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.
Taxation/Internal Revenue Code TAX
General research and discussions surrounding the tax status of nonprofit organizations, including as it relates to tax cut expirations and H.R. 9495, Stop Terror Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| HOLLY O'GRADY COOK | — |
Budget/Appropriations BUD
Support supplemental disaster relief funding for legal services. FY2025 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations - funding for the Legal Services Corporation; funding for the Department of Justice Executive Office for Immigration Review's Legal Orientation Program. FY2025 Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations - funding for democracy, human rights, and rule of law programs. H.R. 8773, S. 4928, Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2025, and other appropriations bills - provisions relating to funding for the Internal Revenue Service.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| DENISE A CARDMAN | — |
| HOLLY O'GRADY COOK | — |
| CHRISTINA ENNIS | — |
| LARSON FRISBY | — |
| KRISTI GAINES | — |
| JAMES MICHAEL O'NEILL | — |
Civil Rights/Civil Liberties CIV
S. 1723/H.R. 7227, the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act of 2024. S.Res. 107 - resolution recognizing the expirations of the Equal Rights Amendment. S.J.Res. 4, S.J.Res. 39, H.J.Res. 25 - Expressing the sense of Congress that the Equal Rights Amendment has been validly ratified.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| DENISE A CARDMAN | — |
| HOLLY O'GRADY COOK | — |
Immigration IMM
Communications regarding potential changes to the filing procedures for Notices to Appear for unaccompanied children. Communications regarding transfers of represented individuals from the Otay Mesa Detention Center without notice to counsel. Communications regarding making bond determinations more equitable by requiring consideration of a noncitizens ability to pay and ensuring consistency in determination of bond amounts. Communications requesting issuance of regulations that enhance protection for individuals seeking asylum due to gender-based violence. Communications regarding implementation of best practices for the care, representation, and adjudication of unaccompanied immigrant children. Issues relating to access to counsel and the Legal Orientation Program, particularly for individuals in immigration detention. S.2327, H.R.4627, the Afghan Adjustment Act and other measures to facilitate permanent legal status for certain Afghans present in the U.S.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| HOLLY O'GRADY COOK | — |
| CHRISTINA ENNIS | — |
| KRISTI GAINES | — |
Financial Institutions/Investments/Securities FIN
H.R.10545 - American Relief Act (continuing resolution) - delaying a proposal to extend the January 1, 2025 deadline for more than 30 million existing small businesses to file their initial beneficial ownership information reports with FinCEN under the Corporate Transparency Act. S.4638,H.R. 8070, FY2025 National Defense Authorization Act - draft amendment regulating certain attorneys and law firms as financial institutions under the Bank Secrecy Act and requiring them to report certain attorney-client privileged and other protected client information to the Treasury Department. S. 4638 and H.R. 8070, FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act-Amendment No. 2169 sponsored by Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) extending several deadlines for companies to report and update beneficial ownership information to the Treasury Department under the Corporate Transparency Act H.R. 5119 and S. 3625, Protect Small Business and Prevent Illicit Financial Activity Act H.R. 9278, legislation providing small business concerns an additional year to report their beneficial ownership information to the Treasury Department under the Corporate Transparency Act H.R. 7947, Restoring Court Authority Over Litigation Act H.R. 10445, Further Continuing Appropriations and Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2025-Section 122 extending the deadline for companies formed before January 1, 2024 to submit their initial beneficial ownership reports to the Treasury Department under the Corporate Transparency Act until January 1, 2026. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Statement of Policy Regarding Prohibition on Abusive Acts or Practices; Docket No CFPB-2023-0018; 88 Fed. Reg. 21883 (April 12, 2023)-provisions that could require creditor attorneys and law firms to act in the interests of consumers instead of their creditor clients in violation of the attorneys' existing ethical obligations or that would conflict with other existing state court ethical obligations. Draft resolution to nullify the Department of the Treasury Financial Crimes Enforcement Network Final Rule on Anti-Money Laundering Regulations for Residential Real Estate Transfers; Document No. 2024-19198; RIN 1506-AB54, 89 Fed. Reg. 70258 (August 29, 2024) under the Congressional Review Act Department of the Treasury Financial Crimes Enforcement Network Rule on Anti-Money Laundering Regulations for Residential Real Estate Transfers; Document No. 2024-19198; RIN 1506-AB54, 89 Fed. Reg. 70258 (August 29, 2024) Department of the Treasury Financial Crimes Enforcement Network Final Rule on Beneficial Ownership Information Access and Safeguards; Document No. 2023-27973; RIN 1506-AB59, 88 Fed. Reg. 88732 (December 22, 2023) Department of the Treasury Financial Crimes Enforcement Network Final Rule on Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting Requirements; Document No. 2022-21020; RIN 1506-AB49, 87 Fed. Reg. 59498 (September 30, 2022). Financial Action Task Force Public Consultation Paper, Proposed Updates to Risk-Based Guidance to the Real Estate Sector-provisions requiring attorneys to submit suspicious transaction reports on their clients high-risk real estate transactions even when the information is protected by the attorney-client privilege. Financial Action Task Force White Paper for Public Consultation, Potential Amendments to Recommendation 24 (Transparency and Beneficial Ownership of Legal Persons)-provisions considering requiring attorneys to hold their company clients' beneficial ownership information and disclose it to government authorities.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| HOLLY O'GRADY COOK | — |
| LARSON FRISBY | — |
| JAMES MICHAEL O'NEILL | — |
Foreign Relations FOR
Support for U.S. ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Draft legislation to amend U.S. law to extend domestic jurisdiction over crimes against humanity. Support for U.S. ratification of the United Nations Convention on International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation (Singapore Convention on Mediation). Issues relating to facilitating U.S. support and engagement with the International Criminal Court. Support for increased funding for democracy, human rights, and rule of law programs.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| HOLLY O'GRADY COOK | — |
| LARSON FRISBY | — |
| KRISTI GAINES | — |
| THOMAS MICHAEL SUSMAN | — |
Government Issues GOV
S. 5229 - Judicial Modernization and Transparency Act H.R. 927, S. 325 - Supreme Court Ethics Act H.R. 926, S. 359 - Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act of 2023 H. Res. 314 - Territorial Incorporation Doctrine Support for authorizing new federal judgeships. Judicial Security - efforts to expand judicial security protection to Administrative Law Judges. Support the original intent of H.R.9278 to extend the current deadline for millions of existing small businesses to file their initial beneficial ownership reports required under the Corporate Transparency Act for one year to January 1, 2026. Oppose efforts by Congress, such as the provision contained in S.4638, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025, to regulate the practice of law by mandating that attorneys married to an active duty servicemembers in the armed forces be automatically admitted to practice law in the state where the servicemember has been stationed. This would undermine the longstanding principle and doctrine supported by the ABA which believes state supreme courts have the power of licensure. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Duty of Candor; Docket No. RM22-20-000, 87 Fed. Reg. 49784 (August 12, 2022)-provisions regulating certain attorneys engaged in the practice of law and requiring them to disclose certain attorney-client privileged and other protected client information. Model Rules of Representative Conduct developed by an Administrative Conference of the United States working group that, if adopted by individual federal agencies, would regulate the conduct of attorneys and non-attorneys who represent parties and other interested persons in administrative adjudicative proceedings before those agencies. Administrative Conference of the United States study on Regulation of Representatives in Agency Proceedings to explore how federal agencies regulate the conduct of attorneys and non-attorneys who represent parties and other interested persons in administrative adjudicative proceedings, and related best practices for federal agencies. Proposed Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel legal opinion further clarifying the ability of government attorneys and other employees to participate more fully in outside organizations, including legal professional associations. Revised Department of Justice ethics guidance (Representations Before the Government) further clarifying the ability of government attorneys and other employees to participate more fully in outside organizations, including legal professional associations.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| DENISE A CARDMAN | — |
| HOLLY O'GRADY COOK | — |
| LARSON FRISBY | — |
| KRISTI GAINES | — |
| JAMES MICHAEL O'NEILL | — |
Law Enforcement/Crime/Criminal Justice LAW
S. 4199, Judicial Understaffing Delays Getting Emergencies Solved Act of 2024 (JUDGES Act of 2024)- to create 66 new district court judgeships. S. 5580, H.R. 10450 - the Effective Assistance of Counsel in the Digital Era Act - concerning attorney-client confidentiality between attorneys and their incarcerated clients. H.R. 8028 - the Second Chance Reauthorization Act - to reauthorize programs to promote successful re-entry into society following a period of incarceration. General research and discussions on legislative efforts to ensure equal protection and prevent racism in the federal government (e.g., H.R. 8706, Dismantle DEI Act of 2024). Activity in support of a repeal of the lifetime federal prohibition on access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for those with a prior drug conviction. H.R. 8856, the Right to Trial Act - to remove disparities in sentencing due solely to a defendant choosing to go to trial instead of accepting a plea agreement. H.R. 2955,S. 1351, the Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act - to provide greater oversight for youth treatment programs and promote best practices for identifying and preventing institutional child abuse. General research and discussions surrounding Supreme Court ethics rule and funding for the federal courts and federal defender legal services. 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.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| HOLLY O'GRADY COOK | — |
| DAVID EPPSTEIN | — |
| LARSON FRISBY | — |
| KENNETH GOLDSMITH | — |
Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace LBR
H.R. 20 and S. 567, Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act-provisions in Section 202 that would amend Section 203(c) of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959, 29 U.S.C. 433(c), to require attorneys to report certain confidential client information to the Department of Labor.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| HOLLY O'GRADY COOK | — |
| LARSON FRISBY | — |
Medicare/Medicaid MMM
Support legislation that would 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 | — |
Trade (domestic/foreign) TRD
Communications regarding international trade in legal services and overseas market access for U.S. firms and lawyers.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| HOLLY O'GRADY COOK | — |
| KRISTI GAINES | — |
Health Issues HCR
Communications regarding implementing a Guardianship Court Improvement Program.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| HOLLY O'GRADY COOK | — |
| DAVID EPPSTEIN | — |
Banking BAN
S.2860, the Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation Banking Act, or the SAFER Banking Act - a bill would allow financial institutions to provide legally-operating cannabis businesses access to critical banking services - including bank accounts, credit cards, and checks - without fear of retribution by federal regulators.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| HOLLY O'GRADY COOK | — |
| DAVID EPPSTEIN | — |
Defense DEF
S. 4636, National Defense Authorization Act for FY2025 and other legislation - opposing provisions mandating that attorneys married to active duty U.S. servicemembers be automatically admitted to practice law in the state where the servicemember has been stationed, as it undermines state based judicial regulation of the legal profession.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| HOLLY O'GRADY COOK | — |
| LARSON FRISBY | — |
| JAMES MICHAEL O'NEILL | — |
Family issues/Abortion/Adoption FAM
H.R. 9076 - Supporting America's Children and Families Act H.R. 2955, S. 1351 - Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| HOLLY O'GRADY COOK | — |
| DAVID EPPSTEIN | — |
Telecommunications TEC
H.R. 8818, the American Privacy Rights Act Analyzed federal laws/regulations related to artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data security, digital/personal privacy, intellectual property, in addition to to ensure they did not seek to harm or regulate the legal profession, such as by undermining the attorney-client privilege, the lawyers ethical duty to protect client confidentiality, the work product doctrine, and do not limit the ability to access the justice system and counsel.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| HOLLY O'GRADY COOK | — |
| JAMES MICHAEL O'NEILL | — |
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.