| | | | |  | | By Caitlin Oprysko | | Presented by |  | | | With Daniel Lippman NFL LOBBYING FOR COUNTER-DRONE MEASURE: Representatives from nearly every NFL franchise are on the Hill today to press for an amendment in the FAA reauthorization bill to help sports leagues counter a growing trend of drone incursions during sporting events. — Teams heard from House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) this morning, as well as Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), the House co-sponsor of the measure that would grant state and local law enforcement the authority to deploy counter-drone technology at sporting events, subject to temporary airspace restrictions — an authority currently reserved for federal law enforcement. — The league detected more than 2,800 drone flights at its stadiums in violation of temporary flight restrictions during the 2023 season, NFL chief lobbyist top lobbyist Brendon Plack told PI, an 11 percent increase from the year prior. — Sens. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) have offered the language up as an amendment to the FAA reauthorization, which will be a key focus of the league’s roughly 70 meetings today, and which follows an appeal from the NFL, NCAA, MLB and NASCAR to lawmakers about the issue last week. — Teams will also be discussing the NFL’s priorities for federal name, image and likeness legislation for college athletes; infrastructure needs in the areas surrounding stadiums; ticketing reforms; and grant programs to allow more high school athletic venues to acquire automated external defibrillators for cardiac events. A4A JOINS FACIAL RECOGNITION FIGHT: The airline industry’s top trade association is backing the effort to stave off a crackdown on TSA’s biometric screening programs for air travelers. In a joint letter to senators Tuesday, Airlines for America, which represents nearly every major U.S. carrier, joined the U.S. Travel Association in calling for the defeat of an amendment to the FAA bill that would halt TSA’s facial recognition screening pilot program and planned expansions. — The tweak from Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and John Kennedy (R-La.) would then require sign-off from Congress to resume using biometric screening methods. The industry trade groups sought to defuse privacy concerns raised by Merkley and Kennedy about the biometrics programs, asserting that TSA has a “robust and government-leading privacy regime in place that requires the deletion of photos, allows passengers to opt-out, and gives travelers that want to use the most advanced touchless technology the opportunity to opt-in.” — The amendment “would set TSA back decades,” the groups warned, citing a U.S. Travel analysis of TSA data estimating it would add 120 million hours annually to Americans’ TSA wait times while undermining security. Happy Wednesday and welcome to PI, which is a wholehearted endorser of the D.C. Waffle House movement. Send lobbying tips: coprysko@politico.com. And be sure to follow me on the platform formerly known as Twitter: @caitlinoprysko.
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Get the premier news and policy intelligence service, SUBSCRIBE TO POLITICO PRO TODAY. | | | | | END OF THE ROAD FOR FREEDOMWORKS: Luke Mullins reports for POLITICO Magazine that FreedomWorks, “the once-swaggering conservative organization that helped turn tea party protesters into a national political force, is shutting down, according to its president, a casualty of the ideological split in a Republican Party dominated by former President Donald Trump.” — “‘We’re dissolved,’ said the group’s president, Adam Brandon. ‘It’s effective immediately.’ FreedomWorks’ board of directors voted unanimously on Tuesday to dissolve the organization, Brandon said,” and today will be the last day of work for the group’s remaining employees. — “The development brings to a close a period of turmoil for the organization. FreedomWorks laid off 40 percent of its staff in March of 2023, and as a result of a drop in fundraising, its total revenue has declined by roughly half, to about $8 million, since 2022, Brandon said.” Meanwhile, “after Trump took control of the conservative movement … a ‘huge gap’ opened up between the libertarian principles of FreedomWorks leadership and the MAGA-style populism of its members.” FIRST IN PI — DO BIG THINGS SHUTTERS: As many liberal organizations face a cash crunch in the Biden era, progressive digital firm Do Big Things, founded by Cheryl Contee, has abruptly shut down after it couldn’t keep itself afloat, Daniel reports. — “This was not an easy decision to make, but it is sadly necessary as our firm can no longer sustain itself in the current post-Covid climate,” the firm wrote in a “notice of dissolution” on its website. “We deeply regret that our journey together is coming to an end.” — The firm started in 2018, doing digital work like social media, mobile engagement and building websites and apps for Democratic campaigns and liberal nonprofits, foundations and causes. At its height, it employed around 35 employees but was down to roughly 20 people at the end. — Contee said in a brief interview that in late April, she printed out a list of clients and causes that Do Big Things had worked on and it was nine pages long, single-spaced. — When asked if the firm had run out of money amid loss of client revenue, she would only say: “I’m moving forward not backward.” Contee said the company provided a small severance package for full-time employees and that “the team departed more tearful than angry.” — “We’re not alone in having faced a challenging economic environment,” she said. “A lot of progressive social enterprises, startups and nonprofits are struggling at this time due to lack of urgency from donors and funders." NOT LEAVING IT TO CHANCE: “The U.S. oil industry is drawing up ready-to-sign executive orders for Donald Trump pushing natural gas exports, cutting drilling costs and increasing offshore oil leases if the presumptive GOP nominee wins a second term,” energy executives with direct knowledge of the work told our Ben Lefebvre. — “The effort stems from the industry’s deep skepticism that the Trump campaign will be able to focus on energy issues as election day draws closer — and worries that the former president is too distracted to prepare a quick reversal of the Biden administration’s green policies.” — “The uneasiness extends to fears that a second Trump administration will be able to attract staff skillful enough to successfully roll back Biden regulations or craft new ones that would benefit the industry, these sources added.” — “Six energy industry lawyers and lobbyists interviewed by POLITICO described the effort to craft executive orders and other policy paperwork that they see as more effective than anything a second Trump administration could devise” — including “quickly reversing Biden’s pause on new liquefied natural gas export permits and clearing the way for wider and cheaper access to federal lands and waters for drilling.” THEGROUP FUNDRAISES FOR A REPUBLICAN: The majority-Democrat lobbying firm TheGROUP D.C. is throwing its first fundraiser for a Republican member of Congress, according to an invite shared with PI. Firm founder Art Collins, a Democrat, and GOP lobbyist Pam Thiessen are the hosts of a wine and cheese reception next week benefiting Senate Appropriations ranking member Susan Collins (R-Maine). Suggested contributions start at $2,500 for individuals and PACs. ALSO FLYING IN: The American Golf Industry Coalition held a fly-in for National Golf Day today, bringing more than 200 coalition members to town for meetings with the White House, members of the Congressional Golf Caucus and other golf-focused lawmakers. — The fly-in won’t touch on the impending union between the PGA Tour, a coalition member, and LIV Golf, spokesperson Grace Moster said in an email, but will instead focus on golf and the environment, various benefits of playing the game, turf grass research and tax issues. A reception for lawmakers tonight will feature the Solheim Cup ahead of the September tournament being played just outside D.C. — And Michelin held its first-ever fly-in on Tuesday, featuring the Michelin Man himself. Michelin execs discussed sustainability issues like industrial decarbonization, biodiversity plans for their manufacturing facilities and the transition to zero-emission vehicles.
| | A message from the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l: Raise the pilot retirement age? Raise chaos for air travelers. Congress is considering an arbitrary change to current law that would raise the mandatory retirement age for pilots from 65 to 67 to address a pilot shortage that isn’t real. Doing so will lead to real consequences. In fact, there’s now a surplus of airline pilots. With more and more people flying, now is the wrong time to complicate air travel. Learn more. | | | | | — Matt Hourihan is joining the Association of American Universities to lead research on issues around the Department of Energy, NASA and other tech topics. He joins from the Federation of American Scientists, where he was associate director of research and development and advanced industry. — Miranda Lutz has joined Cisco as senior manager of global public policy. She previously was senior director of public policy at the XR Association. — Taylor West is now executive director of the Healing Advocacy Fund, which advocates for legal and regulated psychedelic treatments. She previously worked in drug policy reform advocacy. — Progressive firm Movement Labs has added Joe Huston as COO and Zoë Stein as vice president of political innovation, leading a new incubator initiative. Huston previously was managing director and CFO of GiveDirectly. Stein previously was chief programs officer at Relentless. — Chad Ramey will become head of BNP Paribas' D.C. office. He was most recently chief of staff for retiring Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-Mo.). — Jeanne Lambrew will rejoin the Century Foundation as director of health care reform. She most recently has been commissioner of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. — Angela Vasquez-Giroux is joining Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Planned Parenthood Action Fund as vice president for communications. She previously was vice president of communications and research at Reproductive Freedom for All, and is a Planned Parenthood of Michigan and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan alum. — Tyler Henningsen is joining the Michigan GOP as grassroots outreach director. He previously was executive assistant to Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa). — Madeline Twomey has joined Palette Media to lead their marketing division. She most recently headed her own consulting practice, Rufus and Mane, and is a Biden and Obama campaign alum.
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| | | | A message from the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l:   | | | | | ALLIED BUILDING INSPECTORS LOCAL 211 IUOE PAC (PAC) CONSERVATIVE FUTURE FUND (Super PAC) Exiger LLC Political Action Committee (Exiger PAC or E-PAC) (PAC) Exposing Slimy Politicians Enslaving the World (Super PAC) Florida Grown PAC (PAC) Four Day Work Week PAC (Hybrid PAC) Kansas Conservative Fund (Super PAC) Mizuho Americas Good Government Fund (PAC)
| | A message from the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l: A difference of two years can lead to decades of air travel complications. Arbitrarily extending the mandatory pilot retirement age from 65 to 67 to address a fake pilot shortage will upend union collective bargaining agreements, disrupt airline operations, increase ticket prices, create a cascading and costly training backlog for pilots and put the United States out of compliance with international standards. Learn why raising the pilot retirement age to 67 will wreak long-term havoc on air travel. | | | | | New Lobbying REGISTRATIONS | | Actum I, LLC: Prio Pharma, Inc. Alston & Bird LLP: Barrett Business Services, Inc. Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Synopsys, Inc. Capitol Chairman'S Alliance, LLC: International Leadership Of Texas - Global Carpi & Clay, Inc: City Of Morgantown, Wv Cfm Strategic Communications (Conkling Fiskum & Mccormick): City Of Camas Cfm Strategic Communications (Conkling Fiskum & Mccormick): City Of Klamath Falls Cgcn Group, LLC: Action Now Initiative, LLC Cgcn Group, LLC: National Black Empowerment Action Fund Donovan Strategies LLC: Netscout Forward Global: Authentic8, Inc. Forward Global: Worldpay Jacobs Group Inc.: Black Hawk King & Spalding LLP: Amarin Pharma, Inc. Lone Star Consulting, LLC: City Of Wilmer, Texas Mercury Public Affairs, LLC: Illinois State University Mlt Consulting, LLC: Tony Strickland Consulting For Hass Automation, Inc Modern Fortis LLC: Truleo Nwg Advocacy LLC: Aurora Fossil Museum Pace, LLP: Quapaw Nation Tarplin, Downs & Young, LLC: Availity Tarplin, Downs & Young, LLC: National Seating & Mobility
| | New Lobbying Terminations | | | Armory Hill Advocates (Formerly Known As Rawlson Policy Group): Waleed Elyaman, Md Banks & Company, LLC: Minorities For Medical Marijuana Cordone Consulting LLC: Swell Energy Cordone Consulting LLC: Tri-State Generation And Transmission Association, Inc. Eb Consulting: National Beer Wholesalers Association Federal Hall Policy Advisors, LLC: Banco Azteca, Sa Fs Vector: Tassatpay (Fka Pericles Group LLC) Government Relations Group, LLC: Bioteqq, Inc Government Relations Group, LLC: Doroni Aerospace, Inc Greystone Global Strategies LLC: Amsterdam Group Public Relations (For Techmet Limited) Hilliard Smith & Hunt: Birmingham Water Works Board Keller Partners & Company: Kansas Christian College Keller Partners & Company: New Destiny Treatment Center Law Office Of Bridget Butler, Esq.: Northeastern Biochar Solutions, LLC Law Office Of Bridget Butler, Esq.: Saratoga Biochar Solutions, LLC Lumpkin Public Affairs LLC: Comcast Corporation Mr. Robert Zimmer: Bergmann & Moore LLC Ms. Lydia Hofer: Little Traverse Bay Bands Of Odawa Indians Ms. Tanisha Lewis: Children'S Advocacy Institute University Of San Diego Law Center Mz Advising, LLC: Hpe Innovation Corporation (Fka Hpe Clothing) National Employment Lawyers Association: National Employment Lawyers Association (Nela) Saunders Global Diplomacy: Bonus The Potomac Group: American Psychological Association Services Inc (Formerly Apapo) Wsquared Strategies LLC: Qomplx Wsquared Strategies LLC: S&G Interests Wsquared Strategies LLC: Silicon Labs | | | | Follow us | | | | |
