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LOBBYING REPORT |
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (Section 5) - All Filers Are Required to Complete This Page
2. Address
Address1 | 400 NORTH CAPITOL STREET, NW |
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City | WASHINGTON |
State | DC |
Zip Code | 20001 |
Country | USA |
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5. Senate ID# 2445-12
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6. House ID# 310160000
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TYPE OF REPORT | 8. Year | 2016 |
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 L. Murray |
Date | 4/20/2016 8:45:57 AM |
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 AGR
16. Specific lobbying issues
CFTC administrative procedure and judicial review reform; judicial review of CFTC regulations and the applicable APA review.
Dodd-Frank end-users record keeping reform. Commodity end user reform.
These issues arose in: H.R.2289: Commodity End-User Relief Act (CEURA) to reauthorize the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). This legislation would reauthorize the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Language clarifies that commodity end-users, including gas utilities, are not treated as financial entities for the purpose of Dodd-Frank financial recordkeeping rules. More specifically, the legislation clarifies that physical natural gas contracts with delivery optionality are not treated the same as sophisticated derivatives trading or swaps. The bill also includes language that would subject CFTC decision-making to standard administrative procedures and judicial review proceedings.
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 |
George |
Lowe |
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Brian |
Caudill |
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Bree |
Raum |
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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 BUD
16. Specific lobbying issues
Advocated for appropriations for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The program is fully authorized at $5.1 billion, however, for the past several years it has not been funded above $3.4 billion.
Advocated for appropriations for research and development to improve natural gas technologies and natural gas vehicles.
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 |
George |
Lowe |
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Brian |
Caudill |
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Bree |
Raum |
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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 ENG
16. Specific lobbying issues
Promote & protect the interests of natural gas utilities in any legislation considered by the House Energy & Commerce Committee and the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee regarding energy and climate legislation affecting natural gas utilities, including efficiency mandates and NGV Market Development. These issues arose in all of the following:
S. 2012 - Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015
H.R.8 - North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act of 2015
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 |
George |
Lowe |
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Brian |
Caudill |
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Bree |
Raum |
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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 HOM
16. Specific lobbying issues
Support Cybersecurity bills that may impact the operations of natural gas utilities or have a public-private partnership (no top-down regulatory process); public-private information sharing; liability protections for information sharing; federal R&D support; and appropriate criminal penalties for bad actors. These issues arose in:
HR. 1731: National Cybersecurity Protection Advancement Act
HR 1560: Protecting Cyber Networks Act
S. 754: Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act
H.R.1770 - Data Security and Breach Notification Act of 2015
H.R.2205 - Data Security Act of 2015. Legislation to set standards for identifying, reporting, and responding to data breaches, and the resulting exfiltration of sensitive personal and financial data, caused by illegal hacking. .
H.R.4651 / S.2604 Digital Security Commission Act of 2016. Legislation that would create a commission to study and make recommendations on digital security matters, particularly in the area of encrypted communications and related security equipment.
S. 2684 - UAVs for Energy Infrastructure Act. This bill would require the FAA to establish a process by which owners and operators of crucial infrastructure may incorporate the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) into their regulatory compliance, safety, emergency response, and operational activities.
Encryption legislation not yet designated a bill number which will likely include procedures allowing law enforcement access to encrypted communications and equipment.
SAFETY Act related Legislation not yet designated a bill number which may modify existing law that provides liability protection in the aftermath of a successful terrorist attack for companies that employ SAFETY Act approved anti-terrorism technologies, policies and procedures.
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 |
George |
Lowe |
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Brian |
Caudill |
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Bree |
Raum |
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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 TRA
16. Specific lobbying issues
Promote & protect the interests of natural gas utilities regarding pipeline safety legislation and any regulatory regime affecting natural gas utilities. Promote the development of the natural gas vehicle market by supporting various incentives.
Protect the Utility Service Vehicle exemption in SAFETEA-LU
Support incentives for expansion of natural-gas as transportation fuel and fueling stations.
Support incentives for natural gas vehicles.
Advocate for research and development of natural gas vehicle technologies.
Oppose the sale of natural gas by the Kilogram.
Support the FAST Act - Highway Bill Reauthorization.
S2276: SAFE PIPES Act - Securing America's Future Energy: Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act
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 |
George |
Lowe |
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Brian |
Caudill |
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Bree |
Raum |
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Jason |
Rogers |
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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 TAX
16. Specific lobbying issues
Support lower rates on taxation of dividends.
Tax reform proposals.
Tax extenders.
Promote the development of the natural gas vehicle market by supporting various incentives.
Support incentives to produce biogas.
Support incentives for high efficiency natural gas furnaces, boilers and water heaters (25C tax credits).
Support incentives for energy efficiency buildings (179D).
Tax Credits: The carryover of excess corporate charitable contributions. This issue arose in H.R.4016 - to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the limitation on the carryover of excess corporate charitable contributions.
Tax Credits: The investment tax credit for combined heat and power. This issue arose in H.R. 2657 - Power Efficiency and Resiliency Act (POWER Act) - to alter Section 48 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase and alter the investment tax credit for combined heat and power.
Tax Parity: S. 1516 - Power Efficiency and Resiliency Act (POWER Act) This bill would amends Section 48 of the tax code to provide parity for combined heat and power (CHP) with other forms of energy.
Tax Credits: Combined Heat and Power, Fuel Cells and Microturbines Investment Tax Credit Extension Past 2016. At the end of 2015 connected to the omnibus spending and tax legislation, Congress passed a long term extension of both the production tax credit for wind and investment tax (ITC) credit for solar. Other technologies that have (and currently do through the end of 2016) qualified for these credits were not provided with extensions or modifications. Those technologies that did not receive an extension include fuel cells, geothermal, small wind energy, microturbines, and combined heat and power (CHP).
Tax Parity: S. 2378 - Waterway LNG Parity Act of 2015. This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the excise tax rate for the Inland Waterways Trust Fund to equal 29 cents per gallon or the per energy equivalent of a gallon of diesel in the case of liquefied natural gas, as defined by this Act.
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 |
George |
Lowe |
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Brian |
Caudill |
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Bree |
Raum |
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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 ENV
16. Specific lobbying issues
The impact of legislation on existing EPA regulations. These issues arose in all of the following: H.R. 2576 - TSCA Modernization Act of 2015 - legislation related to reforming the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) which addressed PCBs; S. 697 - Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act - legislation related to reforming the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) which addressed PCBs.
Draft legislation related to methane emissions from natural gas operating systems
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 |
George |
Lowe |
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Brian |
Caudill |
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Bree |
Raum |
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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: www.aga.org/membercenter/membershipdirectory-links
Name | 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 |
Principal place of business (city and state or country) |
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 |