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LOBBYING REPORT |
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (Section 5) - All Filers Are Required to Complete This Page
2. Address
| Address1 | 301 Maple Avenue, West |
Address2 | Suite 100 |
| City | Vienna |
State | VA |
Zip Code | 22180 |
Country | USA |
3. Principal place of business (if different than line 2)
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5. Senate ID# 35627-12
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6. House ID# 327060000
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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. | ||||||||
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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: Karen Kerrigan |
Date | 1/28/2016 10:45:27 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 SMB
16. Specific lobbying issues
Tax Reform and Relief:
Section 179 and Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credit Permanency: Supported making permanent expanded levels of Section 179 expensing and strengthening and making permanent the R&D tax credit as provided and passed by Congress and signed by President Obama in the omnibus package at year end.
Also supported other tax provisions in the legislation related to extending bonus depreciation, the capital gains tax exclusion for small businesses and other measures related to depreciation by small retailers and entities.
Tax Reform: Continued to advocate for broad-based tax reform focused on lowering rates for individuals and corporate taxpayers and simplifying the tax system.
Internet Access Taxes: Continued to support making the ban on Internet access taxes permanent as provided for in the Trade Facilitation and Enforcement Act of 2015 Conference Report (passed by House).
Trade and Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement:
Trade Facilitation and Enforcement Act of 2015 Conference Report: Supported House passage and continued to support Senate passage of the legislation.
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement: Educated members of Congress and policymakers about TPPs content, specifically its small business provisions and responded to general myths about the agreement.
Regulation and Regulatory Reform
Regulatory Reform: Continued to support action for broad-based regulatory reform and activity related to advancing such, including the formation of the Senate Regulations Caucus, support for the National Regulatory Budget Act of 2014, the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS Act) and other pieces of legislation as detailed below
Regulatory Improvement Act of 2015 (H.R. 1407, S. 708): Support this bill to develop a commission to identify outdated and duplicative regulations.
Independent Agency Regulatory Analysis Act (S. 1607): Support this bill to require agencies to publish cost-benefit analysis, private sector impact of rules and more information on regulations they intend to publish.
Office of Advocacy: Supported the nomination and Senate confirmation of the new Chief Counsel for the SBAs Office of Advocacy.
Specific Regulations and Comments
Lifting the Ban on Crude Oil Exports: Supported measure in the omnibus bill, signed by President Obama, to lift the ban on crude oil exports (H.R. 702).
Federal Oversight and Reform and Modernization Act of 2015 (H.R. 3189): Supported House passage of this bill to make the Federal Reserve more accountable and transparent in rulemaking process.
Reforming CFPB Indirect Auto Financing Guidance Act, H.R. 1737: Supported this bill to rescind CFPB guidance related to auto financing.
Supported H.J. Res. 71 and H.J. Res. 72 to stop EPAs costly carbon mandates, which will drive costs higher for small businesses and burden small firms in the energy and manufacturing sector.
Joint Resolution of Disapproval on WOTUS Rule: Support House and Senate action to overturn the controversial Waters of the U.S. Regulation finalized by the EPA. Also supported the Federal Water Quality Protection Act, S.1140.
Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS): Advocated for keeping the standard as is, rather than increasing due to the economic and environmental damage caused by the ethanol mandate. Also support RFS repeal.
EPAs Clean Power Plan: Voiced opposition to the federal regulatory takeover of the electricity grid and its impact on small businesses.
EPAs New Ozone Standard: Voiced concern about the new standard, and continue to educate the public and policymakers about its impact on small businesses, local economies, workers and various sectors.
SEC Small Business Advocate Act of 2015 (H.R. 3784): Support House passage of this bill to provide small businesses with a voice and representation at the SEC on regulatory matters.
Disclosure Modernization and Simplification Act (H.R. 1525): Supported House passage of this bill to make changes to filings at the SEC.
DOLs Proposed Fiduciary Regulation: Continue to educate Congress about the harm the proposed rule would have for small businesses trying to provide retirement accounts for their employees.
DOLs Proposed Overtime Regulations: Continue to educate Congress about the harm the proposed rule would have for the workplace, employees and small businesses.
Joint Employer Standard: Continued to support legislation (H.R. 3459 and S. 2015) that would modify the NLRBs decision on this standard, which disproportionately harms small businesses and franchises.
Catfish Rules: Expressed concern about new, duplicative Dept. of Agriculture rules on catfish inspection to OMB.
Healthcare Reform
Small Business Healthcare Relief Act (H.R. 2911, S.1698): Continue to support House and Senate passage of this bill to fix Health Reimbursement Account contributions that have been made illegal in the Affordable Care Act.
Restoring Americas Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 (H.R. 3762): Supported House and Senate passage of this bill to repeal specific provisions of Obamacare that are harming small businesses including its mandates and penalties, the Cadillac and medical device tax, and wasteful funding provisions.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Small Business Administration (SBA), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), 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 |
Karen |
Kerrigan |
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Raymond |
Keating |
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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 |
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 |