AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION for AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION
What was lobbied
7 issue areas, each in the filer's own words, with who lobbied on it and where.
Budget/Appropriations BUD
Advocated for appropriations for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The program is fully authorized at $5.1 billion, however, for the past several years it has not been funded above $3.4 billion. Advocated for appropriations for research and development to improve natural gas technologies and natural gas vehicles.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| BRIAN CAUDILL | — |
| GEORGE LOWE | — |
| BREE RAUM | — |
Taxation/Internal Revenue Code TAX
Support lower rates on taxation of dividends. Tax reform proposals. Tax extenders. Promote the development of the natural gas vehicle market by supporting various incentives. Support incentives to produce biogas. Support incentives for high efficiency natural gas furnaces, boilers and water heaters (25C tax credits). Support incentives for energy efficiency buildings (179D). Tax Credits: The carryover of excess corporate charitable contributions. This issue arose in H.R.4016 - to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the limitation on the carryover of excess corporate charitable contributions. Tax Credits: The investment tax credit for combined heat and power. This issue arose in H.R. 2657 - Power Efficiency and Resiliency Act (POWER Act) - to alter Section 48 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase and alter the investment tax credit for combined heat and power. Tax Parity: S. 1516 - Power Efficiency and Resiliency Act (POWER Act) This bill would amends Section 48 of the tax code to provide parity for combined heat and power (CHP) with other forms of energy. Tax Credits: Combined Heat and Power, Fuel Cells and Microturbines Investment Tax Credit Extension Past 2016. At the end of 2015 connected to the omnibus spending and tax legislation, Congress passed a long term extension of both the production tax credit for wind and investment tax (ITC) credit for solar. Other technologies that have (and currently do through the end of 2016) qualified for these credits were not provided with extensions or modifications. Those technologies that did not receive an extension include fuel cells, geothermal, small wind energy, microturbines, and combined heat and power (CHP). Tax Parity: S. 2378 - Waterway LNG Parity Act of 2015. This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the excise tax rate for the Inland Waterways Trust Fund to equal 29 cents per gallon or the per energy equivalent of a gallon of diesel in the case of liquefied natural gas, as defined by this Act.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| BRIAN CAUDILL | — |
| GEORGE LOWE | — |
| BREE RAUM | — |
Environment/Superfund ENV
The impact of legislation on existing EPA regulations. These issues arose in all of the following: H.R. 2576 - TSCA Modernization Act of 2015 - legislation related to reforming the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) which addressed PCBs; S. 697 - Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act - legislation related to reforming the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) which addressed PCBs. Draft legislation related to methane emissions from natural gas operating systems
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| BRIAN CAUDILL | — |
| GEORGE LOWE | — |
| BREE RAUM | — |
Agriculture AGR
CFTC administrative procedure and judicial review reform; judicial review of CFTC regulations and the applicable APA review. Dodd-Frank end-users record keeping reform. Commodity end user reform. These issues arose in: H.R.2289: Commodity End-User Relief Act (CEURA) to reauthorize the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). This legislation would reauthorize the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Language clarifies that commodity end-users, including gas utilities, are not treated as financial entities for the purpose of Dodd-Frank financial recordkeeping rules. More specifically, the legislation clarifies that physical natural gas contracts with delivery optionality are not treated the same as sophisticated derivatives trading or swaps. The bill also includes language that would subject CFTC decision-making to standard administrative procedures and judicial review proceedings.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| BRIAN CAUDILL | — |
| GEORGE LOWE | — |
| BREE RAUM | — |
Transportation TRA
Promote & protect the interests of natural gas utilities regarding pipeline safety legislation and any regulatory regime affecting natural gas utilities. Promote the development of the natural gas vehicle market by supporting various incentives. Protect the Utility Service Vehicle exemption in SAFETEA-LU Support incentives for expansion of natural-gas as transportation fuel and fueling stations. Support incentives for natural gas vehicles. Advocate for research and development of natural gas vehicle technologies. Oppose the sale of natural gas by the Kilogram. Support the FAST Act - Highway Bill Reauthorization. S2276: SAFE PIPES Act - Securing America's Future Energy: Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| BRIAN CAUDILL | — |
| GEORGE LOWE | — |
| BREE RAUM | — |
| JASON KYLE ROGERS | — |
Energy/Nuclear ENG
Promote & protect the interests of natural gas utilities in any legislation considered by the House Energy & Commerce Committee and the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee regarding energy and climate legislation affecting natural gas utilities, including efficiency mandates and NGV Market Development. These issues arose in all of the following: S. 2012 - Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015 H.R.8 - North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act of 2015
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| BRIAN CAUDILL | — |
| GEORGE LOWE | — |
| BREE RAUM | — |
Homeland Security HOM
Support Cybersecurity bills that may impact the operations of natural gas utilities or have a public-private partnership (no top-down regulatory process); public-private information sharing; liability protections for information sharing; federal R&D support; and appropriate criminal penalties for bad actors. These issues arose in: HR. 1731: National Cybersecurity Protection Advancement Act HR 1560: Protecting Cyber Networks Act S. 754: Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act H.R.1770 - Data Security and Breach Notification Act of 2015 H.R.2205 - Data Security Act of 2015. Legislation to set standards for identifying, reporting, and responding to data breaches, and the resulting exfiltration of sensitive personal and financial data, caused by illegal hacking. . H.R.4651 / S.2604 Digital Security Commission Act of 2016. Legislation that would create a commission to study and make recommendations on digital security matters, particularly in the area of encrypted communications and related security equipment. S. 2684 - UAVs for Energy Infrastructure Act. This bill would require the FAA to establish a process by which owners and operators of crucial infrastructure may incorporate the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) into their regulatory compliance, safety, emergency response, and operational activities. Encryption legislation not yet designated a bill number which will likely include procedures allowing law enforcement access to encrypted communications and equipment. SAFETY Act related Legislation not yet designated a bill number which may modify existing law that provides liability protection in the aftermath of a successful terrorist attack for companies that employ SAFETY Act approved anti-terrorism technologies, policies and procedures.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| BRIAN CAUDILL | — |
| GEORGE LOWE | — |
| BREE RAUM | — |
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.