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LOBBYING REPORT |
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (Section 5) - All Filers Are Required to Complete This Page
2. Address
Address1 | 120-34 Queens Blvd., #320 |
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City | Kew Gardens |
State | NY |
Zip Code | 11415 |
Country | USA |
3. Principal place of business (if different than line 2)
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5. Senate ID# 12994-12
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6. House ID# 334210000
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TYPE OF REPORT | 8. Year | 2021 |
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: Alexandra Bennewith |
Date | 8/25/2021 9:55:44 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 HCR
16. Specific lobbying issues
To maximize the return on the federal research investment with the goal of improving the ability of Americans with disabilities, United Spinal as a member of the the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Coalition (DRRC), along with numerous other disability organizations, signed onto DRRC comments on the draft Strategic Plan for the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
To support federal funding for assistive technology through supporting the Assistive Technology Act and to share with members of Congress how AT plays a role in people with disabilities lives, the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities Telecommunications and Technology Task Force promoted National Assistive Technology Awareness Day to be held April 14, 2021.
United Spinal advocacy and policy staff met with ACL Acting Administrator Alison Barkoff and staff to discuss the Paralysis Resource Center grant and United Spinals support of increased funding for the Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems program, which is funded through ACL.
United Spinal signed a letter to HHS supporting moving forward with a Request for Information regarding disability rights, withdrawing and revising a proposed rule on HIPAA, and revisiting a final rule on the ACAs nondiscrimination provisions.
United Spinal advocacy and policy staff participated in a meeting with Marcella Nunez-Smith, Chair of the COVID-19 Equity Task Force, and officials from HHS and the White House Domestic Policy Council to discuss COVID-19 equity issues for the disability community.
United Spinal advocacy and policy staff met with Rep. Lucy McBath and staff to discuss support for United Spinals application for the Paralysis Resource Center, a funding increase for the Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems program at the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research, and a Congressional resolution marking United Spinals 75th anniversary.
United Spinal advocacy and policy staff met with Rep. Grace Meng and staff to discuss support for United Spinals application for the Paralysis Resource Center, a funding increase for the Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems program at the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research, and a Congressional resolution marking United Spinals 75th anniversary.
United Spinal signed a Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities letter of support for the Mental Health Justice Act (H.R. 1368/S. 515).
Signed on to a Consortium for Citizens with Letter to the House and Senate thanking them for dedicated HCBS funding.
Signed onto letters of support for protections for durable medical equipment, complex rehab technology and rehabilitation.
United Spinal supports:
* Protecting Access to Post-COVID-19 Telehealth Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by Reps. Mike Thompson (D-CA), Peter Welch (VT-AL), David Schweikert (R-AZ), Bill Johnson (R-OH), and Doris Matsui (D-CA
* Expanded Telehealth Access Act (H.R. 2168), a bipartisan bill introduced by Reps. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) and David McKinley (R-WV).
To promote healthcare of wheelchair users, United Spinal submitted comments in support of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Pathways to Prevention Workshop: Physical Activity and Health for Wheelchair Users draft (Draft) report.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services - Dept of (HHS), 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 |
Alexandra |
Bennewith |
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Kent |
Keyser |
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Stephen |
Lieberman |
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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 VET
16. Specific lobbying issues
United Spinal's VetsFirst program discussed issues with VA: CHAMPVA, mental health and suicide prevention, MISSION Act (Caregivers, Community Care, AIR Commission, Toxic Exposure for the American Military Act, disability indemnity compensation, Electronic Health Records Management, Veterans Benefits Administration issues and National Cemetery Administration memorial affairs issues.
United Spinal's VetsFirst program discussed with DOL VETS the following: employment and training, veterans unemployment, The Veteran Employment Through Technology Education Courses (VET TEC) program.
United Spinal/VF supports the Toxic Exposure for the American Military Act. S. 927 and H.R. 2127.
United Spinal/VF discussed United Spinal and VetsFirst priorities regarding the American Rescue Plan.
United Spinal/VF Supports H.R 110.Care for the Veteran Caregiver Act.
United Spinal/VF provided a statement of support Omnibus Veterans Bill PL 116-315 to House and Senate.
CHAMPVA Childrens Protection Act - Young dependents of catastrophically disabled veterans can be covered for health insurance under this program operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs. When the Affordable Care Act passed in 2010, CHAMPVA was not included in the provisions allowing dependents to remain on their parents insurance until age 26. As a result, young people on CHAMPVA are the only population of dependents that lose their coverage at age 22. It is critical that this inequity be corrected by enacting legislation similar to the CHAMPVA Childrens Protection Act (H.R. 1801/S. 727). Letter of support furnished to Rep. Brownley (CA) and Senator Brown (OH), sponsors of the CHAMPVA Children's Protection Act.
United Spinal/VetsFirst supports the S. 444/ Senator Collins (ME) H.R. 1361 Rep. Meuser (PA)- AUTO For Veterans Act - Modernizing the VA Automobile Adaptive Grant program.
United Spinal/VetsFirst seeks the enactment of legislation that authorizes comprehensive expansion of concurrent receipt of uniformed services retired pay and VA disability compensation, by expanding Concurrent Retirement and Disability Payments (CRDP) to beneficiaries with 20 or more years of service with less than 50 percent disability rating and all those medically retired with less 20 years of service (Chapter 61) who are not eligible for concurrent receipt.
United Spinal/VetsFirst supports S. 344/Hr 1282- Major Richard Starr Act.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Veterans Affairs - Dept of (VA), U.S. SENATE, White House Office, Defense - Dept of (DOD)
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 |
Greenberg |
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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 MMM
16. Specific lobbying issues
Multiple meetings with CMS and Congress on protections for Durable Medical Equipment Complex Rehab Technology.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), U.S. SENATE
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 |
Alexandra |
Bennewith |
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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
United Spinal advocacy and policy staff participated in a Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities co-chairs meeting with ACL Acting Administrator Alison Barkoff and officials from ACL, HUD, and DOJ to discuss ways federal agencies can coordinate to enforce the Olmstead decision, and to transfer and divert people with disabilities from nursing homes or congregate settings to community settings.
United Spinal advocacy and policy staff participated in a Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities Rights Task Force co-chairs meeting with Kim Knackstedt, Disability Policy Director for the White House Domestic Policy Council to discuss disability representation in the federal workforce, the Biden Administrations commitments on caregiving, and ending the subminimum wage, disability rights initiatives.
United Spinal signed a Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities letter of support for a resolution (H. Res. 183/S. Res. 86) supporting disability rights and the role of the disability community in the struggle for civil rights, marking the 20th anniversary of the installation of a statue of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in a wheelchair at the FDR Memorial in Washington, DC.
United Spinal signed a Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee in support of the nomination of Vanita Gupta to be Associate Attorney General.
United Spinal signed a National Coalition on Accessible Voting position statement on the For the People Act (S. 1), expressing concerns with a paper ballot mandate and asking for several changes to the bill in order to ensure that people with disabilities have the right to a private and independent vote consistent with their rights under the law.
United Spinal and VetsFirst signed onto Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities priority statements for the Administration and Congress on all issues impacting the disability community including disabled veterans.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
Housing & Urban Development - Dept of (HUD), Justice - Dept of (DOJ), Health & Human Services - Dept of (HHS), 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 |
Alexandra |
Bennewith |
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Stephen |
Lieberman |
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Kent |
Keyser |
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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 INS
16. Specific lobbying issues
United Spinal, as a member of the Consortium of Citizens with Disabilities along with numerous other disability organizations, wrote to Commissioner Andrew Saul requesting he waive all overpayments that arose during the pandemic automatically, without requiring individuals to request waivers in order to relieve an administrative burden on Social Security beneficiaries who may have received an overpayment of benefits.
To assist members of Congress in providing assistance to the Social Security Administration to improve its customer service, United Spinal supported a letter the cochairs of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities Social Security Task Force sent to select congressional committee staff
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
Social Security Administration (SSA), U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U.S. SENATE
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 |
Alexandra |
Bennewith |
United |
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Kent |
Keyser |
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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
To help achieve United Spinals goal of greater accessibility in transportation and to congratulate Secretary Buttigieg on his confirmation, United Spinal sent the Secretary a letter advocating for the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities Transportation Task Force request for a meeting with him and his modal administrators to discuss the shared goals of President Bidens and his agenda, along with our priorities and urged he adopt Senator Tammy Duckworths recommendation that his senior leadership team include a staff person to focus on accessibility and universal design. The staff person would ideally engage with all modal administrators and have significant experience working with the disability community.
United Spinal advocacy and policy staff participated in a virtual call with Amtrak, where they discussed their settlement with the Department of Justice over violations of the ADA.
United Spinal advocacy and policy staff participated in a quarterly disability community meeting with Amtrak.
United Spinal advocacy and policy staff met with Josh Sanders, Legislative Assistant for Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) to discuss introducing a Senate companion bill to the Disability Access to Transportation Act (H.R. 1697).
United Spinal supports H.R 1697 - the Disability Access to Transportation Act.
United Spinal supports the Air Carrier Access Amendments Act. S. 642/H.R.1696.
United Spinal supports the Disability Employment Incentive Act. S. 630.
To promote transportation accessibility, United Spinal supported the comments of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) Transportation Task Force Co-Chairs to the US Department of Transportation (DOT) on its draft Strategic Plan on Accessible Transportation (Strategic Plan):
United Spinal signed onto comments submitted by the Paralyzed Veterans of America.
United Spinal also submitted comments.
To promote transportation opportunities for people with disabilities, United Spinal signed onto a congratulatory welcome letter from the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) Transportation Task Force to the US Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
United Spinal supported a similar letter submitted by the Co Chairs of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) telecommunications and Technology Task Force.
To promote greater transportation opportunities for people with disabilities, United Spinal provided comments in response to the U.S. Department of Transportations Request for Information for the Inclusive Design Reference Hub.
To help balance vehicle safety and accessibility for people with disabilities United Spinal supported comments submitted by the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities Transportation Task Force CoChairs to the Nation Highway Traffic Safety Administrations (NHTSA) Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (SNPRM) Docket Number: NHTSA-2016-0031. United Spinal submitted its own comments as well.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
Transportation - Dept of (DOT), AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation, 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 |
Alexandra |
Bennewith |
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Kent |
Keyser |
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Stephen |
Lieberman |
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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 LBR
16. Specific lobbying issues
United Spinal advocacy and policy staff participated in a Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities co-chairs meeting with EEOC Chair Charlotte Burrows, Vice Chair Jocelyn Samuels, and staff to discuss employment-related issues, including potential guidance on employer mandates for COVID vaccination, policies for recruiting and hiring people with disabilities for federal jobs, and hiring discrimination.
United Spinal signed a Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities letter of support for the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (H.R. 1065).
United Spinal signed a letter to House and Senate Democratic leaders and committee chairs asking that any proposal to increase the minimum wage include commensurate Medicaid funding for rate increases to cover the increased labor costs.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U.S. SENATE
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 |
Alexandra |
Bennewith |
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Stephen |
Lieberman |
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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 TEC
16. Specific lobbying issues
To promote a sustained federal investment to ensure deployment and maintenance of a high capacity, secure and reliable 5G broadband national network that is accessible, affordable, adoptable for all Americans that is fundamental to our daily independence, United Spinal supported the Co Chairs of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities Telecommunications and Technology Task Force letter to the Federal Communications Commission comments on the Emergency Broadband Connectivity Fund Assistance Program: http://www.c-c-d.org/fichiers/CCD-Tech-TF-Letter-on-Emergency-Broadband-Connectivity-Fund.pdf
To promote technology, including assistive technology and accessible information and communication technology, that plays an increasingly important role in peoples lives in business, communication, education, employment and interaction with all levels of government as well as facilitating activities of daily living for people with disabilities, United Spinal supported the Co Chairs of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities Telecommunications and Technology Task Force welcome letter to members of the 117th Congress.
To make telehealth services for Medicare beneficiaries permanent, United Spinal supports comments made by the Personal Connected Health Alliance and the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, Inc. to the Senate Telehealth Working Group and Congressional Telehealth Caucus on January 8, 2021 about the the CONNECT for Health Act as important revisions and updates to this legislation for the 117th Congress are considered. The comments read in part, Many of the barriers and restrictions to Medicare telehealth that had been in place for decades disappeared almost overnight, allowing millions of Americans to have critical access to a new range of virtual services.
To promote permanent universal broadband deployment with Congress and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), United Spinal Association responded with a letter to the FCCs request for comments on the new temporary Emergency Broadband Benefit Program.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. SENATE, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 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 |
Alexandra |
Bennewith |
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Kent |
Keyser |
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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
United Spinal signed a Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities letter of support for the ABLE Age Adjustment Act (H.R. 1219/S. 331).
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 |
Alexandra |
Bennewith |
Vice P |
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Stephen |
Lieberman |
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Kent |
Keyser |
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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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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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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 |
CONVICTIONS DISCLOSURE
29. Have any of the lobbyists listed on this report been convicted in a Federal or State Court of an offense involving bribery,
extortion, embezzlement, an illegal kickback, tax evasion, fraud, a conflict of interest, making a false statement, perjury, or money laundering?
Lobbyist Name | Description of Offense(s) |