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LOBBYING REPORT |
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (Section 5) - All Filers Are Required to Complete This Page
2. Address
Address1 | P.O. Box 741 |
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City | Amherst |
State | NY |
Zip Code | 14226 |
Country | USA |
3. Principal place of business (if different than line 2)
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5. Senate ID# 309470-12
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6. House ID# 385690000
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TYPE OF REPORT | 8. Year | 2015 |
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: Michael De Dora |
Date | 8/6/2015 5:28:25 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 EDU
16. Specific lobbying issues
The Center for Inquiry has worked throughout April, May, and June to oppose any and all attempts by members of the Senate or House to insert amendments into the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) reauthorization bills in both chambers. In particular, CFI has lobbied all members of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions and the House Education and the Workforce Committee to oppose these proposals, which have been submitted by lawmakers including Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY), Tim Scott (R-SC), and Lamar Alexander (R-TN). We have also met with the offices of Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Richard Burr (R-GA), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Joe Donnelly (D-IN), and Michael Enzi (R-WY).
On April 14, we joined more than 100 advocacy organizations in writing a letter to members of the Senate urging them to support an amendment to the Senate ESEA reauthorization bill that would require comprehensive and effective student conduct policies that prohibit bullying and harassment and include enumerated categories for protection (including religion, race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability).
On May 13, ahead of a hearing by the House Oversight & Government Reform Committee, we joined allies in the National Coalition for Public Education in writing a letter to Committee leadership voicing opposition to the reauthorization of the District of Columbia private school voucher program.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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 |
Michael |
De Dora |
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19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
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
In the aftermath of the gruesome murders of secularist writers Avijit Roy and Washiqur Rahman, and the near-killing of Rafida Bonya Ahmed, by Islamic militants, the Center for Inquiry and Hindu American Foundation sent a letter on April 22 to Secretary of State John Kerry and International Religious Freedom Ambassador David Saperstein urging the State Department to use its influence to ensure the rights to freedom of religion, belief, and expression are protected in Bangladesh. Signatories to the letter, which were organized through the International Religious Freedom Roundtable, include individuals and organizations concerned about human rights, both religious and nonreligious.
On May 26, we joined advocacy groups in writing a letter to the U.S. Department of State, calling on them to press for the release of a group of the most prominent Bahraini leaders arrested for peacefully protesting the Bahrainis government violation of its citizens human rights and religious freedoms.
On June 9, the Center for Inquirys Office of Public Policy, along with the American Humanist Association, Secular Coalition for America, held briefings on Capitol Hill for congressional lawmakers and their staff regarding the state of international religious freedom. CFIs director of public policy, Michael De Dora, was among the speakers at these briefings. The briefing rooms were sponsored by Rep. Juan Vargas and Sen. Tim Kaine.
On June 17, we issued an action alert in support of a resolution, H. Res 290, proposed in the U.S. House of Representatives that calls for the repeal of blasphemy laws around the world. In addition, on June 26 we joined 15 secularist organizations in writing a letter to every member of the House, urging them to either co-sponsor or support this resolution.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
State - Dept of (DOS), U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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 |
Michael |
De Dora |
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19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
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 CIV
16. Specific lobbying issues
Throughout April, we lobbied against two resolutions in the House of Representatives, H.J. Res. 43 and 44, that would strike down two new Washington, D.C. laws. The recently approved Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Amendment Act protects D.C. employees from discrimination in the workplace based on their personal reproductive health care decisions; the Human Rights Amendment Act ensures that LGBT students at religiously affiliated schools and universities in D.C. have equal access to school facilities and services by repealing a discriminatory, explicitly anti-gay exemption in D.C.s Human Rights Act. On April 29, we joined 50 advocacy organizations in writing members of the House to oppose H.J. Res 43 and 44. And on April 30, we also joined 22 religious and secular groups in writing members of the House to oppose the resolutions. During floor debate on H.J. Res. 43, Rep. Bobby Scott introduced this letter into the record. The resolution would pass the House, 228-192.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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 |
Michael |
De Dora |
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19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
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 HCR
16. Specific lobbying issues
On April 20, we delivered oral testimony at the Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) first public review of its policies regarding the regulation of homeopathic products in 25 years, held at the FDAs White Oak Campus in Silver Spring, MD. CFIs testimony was delivered by Michael De Dora, who briefly reviewed the scientific evidence on homeopathy, illustrated the harm caused by homeopathy, and proposed actions the FDA should take to hold homeopathic products to the same standards as non-homeopathic drugs in order to fulfill its mandate to protect the American public. Our testimony is available here:
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/NewsEvents/UCM443495.pdf
On May 13, we joined allied organizations in writing letters to members of the Senate and House of Representatives strongly urging them to reject policy riders in the Fiscal Year 2016 appropriations legislation that would withhold insurance coverage and funding for comprehensive reproductive health care, including abortion.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Food & Drug Administration (FDA)
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 |
Michael |
De Dora |
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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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21. Client new principal place of business (if different than line 20)
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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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Principal Place of Business (city and state or country) |
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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 |