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LOBBYING REPORT |
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (Section 5) - All Filers Are Required to Complete This Page
2. Address
Address1 | 42020 Village Center Plaza |
Address2 | Suite 120-200 |
City | Stone Ridge |
State | VA |
Zip Code | 20105 |
Country | USA |
3. Principal place of business (if different than line 2)
City | Chantilly |
State | VA |
Zip Code | 20152 |
Country | USA |
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5. Senate ID# 91650-12
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6. House ID# 368070000
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TYPE OF REPORT | 8. Year | 2012 |
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 | |
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: GREG MITCHELL, PRESIDENT |
Date | 01/22/2013 |
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
On behalf of 23 religious and human rights organizations and leaders of varying faiths, including the client, who previously signed a multi-faith letter to members of Congress and the Administration, made contacts to express our deep concerns about the new religion law in Hungary, and to respectfully urge the U.S. government to raise this issue with the Prime Minister of Hungary, and urge him to make revisions to the religion law as recommended by the Venice Commission in Europe.
On behalf of several religious and human rights organizations and leaders of varying faiths, including the client, made contacts to urge U.S. government leaders to make international religious freedom (IRF) a high priority of the U.S. government so IRF is fully integrated into U.S. foreign policy and national security; U.S. foreign policy tools are used to promote and advance religious freedom around the world, per the mandate established by the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act; and global levels of religious intolerance, discrimination, persecution, terrorism and instability are significantly reduced.
On behalf of 26 religious and human rights organizations and leaders of varying faiths, including the client, who signed a multi-faith letter that was sent to the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief in the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) -- urging him to visit Kazakhstan at the earliest possible opportunity, perform a review of the situation, identify existing and emerging obstacles to the enjoyment of the right to freedom of religion or belief, and present recommendations on ways and means to overcome these obstacles -- made contacts to share this letter with U.S. government leaders, and to express our deepening concern about rising restrictions on religion in the Republic of Kazakhstan. In fact, recent press reports make it clear that over 200 Protestant churches and 32 non-traditional organizations will be liquidated. Media reports indicate that Kazakhstan has just finished re-registration of all the religious institutions in the county that slashed their number by one third; out of the 4,551 religious institutions representing 46 faiths as of January 1, 2012, only 3,088 religious institutions representing 17 faiths have been able to complete the obligatory re-registration; out of the earlier registered 666 Protestant churches, 462 churches have met the registration criteria, with the other churches to be liquidated; and only 16 out of 48 non-traditional organizations have been re-registered. The remaining 32 will be liquidated in court based on statements of Kazakhstan Justice Ministry. We urged U.S. government leaders to take actions to raise awareness of this situation, and to press Kazakhstan authorities on this matter, and urge them to amend the Religion Law to bring it into conformity with international human rights standards, Kazakhstan's international commitments, and its own Constitution.
Along with several religious and human rights organizations and leaders of varying faiths, including the client, made contacts to inform U.S. government leaders that two troubling new laws -- the Law on "High Treason" and the Law on "Foreign Agents" -- are the most recent examples of the steadily deteriorating human rights situation in Russia. Most non-profits in Russia that receive some form of foreign funding now run the risk of being branded as foreign agents (a Cold War term which evokes betrayal and treachery in Russia) by the government. And espionage now includes furnishing financial, material, technical, consultative or other help to a foreign state, or international or foreign organization. Almost any conversation between Russian citizens and representatives of foreign organizations on human rights abuses could now be considered as treasonous.
Along with several religious and human rights organizations and leaders of varying faiths, including the client, made contacts to inform U.S. government leaders that a new book has been published that analyzes the latest example of an anti-sect group that enjoys the support of public powers and/or traditional religions in the fight against minority religious groups in Western societies. This book Freedom of Religion or Belief. Anti-Sect Movements and State Neutrality. A Case Study: FECRIS contains a collection of papers and essays on FECRIS (the European Federation of Research and Information Centers on Sectarianism) that were written by European scholars, researchers, human rights attorneys and practitioners. FECRIS unites 25 European organizations to fight against minorities of religion or beliefs that they label as "sects". This study focuses on the FECRIS member associations in five European countries: France, the cradle of laicite; Austria and Germany, where public powers and dominant churches lead a common struggle against "sects"; and Serbia and Russia, two Orthodox countries in which FECRIS member associations include Orthodox missionary departments. Can their activities be reconciled with the public funding granted to FECRIS and its affiliates as well as the international standards to guarantee freedom of religion and belief? This is the question addressed in this study.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U.S. SENATE, State - Dept of (DOS), U.S. Commission on International Religous Freedom
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 |
Greg |
Mitchell |
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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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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:
Name | Address |
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 |