NATIONAL ADVOCACY CENTER OF THE SISTERS OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD for CONFERENCE OF PROVINCIALS OF NORTH AMERICA
What was lobbied
16 issue areas, each in the filer's own words, with who lobbied on it and where.
Economics/Economic Development ECN
Financial assistance and loans for non-profits during COVID-19. Improvements to Paycheck Protection Plan. Provide full unemployment benefits and funding for community support grants. Strengthen charitable giving incentive.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| LAWRENCE COUCH | — |
Postal POS
Call for the resignation or dismissal of the current Postmaster General. Replace the official with an experienced professional who is committed to keeping mail delivery reliable. Pass the Delivering for America Act to provide emergency funding and support for the USPS during the pandemic.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| LAWRENCE COUCH | — |
Foreign Relations FOR
Provide $12 billion in foreign aid to help those in other countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Request that the Democratic Caucus elect a House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair who will advance values of restraint and progressive realism in US foreign policy. This includes opposing militarization and surveillance at home, scrutinizing non-electoral transfers of power, opposing broad sanctions that harm individuals, ending "endless" wars, upholding human rights, ending the arms sales rubber stamp, adequately funding the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration and the Office of Refugees. Opposing nuclear weapons and appealing for the ratification of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Support for Nancy Pelosi's endorsement of the Garcia amendment, which directs the US to support the International Monetary Fund's issuance of 2 trillion special drawing rights and to support debt relief to help countries around the globe recover from COVID-19. Provide financial relief to African countries due to COVID-19 by supporting the issuance of Special Drawing Rights at the International Monetary Fund and debt cancelation for countries struggling to respond to the pandemic. Support for the United Kingdom's peacemaking activities in many countries. Support for the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, which requires the US government to provide reports on the impact of comprehensive sanctions on civilian populations as well as their effectiveness in achieving foreign policy goals. Support the Global Financial Institution Pandemic Response Act (S.4139), which would ensure US support for issuance of Special Drawing Rights by the International Monetary Fund. Also support for a funding package that includes $20 billion for foreign aid and support for IMF expanding debt relief. Call for international trade policies that center on the human dignity of every person, which special attention to the threat that COVID-19 has presented to workers' rights in Mexico.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| LAWRENCE COUCH | — |
Housing HOU
Allocate greater funding for housing and homeless assistance and extend the moratorium on evictions in COVID-19 relief package. Support the Homes for All Act, which would dramatically expand the public housing stock in the US and guarantee housing as a human right.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| LAWRENCE COUCH | — |
Budget/Appropriations BUD
Prioritize most vulnerable individuals in COVID-19 relief package: expand and increase SNAP; greater funding for housing and homeless assistance; extension of moratorium on evictions; extend the expanded unemployment assistance; Expand EITC and Child Tax Credit; Authorize another Economic Impact Payment; Authorize Pandemic TANF
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| LAWRENCE COUCH | — |
Environment/Superfund ENV
Urge former Vice President Biden to ban all fossil fuel executives, lobbyists, and representatives from any advisory or official position on his campaign, transition team, cabinet, and administration.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| LAWRENCE COUCH | — |
Government Issues GOV
Provide $3.6 billion in emergency election funding and $400 million for supplemental Census decennial operations in the next COVID-19 response package. Calling for a strong commitment to a conflict-of-interest free leadership as it relates to the transition team and potential administration. Extend the statutory deadlines for census activities, which have been disrupted due the COVID-19. Support the 2020 Census Deadline Extensions Act, which would extend the statutory deadlines for apportionment and redistricting. Letter with recommendations that state officials can pursue to ensure rare and chronic disease patients can safely vote in the 2020 elections.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| LAWRENCE COUCH | — |
Energy/Nuclear ENG
Urge former Vice President Biden to ban all fossil fuel executives, lobbyists, and representatives from any advisory or official position on his campaign, transition team, cabinet, and administration. Opposing nuclear weapons and appealing for the ratification of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| LAWRENCE COUCH | — |
Immigration IMM
Include immigrant families in COVID-19 relief. Protect current Sudanese Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders and extend their status for 18 months. Extend protection to Sudanese people who recently arrived and are fleeing famine and war. Support a 2021 Action Plan on immigration that centers on human dignity, family unity, community well-being, and American prosperity. Pass COVID-19 relief that includes children in mixed-status immigrant families. Oppose any funding mechanisms that would increase funding for U.S. Customs and Border Protection or Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Fiscal Year 2021. Demand freedom for Binsar Siahaan, who was arrested on church property. Demand protection of sensitive locations that are meant to be off-limits to ICE enforcement, such as houses of worship, hospitals, and schools. Support the Improving Opportunities for New Americans Act of 2020, which would direct the US Department of Labor to study the factors that lead to the underemployment and unemployment of immigrants and refugees who hold professional credentials earned outside the US.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| LAWRENCE COUCH | — |
Welfare WEL
Establish a $10 billion COVID-19 Emergency Grant Program for low income families to access basic necessities. Extend the Summer Food Service Program and Seamless Summer Option to feed children throughout the upcoming school year. Pass COVID-19 relief package that addresses public health, food, housing, and workplace safety concerns. Provides state and local aid, including funding for education. Suspend SNAP work requirements for students enrolled in secondary education Provide needed assistance to struggling military families by prioritizing the Military Family Basic Needs Allowance in the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act. Extend critical nationwide child nutrition program waivers through the coming school year. Extend and improve the operations of the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program, which provides nutritional resources to families who have lost access to free or reduced price school meals due to COVID-19 school closures. Pass a federal COVID-19 relief package that provides acute financial assistance to families who did not receive stimulus payments in the CARES Act. Expand eligibility for assistance to immigrant families with a US citizen parent, and all US citizen children, including those whose parents file taxes using an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. Ensure that food, farming, and seafood system workers, including tribal, rural, and immigrant communities of color are protected and included in the next COVID-19 stimulus package. Pass COVID-19 relief that includes children in mixed-status immigrant families. Pass robust COVID-19 relief before recessing for the elections. Extend key child nutrition waivers through June 30, 2021. Call to prioritize military families experiencing food insecurity in the final Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Amend the Social Security Act to provide for a Family Crisis Cash Assistance Program, which would provide monthly cash assistance for families at or below 200% of the federal poverty line after any natural or economic disaster. National moratorium on electricity, water, and broadband shut-offs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| LAWRENCE COUCH | — |
Science/Technology SCI
Seeking emergency broadband benefits for low-income people as part of the Covid-19 relief package.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| LAWRENCE COUCH | — |
Law Enforcement/Crime/Criminal Justice LAW
Oppose the creation of ICE's Citizens' Academy, which would train civilians in defense tactics, firearms familiarization, and targeted arrests. Opposing the death penalty: calling for the immediate end to executions, for legislative action to ban the death penalty, and for court injunctions recognizing that the death penalty is unconstitutional and cruel. Statement in response to the death of James Hill and 16 others who died in ICE custody this year. Letter to Attorney General Barr, who reinstated the use of the death penalty, to ask him not to accept an award at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| LAWRENCE COUCH | — |
Utilities UTI
National moratorium on electricity, water, and broadband shut-offs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| LAWRENCE COUCH | — |
Banking BAN
Oppose a rule proposed by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency which would allow for the evasion of state interest rate caps in all states through the rent-a-bank scheme.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| LAWRENCE COUCH | — |
Health Issues HCR
Addressing barriers to COVID-19 communications that primarily affect people with disabilities and limited English proficient populations. Reduce federal prison population to address the spread of COVID-19 in prisons. Oppose corporate immunity from worker lawsuits regarding COVID-19 exposure. Statement in response to the death of James Hill, who died of COVID-19 in ICE custody this year. Support the Coronavirus Language Access Act, which would address the exclusion of people who are limited English proficient (LEP) from the COVID-19 response. The act would require translation of COVID-19 public health statements into at least 19 languages and provide resources for states and localities to provide language services on the ground. Letter with recommendations that state officials can pursue to ensure rare and chronic disease patients can safely vote in the 2020 elections.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| LAWRENCE COUCH | — |
Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace LBR
Oppose corporate immunity from worker lawsuits regarding COVID-19 exposure. Review enforcement of equal pay laws to ensure that women and people of color are paid fairly for their work. Support the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (H.R.2694), which would ensure that pregnant workers can continue safely working to support their families during their pregnancy by requiring employers to provide reasonable, temporary accommodations.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| LAWRENCE COUCH | — |
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.