Clerk of the House of Representatives
Legislative Resource Center
135 Cannon Building
Washington, DC 20515
http://lobbyingdisclosure.house.gov 		Secretary of the Senate
Office of Public Records
232 Hart Building
Washington, DC 20510
http://www.senate.gov/lobby
LOBBYING REPORT

Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (Section 5) - All Filers Are Required to Complete This Page

1. Registrant Name Organization/Lobbying Firm Self Employed Individual
Human Rights First

2. Address

Address1
75 Broad Street
 Address2
​31st Floor
City
NEW YORK
 State
NY
 Zip Code
10004
 Country
USA

3. Principal place of business (if different than line 2)

City
​Washington
 State
​DC
 Zip Code
​20005
 Country
​USA
4a. Contact Name b. Telephone Number c. E-mail
​Ms.
​CYNTHIA M. BURNS
​2128455237
​burnsc@humanrightsfirst.org
5. Senate ID#
​293494-12
7. Client Name Self Check if client is a state or local government or instrumentality
​Human Rights First
6. House ID#
​373890000
TYPE OF REPORT 8. Year
​2019
 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:
Less than $5,000
Less than $5,000
$5,000 or more $
​
$5,000 or more $
​90,000.00
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: CYNTHIA M. BURNS
 Date
7/24/2019 10:44:03 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 IMM

16. Specific lobbying issues

S.1243: A bill to provide standards for facilities at which aliens in the custody of the Department of Homeland Security are detained, and for other purposes (Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act of 2019)

H.R.2415: To provide standards for facilities at which aliens in the custody of the Department of Homeland Security are detained, and for other purposes (Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act of 2019)

H.R.541: To limit the separation of families at or near ports of entry (Keep Families Together Act)

H.R.2796: To amend the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009 to make 4,000 visas available for the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa program, and for other purposes (Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2019)

S.1474: A bill to amend the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009 to make 4,000 visas available for the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa program, and for other purposes (Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2019)

S. 3567: To prohibit the use of funds for the operation or construction of internment camps, and for other purposes.

H.R.2839: Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2020
Support for Afghan Special Immigrant Visa Program
Support for continuation of funding for refugee resettlement

S.1819: Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Permanent General Provisions Act of 2019
Support for Afghan Special Immigrant Visa Program
Support for continuation of funding for refugee resettlement

H.R.3055: Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2020
Support for funding for additional immigration judge teams

Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2020 (Not yet introduced)
Oppose increase in immigration detention beds and family detention
Supported resumption of the Family Case Management Program and funding for the Asylum Office

Opposed the nomination of Ronald S. Mortensen for Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration

Oversight of Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection violations of U.S. law and treaty obligations regarding access to asylum protections at our ports of entry, family separation, criminal prosecutions, and detention

Oversight of Department of Justice management of the Executive Office of Immigration Review and immigration courts, AG Sessions certifications of asylum cases restricting asylum eligibility

83 FR 55934: Aliens Subject to a Bar on Entry Under Certain Presidential Proclamations; Procedures for Protection Claims, U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice interim final rule
Oppose blocking asylum eligibility for those individuals who contravene a suspension or limitation on entry to the U.S. through the southern border with Mexico

17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None

U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security - Dept of (DHS), White House Office, Defense - Dept of (DOD), State - Dept of (DOS), Justice - Dept of (DOJ)

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
Jennifer
Quigley
​
​
Raha
Wala
​
​

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

Transparency and accountability for the administration's use of force policies, including compliance with reporting requirements in National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (P.L. 115-91)

Adopt an ISIS AUMF that is time-bound, clearly defines the enemy and mission, provides for transparency and oversight, requires compliance with international law, sunsets the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force, and repeals the 2002 Iraq Authorization for Use of Military Force

17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None

U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 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
Raha
Wala
​
​

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

Transparency and accountability for the administration's use of force policies, including compliance with reporting requirements in National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (P.L. 115-91)

Adopt an ISIS AUMF that is time-bound, clearly defines the enemy and mission, provides for transparency and oversight, requires compliance with international law, sunsets the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force, and repeals the 2002 Iraq Authorization for Use of Military Force

17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None

U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Executive Office of the President (EOP)

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
Raha
Wala
​
​

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 FOR

16. Specific lobbying issues

Implement the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act

Establish accountability mechanisms for human rights violators in Saudi Arabia

Prioritize funding for programs to protect human rights and combat corruption in Central and Eastern Europe

Advance human rights protections in Hungary

Advance human rights protections in Poland

Increase participation in the congressional Bipartisan Taskforce for Combating Anti-Semitism

Advance protections for LGBT individuals in Russia

Expand the Russia and Moldova Jackson-Vanik Repeal and Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012 (Magnitsky Act) to include attacks on journalists and whistleblowers

Release of State Department annual report required under the Magnitsky Act

Foreign Agent Registration Act reforms

H.R.2839: Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2020
Incorporate human rights considerations
Establish support for human rights groups in Central and Eastern Europe
Increase support for case assessment under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act

S.1819: Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Permanent General Provisions Act of 2019
Incorporate human rights considerations
Establish support for human rights groups in Central and Eastern Europe
Increase support for case assessment under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act

Highlight issues of rule of law, human rights protection, and accountability mechanisms in the confirmation hearing for Robert Destro to serve as Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor

17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None

State - Dept of (DOS), 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
Melissa
Hooper
​
​
Raha
Wala
​
​

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

First Name
Last Name
Suffix
First Name
Last Name
Suffix
1
​
​
​
3
​
​
​
2
​
​
​
4
​
​
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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)
Street Address
City State/Province Zip Country
City
State 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
Street Address
City State/Province Country
City
State Country
%

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)