality Act - prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in various areas by including these as prohibited categories of discrimination or segregation, and expands the definition of public accommodation. Advocating in favor of legislation that would allow airline passengers with disabilities to sue air carriers for discrimination.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| DENISE A CARDMAN | — |
| HOLLY O'GRADY COOK | — |
| DAVID EPPSTEIN | — |
| THOMAS MICHAEL SUSMAN | — |
Taxation/Internal Revenue Code TAX
Legislation to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude from gross income amounts received on claims based on certain unlawful discrimination and to allow income averaging for back pay and front pay awards.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| HOLLY O'GRADY COOK | — |
| DAVID EPPSTEIN | — |
Telecommunications TEC
S. 1046, H.R. 1328 - Access Broadband Act S. 2275, H.R. 4024 - Broadband Transparency and Accountability Act of 2019 S. 1485, H.R. 4128 - Map Improvement Act of 2019 S. 1822, the Broadband Data Act (Public Law 116-130) General discussion on issues relating to broadband internet access in rural areas.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| DENISE A CARDMAN | — |
| HOLLY O'GRADY COOK | — |
| JAMES ALOYSIUS HOGAN | — |
Veterans VET
H.R. 3749, the Legal Services for Homeless Veterans Act - to authorize private-public partnerships with the VA to deliver legal services to homeless veterans, and other purposes. S.980, the Homeless Veterans Prevention Act - among other things, to authorize private-public partnerships with the VA to deliver legal services to homeless veterans Activity in support of increasing opportunities for Tribal Veteran Service Officers to obtain VA accreditation and accompanying resources through existing or new means. Activity in opposition to action by the Department of Defense to remove all decisions posted online of Discharge Review Boards and Boards for the Correction of Military Records, contrary to statute. Activity in support of reconsideration of recently-enacted Section 707 of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, which would permit a military spouse to elect the residency of his or her spouse for any purpose, regardless of the date of marriage.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| HOLLY O'GRADY COOK | — |
| KENNETH GOLDSMITH | — |
Budget/Appropriations BUD
H.R. 748, Divisions A and B (P.L. 116-136), Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) - funding for the Legal Services Corporation. General request asking that 501(c)(6) trade and professional associations be included in any stimulus relief bills passed to offset the economic impacts caused by COVID-19. FY2021 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations - funding for the Legal Services Corporation, the Legal Orientation Program, and funding for rural broadband access. FY2021 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations - funding for the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Courts, and the Administrative Conference of the United States FY2021 Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations - funding for democracy, human rights, and rule of law programs. FY2021 Legislative Branch Appropriations - funding for the Law Library of Congress FY2021 Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations - funding for the Office of Refugee Resettlement, and provisions related to unaccompanied immigrant children.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| DENISE A CARDMAN | — |
| HOLLY O'GRADY COOK | — |
| LARSON FRISBY | — |
| KRISTI GAINES | — |
| KENNETH GOLDSMITH | — |
| JAMES ALOYSIUS HOGAN | — |
| ERIC STOREY | — |
| THOMAS MICHAEL SUSMAN | — |
Immigration IMM
Communications urging the Executive Office for Immigration Review and Immigration and Customs Enforcement to take several steps to protect the health and safety of individuals working in and appearing before the immigration courts that remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic. Communications regarding immigration court reforms, including establishing an Art. I court. General communications relating to access to counsel, decreasing use of detention and expanding alternatives to detention, increasing resources for the Legal Orientation Program. Issues regarding establishment of temporary "tent courts" along the Southern Border and the Migrant Protection Protocols policy Issues regarding proposals to increase/impose filing fees for certain immigration benefits, filing fees in immigration courts, and new restrictions on ability of persons to apply for asylum in the U.S. Issues related to requiring disclosure of social media information to obtain certain immigration benefits.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| HOLLY O'GRADY COOK | — |
| KRISTI GAINES | — |
Shown as published by the Senate Office of Public Records and the House Clerk under the Lobbying Disclosure Act. The official filing is the record; open it for the full form.