|
LOBBYING REPORT |
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (Section 5) - All Filers Are Required to Complete This Page
2. Address
| Address1 | 510 S. 31ST ST |
Address2 | PO BOX 8736 |
| City | CAMP HILL |
State | PA |
Zip Code | 17001 |
Country | USA |
3. Principal place of business (if different than line 2)
| City |
|
State |
|
Zip Code |
|
Country |
|
|
5. Senate ID# 52071-12
|
||||||||
|
6. House ID# 348540000
|
||||||||
| TYPE OF REPORT | 8. Year | 2020 |
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 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12. Lobbying | 13. Organizations | ||||||||
| INCOME relating to lobbying activities for this reporting period was: | EXPENSE relating to lobbying activities for this reporting period were: | ||||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
|
||||||||
| 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: Kristina L. Watson |
Date | 10/19/2020 2:45:07 PM |
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
Support for the following: H.R. 832 to allow schools to offer whole milk to students as part of school meal programs; H.R. 3125, the School Milk Nutrition Act of 2019 to ensure expanded milk options for students by reaffirming the recent USDA regulation offering schools the option of serving low-fat flavored milk; S. 1810, the Milk in Lunches for Kids (MILK) Act, to allow to serve whole or two percent milk, and permit milk to be excluded from the fat cap in school lunches; H.R. 1769, the Dairy Pride Act, to require that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) take enforcement action against manufacturers labeling non-dairy products as dairy; H.R. 6956, The Farming Support to States Act, which would provide $1 billion for food and agriculture aid to states; S. 3797, the Small Packer Overtime and Holiday Fee Relief COVID-19 Act, which would alleviate overtime inspection pay for small and medium-sized meat packers; H.R. 7490, the RAMP-UP Act, would establish a program to make facility upgrade and planning grants to existing meat and poultry processors to help them move to Federal Inspection and be able to sell their products across state lines; H.R. 7425, the DIRECT Act, would allow State Inspected meat to be sold across state lines, but only through e-commerce, allowing small producers and processors more options to directly market to consumers; H.R. 6728, which would amend the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act to raise the borrowing limit of the Commodity Credit Corporation; H.R. 7679, which would raise the Commodity Credit Corporations (CCC) borrowing authority to $68 billion and index it to inflation; H.R.7393, Growing Climate Solutions Act, which would direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture to create a certification program that will make it easier for farmers to develop, verify and sell environmental credits. Identified concerns with H.R.5861, Agriculture Resilience Act which addresses climate change; and H.R.2442, Puppy Protection Act of 2019, which would amend the Animal Welfare Act.
Support and/or correspondence related to challenges facing dairy, livestock, and other agricultural operations during COVID-19 outbreak, needed measures related to agriculture during the COVID-19 outbreak including emergency food assistance advocacy (including waiving eligibility requirements to the Emergency Food Assistance Program, reconsideration of the State of Pennsylvania's request for temporary waivers, and flexibility within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, expanding SNAP online purchasing pilot), increased funding for the Commodity Credit Corporation and Secretary of Agriculture to assist with COVID-19 relief measures, supply chain concerns and need to keep supply chain moving, financial assistance for all agricultural producers impacted by pandemic, new programs. including the Coronavirus Food Protection Program (CFAP), designed to help producers impacted by COVID-19 funded through allocations granted to USDA via the CARES Act, including additional needs for segments of agriculture; food/commodity purchases to help consumers and producers; provisions and programs to limit market disruptions; ensuring availability of, and funding for, Personal Protective Equipment for agriculture for critical processing jobs and other jobs that require PPE. General advocacy for agriculture and the impacts encountered as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, and requests for programs, funding and flexibility in existing programs under the auspices of USDA to ensure continuation of a safe food supply, and replenishment and additional funding for the CCC.
Communication in support of Federal Milk Marketing Order reform and the need to implement a modified bloc voting provision within the Federal Order; a Congressional letter to USDA and USTR regarding the importance of protections for common food names in international trade negotiations; a Congressional letter regarding the agriculture quarantine inspection (AQI)shortfall.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U.S. SENATE, Agriculture - Dept of (USDA), 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 |
Kristina |
Watson |
|
|
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
Support for flexibilities within the H-2A and H-2B programs to ensure agricultural's workforce is able to continue working through the COVID-19 Crisis, access to H-2A workers during the COVID-19 crisis and designation of such workers as critical/essential, H-2A and other non-immigrant visa petitions involving an agricultural worker should be considered as essential in terms of visa processing functions, the U.S. Consulates to treating all agricultural worker appointments as emergency visa services, efforts for cost flexibility for H-2A employers, extension of H-2A visa lengths, and other flexibilities that allow H-2A and farm workers to continue to work, and relaxing requirements when possible which may be impacted by health policies related to COVID-19, as well as overall advocacy related to the importance of agricultural workers, and H-2A/H-2B visa program and problems that may have arisen as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Advocacy related to importance of guest worker program for agriculture that works in both the short and long term, and reforms to the existing H-2A program.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U.S. SENATE, 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 |
Kristina |
Watson |
|
|
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 CAW
16. Specific lobbying issues
Administrative requirements and advocacy related to the Waters of the United States regulation (Clean Water Act), both the 2015 rule and the Navigable Waters Protection Rule; general issues related to programs/regulations administered by the Environmental Protection Agency including Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load and Watershed Implementation Plans; research and feedback realated to a bicameral letter to NRCS re the Regional Conservation Partnership Program.
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 |
Kristina |
Watson |
|
|
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 TRD
16. Specific lobbying issues
Support for the following: including agriculture in any potential trade deal involving the European Union, UK, China, Kenya, or a Phase 2 agreement with Japan that includes dairy and rice, as well as other issues important to agriculture; and for general agricultural trade, including support for increasing market opportunities for agriculture and a reduction/elimination of tariffs and other trade barriers; successful ratification of USMCA.
During the COVID-19 Outbreak, advocacy for continued flow of imports and exports of agricultural products and supplies, and continued flow of trade between the U.S., Canada and Mexico, especially key agricultural products, commodities and animals, as well as supplies.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U.S. SENATE, White House Office, Agriculture - Dept of (USDA)
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 |
Kristina |
Watson |
|
|
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 TAR
16. Specific lobbying issues
Support for reducing and/or eliminating tariffs and other barriers to trade, and resolution of the trade dispute with China and other countries that has resulted in increased tariffs on agricultural products.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, White House Office, Agriculture - Dept of (USDA)
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 |
Kristina |
Watson |
|
|
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
Support for the following: H.R. 6723, the Universal Broadband Act, which would modernize the contribution rates of the Federal Communication Commissions Universal Service Fund; comprehensive infrastructure funding that includes proportional funding for rural broadband, including expanding rural broadband through a mix of tax incentives, grants and/or regulation; additional funding for the Reconnect Program; improving broadband availability data and improving the national broadband map with additional information; Advocacy related to the importance of rural broadband for rural communities, especially as illustrated by the demands for broadband during COVID-19 outbreak.
Communication related to a letter related to the precision agriculture impacts of the Ligado Proceedings, and in support of the Recognizing and Ensuring Taxpayer Access to Infrastructure Necessary for GPS and Satellite Communications Act of 2020, which has not yet been introduced.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, White House Office, Agriculture - Dept of (USDA)
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 |
Kristina |
Watson |
|
|
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
During the COVID-19 outbreak, advocacy related temporary and permanent changes to the tax code to help farmers during the crisis, including extension of the Net Operating Losses changes authorized by the Cares Act; and support for: H.R. 6776, the JOBS Credit Act of 2020, would provide expanded credit percentages for qualified wages, increases eligible wages, and allows employers to claim both the ERTC and use the PPP; H.R. 6821, Small Business Expense Protection Act of 2020, which would amend the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act to provide that tax deductions for ordinary business expenses and other tax incidents shall not be affected by the exclusion from gross income of amounts related to loan forgiveness received in response to COVID-19.
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 |
Kristina |
Watson |
|
|
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
Correspondence in support for the Haulers of Agriculture and Livestock Safety (HAULS) Act, which modernizes the agricultural exemption to the hours-of-service rules and provides much needed regulatory relief for farmers.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
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 |
Kristina |
Watson |
|
|
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
General advocacy for telehealth, increased support for farmer mental health resources, opioid resources for rural communities, and additional funding for community health centers. Support for: H.R. 4820/S.2599, the Seeding Rural Resilience Act, would help farmers respond to stress and bring mental health resources to rural communities, and S. 3917, the Home-Based Telemental Health Care Act of 2020, would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) in coordination with USDA to award grants designed to increase mental health services in rural medically underserved populations and for individuals in farming, fishing, and forestry occupations.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 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 |
Kristina |
Watson |
|
|
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 SMB
16. Specific lobbying issues
Support for: S. 3918/H.7175 the Paycheck Protection for Producers Act, which would allow sole proprietors to use Schedule F gross income vs net income for calculation of PPP eligibility; S. 3612, the Small Business Expense Protection Act of 2020, would clarify that payroll, rent, mortgage interest and utilities paid for with forgiven Paycheck Protection Program loan funds will be deductible business expenses; H.R. 7619, the Expanding Assistance to Farmers Act of 2020, which would expand allowable uses and forgivable expenses for amounts provided under the Paycheck Protection Program; S.4321 - Continuing Small Business Recovery and Paycheck Protection Program Act, which would establish funding for, expands, and provides additional economic assistance to small businesses in response to COVID-19, and including 501(c)5 agricultural organizations as an eligible entity to receive Paycheck Protection Program funds; S. 4117/H.R.7777 - Paycheck Protection Small Business Forgiveness Act, which would modify loan forgiveness under the Paycheck Protection Program established to support small businesses in response to COVID-19.
Advocacy related to solutions that would help: qualify H-2A workers as employees under the PPP, and permit any wages paid be eligible for loan forgiveness; allow all business-related rental payments and personal protective equipment (as well as costs to modify worker housing and transportation) to be eligible for loan forgiveness; allow income from farm equipment trades, sales of bred livestock, rental income and commodity wages to count toward loan availability; and allow expenses paid with PPP loan funds to be eligible for a business income tax deduction.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Agriculture - Dept of (USDA), 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 |
Kristina |
Watson |
|
|
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
Support for ag labor and agricultural safety including additional funding to offset costs of providing additional housing for farm workers to comply with new COVID-related requirements; and funding to offset the costs of personal protective equipment; availability of personal protective equipment and sanitizing supplies for agricultural operations; and legal protections for agricultural employers, specifically the inclusion of targeted, limited liability reforms that protect small businesses against abuses of the legal system.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 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 |
Kristina |
Watson |
|
|
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
Advocacy in support of H.R. 7608, the fiscal year 2021 appropriations bill funding for State, Foreign Operations, Agriculture, Rural Development, Interior, Environment, Military Construction, and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act and general agricultural appropriations; and correspondence related to H.R. 7617, the fiscal year 2021 minibus spending, regarding Amendment 89 and language to prevent OSHA enforcement on farms with 10 or fewer employees.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
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 |
Kristina |
Watson |
|
|
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
| Address |
|
||||||
| City |
|
State |
|
Zip Code |
|
Country |
|
21. Client new principal place of business (if different than line 20)
| City |
|
State |
|
Zip Code |
|
Country |
|
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
|
|
||||||||
| 1 |
|
3 |
|
||||||
| 2 |
|
4 |
|
ISSUE UPDATE
24. General lobbying issue that no longer pertains
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS
25. Add the following affiliated organization(s)
Internet Address:
| Name | Address |
Principal Place of Business (city and state or country) |
||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
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 | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
|
% | |||||||||||||
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) |