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LOBBYING REPORT |
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (Section 5) - All Filers Are Required to Complete This Page
2. Address
| Address1 | 4227 FIFTH AVENUE |
Address2 | 710 ALUMNI HALL |
| City | PITTSBURGH |
State | PA |
Zip Code | 15260 |
Country | USA |
3. Principal place of business (if different than line 2)
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5. Senate ID# 53356-12
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6. House ID# 349820000
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| TYPE OF REPORT | 8. Year | 2013 |
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. | ||||||||
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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 |
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| Signature | Digitally Signed By: John Michael Ringler |
Date | 5/26/2015 11:14:52 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 BUD
16. Specific lobbying issues
In support of H.J. Res 59, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 which raised the sequestration caps for fiscal years 2014 and 2015.
In support of replacing the Budget Control Act of 2011 (P.L. #112-25) which disproportionately harms domestic discretionary programs including academic research and federal student aid with a balanced agreement to prevent budget sequestration, reduce deficit, and create jobs and economic growth.
In support of sustained strategic federal investments in research and student financial aid to close the innovation deficit and bolster our nation's long term economic and national security.
Defense Appropriations Act Title IV - In support of increased funding for Defense Science and Technology, and Basic Applied Research in all services; funding for Department of Defense Injury Prevention and Performance Organization Research Initiative in all services. Title VI - in support of funding for Defense Health Related research in all services including TBI and PTSD research.
Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Act:
Department of Education Appropriations - In support of increased funding for student financial aid, subsidized student loans, and federal work study; higher education aid for disadvantaged students including Pell Grants; education research; graduate education. In support of the Department of Education's international education and foreign language studies programs, HEA-Title VI and Fulbright-Hays.
Department of Health and Human Services - Title II increased funding for National Institutes of Health (NIH)extramural research programs. In support of Title VII and Title VIII funding.
Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Act - advocated for increased funding for National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST), and NASA related research.
Energy and Water Appropriations Act - Advocated for increased funding for the Office of Science, Fossil Energy Research, Nuclear Energy Research and the ARPA-E program. Continued support for the National Energy Technology Laboratories (NETL).
Military Construction
Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act - increased funding for the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) under Title II including funding for VHA Medical and Prosthetic Research including transplantation, TBI, and PTSD related research.
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 |
Kenneth |
Lynch |
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Associate Director for Federal Relations |
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 SCI
16. Specific lobbying issues
NSF - In support of increased funding for NSF research. In opposition to restriction on fields of research eligible to be funded by NSF grants. In support of robust funding for Social/Behavioral/Economics related research within NSF and other federal research funding agencies. In opposition to legislation that would fundamentally alter the peer-review system in place at NSF and other federal research agencies.
In support of passing an America COMPETES Act reauthorization bill that calls for real and sustained growth in funding for the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Department of Energy Office of Science, and the Advance Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E).
In support of STEM education programs at the K-12 and post-secondary level.
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 |
Kenneth |
Lynch |
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Associate Director for Federal Relations |
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 CPT
16. Specific lobbying issues
In opposition to passage of H.R. 3309, the Innovation Act because of provisions related to fee shifting.
Advocated in favor of changes to S. 1720, the Patent Transparency and Improvements Act, that would reduce abusive patent litigation practices without undermining the ability of legitimate patent holders to enforce their patent rights.
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 |
Kenneth |
Lynch |
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Associate Director for Federal Relations |
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
National Institutes of Health - Oppose additional caps and restrictions on Facilities & Administrative (F&A) costs associated with NIH sponsored extramural research.
In support of the NIH peer review system and continued support of NIH extramural research funding. In support of Title VII and VIII funding in HHS appropriations.
In support of replacement of automatic spending reductions known as sequestration because of the harm it would do to the biomedical research at the university funded by NIH. Demonstrated how declining federal support for medical research will prevent future breakthroughs and discourage potential researchers from entering the field. Argued that decline in NIH support would disproportionately impact the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
In support of H.R. 3336, Inspiring Scientific Research and Innovation Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2014.
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 |
Kenneth |
Lynch |
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Associate Director for Federal Relations |
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 DEF
16. Specific lobbying issues
In support of collaboration between Department of Defense and the Veterans Administration on research related to the diagnosis and treatment of TBI, PTSD, transplantation, tissue/organ regeneration, prosthetics, and other medical issues facing active and retired members of the armed forces.
In support of increased funding for health and related R&D in all branches of the military.
In support of university based military medicine related research.
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 |
Kenneth |
Lynch |
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Associate Director for Federal Relations |
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 EDU
16. Specific lobbying issues
Department of Education Appropriations -- increased funding for federal student aid; education research; graduate education; and higher education programs for disadvantaged students including Pell Grants and Federal Work Study.
Federal Student Loan Program - In favor of proposals that would maintain low interest rates and keep college affordable for low-income students. In favor of HR 1911, which provide long term stability in the Federal student loan system.
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 |
Kenenth |
Lynch |
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Associate Director for Federal Relations |
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
Fossil Energy Appropriations - In support of increased funding for the Department of Energy Fossil Energy (FE) budget and support for Oil and Natural Gas Technologies R&D.
Support for nuclear energy, energy delivery and reliability and critical materials research.
Funding for Fossil Energy Program supports the National Energy Technologies Laboratory (NETL) program. Specific activities include Carbon Capture, Carbon Storage, Advance Energy Systems, and Crosscutting Research.
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 |
Kenneth |
Lynch |
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Associate Director for Federal Relations |
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 IMM
16. Specific lobbying issues
In favor of proposals that would increase the availability of Green cards and visas for advanced degree and STEM field graduates of American universities.
Opposed proposals that would impose burdensome fees and regulations on universities, foreign students, and faculty seeking to attend American universities.
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 |
Kenenth |
Lynch |
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Associate Director for Federal Relations |
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
In support of reforms to several federal regulations affecting universities, specifically: Conflict of Interest (COI) regulations, and Institutional Review Board (IRB) regulation.
In support of reforms that would lower costs of compliance, increase faculty productivity, and results in more efficient use of federal resources.
In support of maintaining educational tax benefits including: Hope Tax Credit, the tuition and Fees Deduction, and the Lifetime Learning Credit, and American Opportunity Tax Credit.
In support of H.R. 3437, the College Affordability 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 |
Kenneth |
Lynch |
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Associate Director for Federal Relations |
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:
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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 |