AMERICAN PUBLIC POWER ASSOCIATION for AMERICAN PUBLIC POWER ASSOCIATION
What was lobbied
10 issue areas, each in the filer's own words, with who lobbied on it and where.
Environment/Superfund ENV
Monitored issues related to the Endangered Species Act -- support efforts to review the law and improve it.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| SETH VOYLES | — |
Railroads RRR
Support removal of the antitrust exemptions for the railroads, and support reforms at the Surface Transportation Board in order to ensure that rail customers are not the subject of monopoly shipping rates.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| WILLIAM COFFMAN | — |
| JOY DITTO | — |
Financial Institutions/Investments/Securities FIN
Supported legislation, H.R. 1038, modifying final rule on swap dealers under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act regarding special entities and the $25 million ceiling on their hedging transactions. HR1038 has passed the House, and is pending in the Senate -- Senate version introduced as S. 1802. Supported more limited role in Dodd-Frank for non-profit energy end-users. Supported funding for CFTC. Support including H.R. 1038/S. 1802 in CFTC Reauthorization bill. Support CFTC no-action letterallowing special entities to hedge by engaging in swap transactions in the same way as do other types of electric utilities. Support the CFTC in proposing rulemaking to address this issue as well, and generally support proposed rule.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| JOY DITTO | — |
| JOHN GODFREY | — |
| SETH VOYLES | — |
Utilities UTI
Expressed concerns about or opposition to markets issues related to regional transmission organizations, including proposed energy imbalance market and existing mandatory capacity markets (FERC docket # AD 13-7). Encouraged oversight of FERC more generally. Monitored issues related to electric vehicles, particularly regarding funding issues. Support revised Senergy efficiency bill, S. 1392, which failed on the Senate floor.Worked to ensure small utilities that are defined as small businesses under SBREFA get appropriate consideration under any pending and future EPA and FERC regulations, and support H.R. 2542 to modify the Regulatory Flexibility Act. Supported Senator Klobuchar bill related to preventing copper theft. Support H.R. 1199 to delete Section 433 of EISA 2007, which mandates that all federal buildings use no fossil fuel by 2030. Also support other efforts to fix this issue. While not a federal issue, discussed issues surrounded distributed generation (namely, rooftop solar) with DOE staff. Discussed the process surrounding the pending Quadrennial Energy Review (and it's focus on distribution, transmission and storage of energy) with DOE and the White House and submitted statements and other materials related to that process. Discussed the need for enhanced liability protection for electric utilities who are subject to a cyber-security attack. Briefed Senators and House Members and staff on the physical security of the electric system, and opposed additional legislation resulting in greater regulation. Discussed the issue of the availability of spare transformers with DOE and others. Support information sharing legislation such as CISPA, H.R. 3523, and the recently passed Senate Intelligence Committee information sharing bill (no bill number to date). Supported the SMART GRID Study Act, H.R. 2962.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| WILLIAM COFFMAN | — |
| JOY DITTO | — |
| SETH VOYLES | — |
| DESMARIE M WATERHOUSE | — |
Taxation/Internal Revenue Code TAX
Supported the continued use of tax-exempt financing for municipal/public power purposes, and opposed provisions, like those included in the Administration's FY 2015 budget proposal, to tax municipal bonds. Support H. Res. 112, highlighting the value of tax-exempt financing, and authored by Reps. Terry and Neal. Monitored impacts of sequestration on Build America Bonds (BABs), including H.R. 789 and H.J.Res. 59.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| WILLIAM COFFMAN | — |
| JOY DITTO | — |
| JOHN GODFREY | — |
| SETH VOYLES | — |
| DESMARIE M WATERHOUSE | — |
Telecommunications TEC
Monitored the issue of "retransmission consent" with regard to access to cable programming. Also monitored the issues of program access and video competition. Monitored pole attachment rate issue. Support municipal broadband deployment, and educated House Telecommunications Subcommittee on these issues as they begin to rewrite the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| JOY DITTO | — |
| DESMARIE M WATERHOUSE | — |
Copyright/Patent/Trademark CPT
Support efforts in Congress (including House-passed bill, H.R. 3309) to address abuse of the patent system by patent assertion entities (PAEs), commonly known as patent trolls.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| DESMARIE M WATERHOUSE | — |
Budget/Appropriations BUD
Opposed any efforts to change the purpose of the PMAs from marketing clean federal hydropower to promoting non-hydro renewables -- still monitoring DOE activities on the PMAs. Opposed to modifying or eliminating tax-exempt financing in any budget proposal, including FY 2015 Administration proposal to cap deductions at 28 percent for higher income earners. Oppose proposal in President's FY 2015 budget to continue to investigate divestiture of TVA.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| WILLIAM COFFMAN | — |
| JOY DITTO | — |
| JOHN GODFREY | — |
| SETH VOYLES | — |
Energy/Nuclear ENG
Supported bills to ensure regulatory relief for small hydro facilities, such as H.R. 678, H.R. 267, S. 306, and S. 545, and monitoring agency implemenation. Monitored Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and nuclear waste issues. Monitored issues involving the export of natural gas (liquefied natural gas or LNG).
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| WILLIAM COFFMAN | — |
| JOY DITTO | — |
| SETH VOYLES | — |
Clean Air and Water (quality) CAW
Support legislation (H.R. 2218) re: EPA regulation of coal ash as a non-hazardous waste. Opposed to EPA's proposed rulemaking on a New Source Performance Standard (NSPS) for greenhouse gases at future fossil-fuel fired power plants, and do not believe CCS adequately demonstrated (EPAOAR-20130495). Opposed to EPA proposed rulemaking on NSPS for existing power plants (EPAHQOAR20130602). Opposed to EPA's proposed Waters of the U.S. rule under the Clean Water Act.Supported Whitfield-Manchin bill (H.R. 3826) to establish a more rigorous process for EPA to be able to establish NSPS for greenhouse gas emissions. Support H.R. 1900 related to Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act. Monitored Water Resources Development Act (WRDA/WRDDA) progress, with emphasis on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reform and dam safety. Opposed Section 2014 of Senate version of WRDA bill, S. 601. Supported section 1046 of the final version of WRRDA, as passed and signed into law.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| JOY DITTO | — |
| SETH VOYLES | — |
| DESMARIE M WATERHOUSE | — |
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.