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LOBBYING REPORT |
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (Section 5) - All Filers Are Required to Complete This Page
2. Address
Address1 | 42020 Village Center Plaza |
Address2 | Suite 120-200 |
City | Stone Ridge |
State | VA |
Zip Code | 20105 |
Country | USA |
3. Principal place of business (if different than line 2)
City | Chantilly |
State | VA |
Zip Code | 20152 |
Country | USA |
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5. Senate ID# 91650-12
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6. House ID# 368070000
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TYPE OF REPORT | 8. Year | 2014 |
Q1 (1/1 - 3/31) | Q2 (4/1 - 6/30) | Q3 (7/1 - 9/30) | Q4 (10/1 - 12/31) |
9. Check if this filing amends a previously filed version of this report
10. Check if this is a Termination Report | Termination Date |
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11. No Lobbying Issue Activity |
INCOME OR EXPENSES - YOU MUST complete either Line 12 or Line 13 | |||||||||
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12. Lobbying | 13. Organizations | ||||||||
INCOME relating to lobbying activities for this reporting period was: | EXPENSE relating to lobbying activities for this reporting period were: | ||||||||
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Provide a good faith estimate, rounded to the nearest $10,000, of all lobbying related income for the client (including all payments to the registrant by any other entity for lobbying activities on behalf of the client). | 14. REPORTING Check box to indicate expense accounting method. See instructions for description of options. | ||||||||
Method A.
Reporting amounts using LDA definitions only
Method B. Reporting amounts under section 6033(b)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code Method C. Reporting amounts under section 162(e) of the Internal Revenue Code |
Signature | Digitally Signed By: Greg Mitchell |
Date | 10/20/2014 4:09:42 PM |
LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.
15. General issue area code FOR
16. Specific lobbying issues
On behalf of 48 religious and human rights organizations and leaders of varying faiths, including the client, who signed a multi-faith letter to U.S. government leaders, made contacts to urge members of Congress to cosponsor and support swift passage of H.R. 4653, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Reauthorization Act of 2014. H.R. 4653 will reauthorize USCIRF for five years - through September 30, 2019. The reauthorization legislation is important because USCIRFs voice is needed now more than ever before to expand the appeal and relevance of religious freedom in the U.S. and worldwide. USCIRF should continue to diligently report on violators of religious freedom and work cooperatively with the NGO community and other stakeholders to find new and innovative ways to promote the inherent dignity of every human, as proclaimed in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. And it should continue to expand its coordination with the International Religious Freedom Office at the State Department to engage every sector of society and government in the practical promotion of religious freedom. With stronger religious engagement and IRF policies, the U.S. will have a much greater opportunity to reduce the high levels of religious repression, persecution, violence, and terrorism around the world. And we will all be safer as a result. H.R. 4653 passed the House by voice vote on July 8, 2014.
On behalf of 79 religious and human rights organizations and leaders of varying faiths, including the client, who signed a multi-faith letter to U.S. government leaders, made contacts to urge members of Congress to support swift passage of H.R. 4653, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Reauthorization Act of 2014. This bipartisan bill was referred to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on July 9. Although Senate legislation regarding USCIRFs reauthorization was introduced a few days before the August recess, we believe that H.R. 4653 is better suited to advance freedom of religion or belief by, among other provisions, maintaining USCIRFs independence and non-partisan staff, which we believe will protect the Commissions structure and mandate established by Congress in the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA). Thus, we believe that swift passage of H.R. 4653 is of vital importance as the current state of international religious freedom is one of deepening crisis. The most effective way to ensure the continuity of USCIRFs essential mandate to protect religious freedom worldwide is for the Senate to pass H.R. 4653.
On behalf of 70 religious and human rights organizations and leaders of varying faiths, including the client, who attended a multi-faith meeting with U.S. government leaders, made contacts to start a meaningful dialogue on how government and civil society can work together to make international religious freedom relevant in the U.S. government and the world. We discussed practical ideas on civil society and government collaboration so that we may all increase the impact of our efforts to advance freedom of religion or belief at home and abroad.
On behalf of 22 religious and human rights organizations and leaders of varying faiths, including the client, who signed a multi-faith letter to U.S. government leaders, made contacts to urge U.S. leaders to make it a priority to discuss the very serious violations of freedom of religion or belief in Burma with the Government of Burma. Despite some positive reforms over the past three years, there are many serious challenges facing Burma. As the Catholic Archbishop of Rangoon, Charles Bo, put it in an op-ed in The Washington Post on 13 June, headlined Burma needs tolerance to reach its potential, Burma stands on a knife edge of hope and fear. The most serious concern, alongside the lack of constitutional reform, is the rise of religious intolerance. In the past two years, there have been a number of incidents of serious violence against Muslims, initially targeting the Rohingyas in Rakhine State but more recently affecting Muslims across the country, in Meikhtila, Oakkan, Lashio and most recently Mandalay, among other cities. Each incident has been preceded by the deliberate spread of false rumours and hate speech, and in each incident the security forces have failed to respond effectively to prevent violence or protect vulnerable communities. In some instances, elements of the security forces have been complicit. In addition, the Government of Burma has drafted four bills which include legislation to restrict religious conversions and inter-religious marriages. In Rakhine State, hundreds have been killed, thousands having fled the country, and 140,000 Rohingyas living in dire conditions in temporary camps which have been compared to concentration camps. In Kachin and Chin State, discrimination against Christians continues. We therefore urge U.S. government leaders to impress upon the Government of Burma the need to address these grave concerns, to abandon the proposed legislation, and to work with the international community to promote freedom of religion and inter-religious harmony in Burma and to counter intolerance and hatred. We recommend that U.S. government leaders encourage the Government of Burma to invite the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief to visit the country. We also hope U.S. government leaders will support proposals for a high-level conference on freedom of religion or belief in Burma, with international institutional involvement.
On behalf of 40 religious and human rights organizations and leaders of varying faiths, including the client, who signed a multi-faith letter to U.S. government leaders, made contacts to urge U.S. leaders to raise the plight of human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng, and the overall situation for rule of law, human rights, and religious freedom in China during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meetings in New York and during meetings with President Xi during the APEC Summit in China. Gao Zhisheng is one of many Chinese citizens who utilize peaceful means to defend the rights of citizens guaranteed within Chinas Constitution and international law. Unfortunately, while serving a three-year prison sentence, Gao was kept in solitary confinement and repeatedly tortured, which has resulted in physical and mental health problems. It is also our understanding that since Gaos release from prison in August that he remains under house arrest, thus denying his freedom of movement and ability to freely communicate with family members and lawyers. We asked that leaders urge the Chinese government to provide Gao with unconditional freedom, including allowing him to travel to the United States to visit family members and receive needed medical treatment. Chinese human rights defenders, such as Gao Zhisheng, and other scholars, civil society, community, and faith leaders remain committed to advancing basic human rights and religious freedom in China despite the consequences of persecution, imprisonment, and in some cases death. These future leaders of China desperately need the international community, and specifically the United States, to support their efforts to defend basic human rights and freedoms.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, State - Dept of (DOS), U.S. Commission on International Religous Freedom, White House Office
18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area
First Name | Last Name | Suffix | Covered Official Position (if applicable) | New |
Greg |
Mitchell |
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19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
Information Update Page - Complete ONLY where registration information has changed.
20. Client new address
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22. New General description of client’s business or activities
LOBBYIST UPDATE
23. Name of each previously reported individual who is no longer expected to act as a lobbyist for the client
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ISSUE UPDATE
24. General lobbying issue that no longer pertains
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AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS
25. Add the following affiliated organization(s)
Internet Address:
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26. Name of each previously reported organization that is no longer affiliated with the registrant or client
1 | 2 | 3 |
FOREIGN ENTITIES
27. Add the following foreign entities:
Name | Address |
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Amount of contribution for lobbying activities | Ownership percentage in client | ||||||||||
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28. Name of each previously reported foreign entity that no longer owns, or controls, or is affiliated with the registrant, client or affiliated organization
1 | 3 | 5 |
2 | 4 | 6 |