INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS for INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS
Versions of this report
Every filing the register holds for this firm, client and period, oldest first. The most recent one is the version LegiList counts.
| Filing | Filed | Amount | Counted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Quarter - Report | Apr 20, 2015 | $294,397 | Replaced |
| 1st Quarter - Amendment (this page) | Apr 20, 2015 | $294,397 | Yes |
What was lobbied
9 issue areas, each in the filer's own words, with who lobbied on it and where.
Trade (domestic/foreign) TRD
The IBEW continued to urge Congress to oppose Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), also known as fast track, and the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) Free Trade Agreement (FTA). If adopted, TPA would only allow Congress and up or down vote on a free trade agreement with no opportunity to improve of amend the agreement. The TPP FTA would be the largest FTA ever and, like previous FTAs, would lead to outsourcing and other job losses for American workers. The IBEW lobbied Congress not to impede a new 123 Agreement (treaty) with China after the President submits the renewed accord to Congress. Required by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, a 123 Agreement must be in force before a company may export American-made nuclear equipment to a foreign country. The current U.S.-China 123 Agreement is scheduled to expire on December 30, 2015. The IBEW supports its renewal. The IBEW urged Congress to oppose Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), also known as "fast track", and the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) Free Trade Agreement (FTA). If adoped, TPA would only allow Congress an up or down vote on a free trade agreement with no opportunity to improve or amend the agreement. The TPP FTA would be the largest FTA ever and, like previous FTA's, would lead to outsourcing and other job losses for America workers. The IBEW urged the Department of Energy to approve a Non-Free Trade Agreement (NFTA) export license (FE Docket No. 12-32-LNG) for Jordan Cove Energy Project. If approved, Jordan Cove plans to construct a $5.7 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility near Coos Bay, OR. Building this facility will create an average of 900 construction jobs over 42 months with permanent employment expected to be around 150 workers. The IBEW encouraged Congress to pass the Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank Reauthorization Act of 2014 (S. 2709). The Ex-Im Bank levels the playing field for U.S. companies who sell their products abroad by matching the financing foreign governments provide for their exporters. Since 2009 the Ex-Im Bank has helped retain or create 1.2 million jobs in the U.S. including 205,000 just last year and at no cost to American taxpayers.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| BRUCE G BURTON | — |
| DAN GARDNER | — |
| JOHN M WALSH | — |
Financial Institutions/Investments/Securities FIN
The IBEW lobbied Congress in support of the Department of Labors efforts to update and close loopholes in the 40-year-old rules that apply when individuals receive professional advice regarding retirement investments. Updating and improving protections for retirement savers is urgently needed and long overdue. The current rules with their inadequate safeguards cost American consumers approximately $17 billion annually.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| BRUCE G BURTON | — |
Health Issues HCR
On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, H.R. 3590 (ACA), (also known as Obamacare). The ACA included a tax on high cost health care plans called the "Excise Tax on High Cost Employer - Sponsored Health Coverage" (Excise Tax). The excise tax will begin in 2018. It is a 40% tax on the cost of employer-based health insurance that exceeds certain amounts-generally $10,200 for individual coverage and $27,500 for family coverage (excluding optical and dental coverage). IBEW has been lobbying for cosponsors for a draft repeal of the excise tax bill.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| DAN GARDNER | — |
Environment/Superfund ENV
The IBEW met with officials from EPA to discuss concerns regarding the EPA's proposed Clean Power Plan, a rule to regulate carbon emissions from existing fossil-fuel electric generating facilites.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| BRUCE G BURTON | — |
| DAN GARDNER | — |
Energy/Nuclear ENG
The IBEW urged Congress to continue funding for the National Nuclear Security Administrations Mixed-Oxide (MOX) Fuel Fabrication Facility Project located at the Department of Energys Savanna River Site, just outside Aiken, South Carolina. When complete the facility will process weapons-grade plutonium into MOX fuel pellets for peaceful use in licensed nuclear reactors.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| BRUCE G BURTON | — |
Insurance INS
The IBEW lobbied Congress to reauthorize the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002. TRIA provides a federal backstop for the insurance industry when it is determined a catastrophic disaster is the result of terrorist action. Reauthorization of TRIA will improve commercial building development planning and terrorism insurance regulation throughout the nation's building and construction market.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| BRUCE G BURTON | — |
| DAN GARDNER | — |
Immigration IMM
The IBEW urged Senators to oppose and not cosponsor the Immigration Innovation Act of 2015 (S. 153), also known as I-Squared. Passage of this bill will drive-down the wages of high-skilled American and legal immigrant workers by increasing the annual H-1B cap from its current 65,000 up to 300,000 using a market-based escalator. Such a flood of foreign workers will decrease employment opportunities for todays university students who are studying for a degree in the science, technical, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) disciplines. In a statement sent to all Members of the California Congressional delegation, IBEW President Edwin D. Hill explained the situation at Southern California Edison (SCE) where American workers employed in SCEs IT department were replaced by lower-paid H-1B visa holders. President Hill went on to declare that absent substantial reform, its time to end the H-1B temporary visa program.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| BRUCE G BURTON | — |
Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace LBR
IBEW continued to participate in educational meetings with Congressional staff to inform them about the Davis-Bacon Act of 1931, legislation that requires workers employed on construction projects funded by the federal government be paid wages no less than what are prevailing in the geographic area.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| DAN GARDNER | — |
Fuel/Gas/Oil FUE
The IBEW lobbied in support of the Keystone XL Pipeline Act (H.R. 3 and S. 1), legislation that would approve the Keystone XL Pipeline. Although America continues to recover from the worst recession since the Great Depression, unemployment rates in the construction industry remain relatively high. Construction of the pipeline will put Americans back-to-work and have positive ripple effects throughout the economy.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| BRUCE G BURTON | — |
| DAN GARDNER | — |
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.