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Presented by Freight Rail Works: Delivered daily, Influence gives you a comprehensive rundown and analysis of all lobby hires and news on K Street. | | | | |  | | By Caitlin Oprysko | | | With Daniel Lippman NEW BUSINESS: The Crypto Council for Innovation has added another outside firm to its lobbyists on retainer. The fintech and crypto trading advocacy group, whose members include Block (formerly Square), Coinbase, Andreessen Horowitz, Paradigm and Gemini, hired the Sternhell Group’s Alex Sternhell, Mike Ahern and Joseph Cortina back in May to lobby on financial services issues, according to a newly filed disclosure. The council is one of the industry’s newer lobbying groups, and hired its only other outside firm, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, last summer. — Sternhell Group, on the other hand, represents a number of other crypto and fintech startups (as well as more established financial firms) like Robinhood, Hudson River Trading, CCI member Gemini, Dapper Labs, Chime and Coin Center, a digital asset-focused think tank. Sternhell and Ahern also lobbied for Facebook back when the platform was working on its own digital currency offering, and recent disclosures show they still lobby for parent company Meta on digital currency and blockchain issues. — Semiconductor giant Intel has also picked up a new team of lobbyists amid the haggling over lawmakers’ China competitiveness package (which is set to move on the Senate floor as soon as this week as a dramatically smaller bill focused on subsidies for chipmakers). Intel retained Sarah Shive, Jonathan Talisman and Randy Herndon of Capitol Tax Partners last month to lobby on issues related to international tax policy and research and development incentives. — A quarterly disclosure filed this morning sheds a little more light on the effort, which focuses on legislation that would bring back full, immediate write-offs for research and development expenses — an issue of importance to those outside the chip industry as well. That benefit ended at the beginning of this year thanks to a provision in the 2017 GOP tax law that expired. — Intel isn’t the only chipmaker to disclose recent additions to its lobbying team. Samsung Semiconductor brought on Cornerstone Government Affairs in May for outreach to the Hill and Biden administration and to lobby on “federal semiconductor policy, investments, and incentives,” according to a disclosure filed late last week. Good afternoon and welcome to PI. What’s going on out there? My inbox is wide open for your hot tips, gossip and more: coprysko@politico.com . And be sure to follow me on Twitter: @caitlinoprysko .
| | A message from Freight Rail Works: America’s freight railroads connect nearly every industry in the U.S., keeping the nation’s economy globally competitive by providing strong links throughout the supply chain. Learn how advanced technology, refined operations and ongoing infrastructure investments deliver efficient, environmentally responsible and affordable transportation solutions. | | | PHARMA HONCHOS FLY IN: “As the pharmaceutical industry faces down a possible defeat on its number-one, most-feared policy priority in recent years, a slew of top drug company executives will descend on the District this week,” Stat News’ Nicholas Florko and Rachel Cohrs report. — “PhRMA board executives are gathering in Washington for their regularly scheduled annual meeting, four industry sources told STAT. It’s awfully convenient timing for them to gather, as Democrats are just a few months from the deadline to enact their domestic agenda — and drug pricing’s clearly a central part of it . Companies may take their own initiative to pay a visit to Capitol Hill during their time in the swamp.” — “BIO will also be in town. Members of the group’s executive board are flying into Washington for their annual retreat and will be trekking up to Capitol Hill to meet with lawmakers, lobbyists for BIO member companies confirmed to STAT.” ALSO FLYING IN: The National Automatic Merchandising Association, which represents convenience services like vending machine and office coffee and pantry suppliers, kicked off its fly-in today to push for the reinstatement of the final quarter of the employee retention tax credit that was scrapped as part of the bipartisan infrastructure bill. The group will also meet with members to discuss food and nutrition insecurity, the phasing out of hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants and the rise of catalytic converter thefts. — The American Chambers of Asia Pacific, which promotes trade and investment between the Asia Pacific region and the U.S., on Monday hosted the first regional business delegation in D.C. since before the pandemic. Members met with Biden administration officials and lawmakers including the White House’s Kurt Campbell, USTR’s Sarah Bianchi, Sens. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), and Steve Daines (R-Mont.), and Reps. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), Young Kim (R-Calif.), Adrian Smith (R-Neb.), Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), Lloyd Smucker (R-Pa.), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.), and Ami Bera (D-CA). RESERVOIR ADDS 5: Courtney Tyne has joined Reservoir Communications Group as a managing director. She was previously at Real Chemistry, where she focused on cost-of-care issues and health care access communications. The firm has also added Kelley Falisi as a managing associate and Emily Turek, Keishi Foecke and Sana Imam as associates. CARBON CAPTURE PLAYERS FORM TRADE GROUP: “There are now so many fledgling companies working on ways to make money managing carbon dioxide — by sucking it up, utilizing it, or storing it — that the industry is now undergoing a rite of passage : It is forming a trade association,” per Grist’s Emily Pontecorvo. — “On Tuesday, 42 startups announced the launch of the Carbon Business Council, a nonprofit that aims to ‘create a seat at the policy table for early-stage companies focused on restoring the climate,’ according to the group’s press release.” — “The council’s first set of actions include releasing an ‘ethical oath’ that companies can sign to signal their commitment to scaling up the industry responsibly, and urging policymakers to support the full diversity of methods of removing carbon from the atmosphere, most of which are still in relatively early stages of development.” — “‘We feel like it’s too soon for the government to pick winners and losers about what pathway to removal is going to be most promising,’ said Ben Rubin, the executive director and co-founder of the group.” — The bipartisan infrastructure bill signed last year “contained $3.5 billion for demonstration projects of one particular pathway known as direct air capture, which usually refers to machines that suck carbon dioxide from the air. Some members of the Carbon Business Council are working on that approach, while others are working on methods that involve enhancing the natural uptake of carbon by plants, soils, minerals, or the ocean.” — “The group also includes startups that are creating marketplaces where carbon removal companies can sell their services to polluters in the form of carbon offsets, and others that are developing products made out of the captured CO2 itself.” GOP DONORS CHARGED WITH FRAUD: “The Justice Department charged on Monday two former top Republican donors with operating a fraudulent $27 million investment scheme involving illegal political contributions to help foreign nationals gain access to former President Donald Trump and other U.S. politicians,” the Wall Street Journal’s James Fanelli and Corinne Ramey report. — “Business partners Sherry Xue Li and Lianbo Wang are accused of conspiring to make hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations in their own names with money from foreign nationals, including many from China. The defendants concealed the source of the contributions to U.S. candidates and political committees, according to a criminal complaint federal prosecutors filed in Brooklyn.” — “Some of Ms. Li and Mr. Wang’s contributions went to a joint fundraising account for the Republican National Committee and Mr. Trump, in order for the defendants to bring foreign nationals as guests to a 2017 event where they posed for pictures with Mr. Trump, according to the complaint,” which does not accuse either Trump or other politicians of wrongdoing. — “In 2017, the pair collectively donated more than $400,000 to the RNC and $600,000 to a joint fund between Mr. Trump’s campaign and the RNC, Federal Election Commission filings show.”
| | | | INTRODUCING POWER SWITCH: The energy landscape is profoundly transforming. Power Switch is a daily newsletter that unlocks the most important stories driving the energy sector and the political forces shaping critical decisions about your energy future, from production to storage, distribution to consumption. Don’t miss out on Power Switch, your guide to the politics of energy transformation in America and around the world. SUBSCRIBE TODAY . | | | | | | | | — Stacy O'Mara is now the senior director of government affairs at Mandiant and Melanie Lombardi is now the vice president of communications there. — Mike Liptak is joining the Consumer Brands Association as vice president of federal affairs. He most recently was a vice president of government relations at the Travel Technology Association and is a National Sand, Stone & Gravel Association and Mitch McConnell alum. — Leigh Claffey is now lead for digital advocacy on the government affairs team at Shopify. She was most recently senior director for communications and public affairs at Growth Energy. — John Hebert is now a policy adviser for transportation at Third Way. He was most recently director of policy and communications for the Railway Supply Institute. — Paul Pflieger is now director of marketing and communications at the Compressed Gas Association. He was most recently director of communications for the ESOP Association. — Brooke Ybarra has been promoted to senior vice president of innovation and strategy at the American Bankers Association and will lead the group’s Office of Innovation. She was previously vice president of innovation strategy at the trade group and is a Marriott International alum. — Caroline Smith has been promoted to be director of economic development and government affairs for the County of San Diego, while Matthew Parr has been named deputy director of government affairs for the county. — Audrey McCalley has joined the American Cleaning Institute as senior manager for public health. Previously she served as a clinical researcher coordinator at the Kansas University Medical Center and co-founded Missouri Clinicians for Climate Action. — The Future of Privacy Forum named Josh Lee Kok Thong managing director for the Asia-Pacific region. He was previously at the Personal Data Protection Commission Singapore. — Eden Alem is joining Senate Majority PAC as press secretary. She most recently was press manager at Sunrise Movement. — Andrew Newhart is now a senior director of government relations at the U.S. Travel Association. He most recently was director of policy and legislation at the American Bus Association. — Eric Field is now a shareholder with Littler’s employee benefits practice. He previously was counsel for Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld. — Erica Jedynak is now COO for yes. every kid. She most recently was director of economic opportunity at Stand Together. — Zach Sentementes is joining PhRMA to be a director of federal advocacy focused on trade policy, starting in mid-August. He was most recently vice president at Advanced Advocacy. — Michael Romano has been promoted to executive vice president at NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association. He was previously NTCA’s longtime lead for policy, industry and government affairs.
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| | | | A message from Freight Rail Works:   | | | | | New Lobbying Registrations | | Adagio Therapeutics, Inc.: Adagio Therapeutics, Inc.
Adams And Reese, LLP: Louisiana Community & Technical College System
Arentfox Schiff LLP: Therme Group US, LLC
Ben Barnes Group Lp: Yuri Star
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Tysons Institute
Capitaledge Advocacy Inc. (Formerly Capitaledge Advocacy, LLC): City Of Scottsdale, Arizona
Capitol Counsel LLC: Coalition For Health Advances And Research In Massachusetts
Capitol Counsel LLC: Municipality Of San Juan, Puerto Rico
Capitol Tax Partners, LLP: Intel Corporation
Ervin Graves Strategy Group, LLC: C4 Recovery Foundation
Ervin Graves Strategy Group, LLC: Tpb Services LLC
Guidepoststrategies, LLC: Southern Company
Hogan Lovells US LLP: Panasonic Corporation Of North America
Hollis Public Affairs: Jamestown Ots, L.P.
Kiko Strategies Inc.: Markup LLC
Kit Bond Strategies: Arnold Defense
Mcallister & Quinn, LLC: Ascend Elements
Mcallister & Quinn, LLC: Intelsat General
Mcallister & Quinn, LLC: National Volunteer Fire Council
Michael Best Strategies LLC: Republican River Water Conservation District
Milne, Wiener & Shofe Global Strategies (Fka M&W Government Affairs, LLC): Biomeme, Inc.
National Group, LLP: Alliance For Longevity Initiatives
Newera Carbon: Net-Negative Co2, Inc.
Nvg, LLC: Casa
Prime Policy Group: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
Resolution Public Affairs, LLC: Td Bank, Na
Rising Tide Associates: Blackhawk Aerospace
Rosewood Strategies LLC: Humanity Forward
Sternhell Group: Crypto Council For Innovation
The Cavalry Group, LLC: Rural Lifestyle Alliance, LLC
The Consilio Group: Surmet
The Edw Group: Town Of Benoit
The Mitchell Firm, Inc.: In Our Hands Action Fund
Tiber Creek Group: Breakthrough Energy Action
Tonio Burgos & Associates, Inc.: Cimolai-Hy LLC
| | New Lobbying Terminations | | Air Conditioning Contractors Of America: Air Conditioning Contractors Of America
Atlantic Strategies Group: Smith Dawson And Andrews
Baker & Hostetler LLP: Cardinal Health, Inc.
Baker & Hostetler LLP: Urogen Pharma Ltd.
Blitzstein Consulting LLC: International Brotherhood Of Teamsters
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Arceo Labs, Inc. D/B/A Resilience
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Baxter Healthcare Corporation
Carmen Group Incorporated: 10 South Street Master Tenant LLC
Cavarocchi Ruscio Dennis Associates, L.L.C.: Bamboo Health
Cavarocchi Ruscio Dennis Associates, L.L.C.: Cure Epilepsy
Cogent Strategies LLC: Coast Professional, Inc.
Cornerstone Government Affairs, Inc.: American Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.
Cornerstone Government Affairs, Inc.: Dive Technologies Inc.
Cornerstone Government Affairs, Inc.: Health Care Alliance For Patient Safety
Cornerstone Government Affairs, Inc.: Houston Independent School District
Covington & Burling LLP: Kbr Inc.
David Turch & Assoc.: Htl Advantage
Dc Legislative And Regulatory Services, Inc.: Op Coalition
Dc Legislative And Regulatory Services, Inc.: Upl Na Inc.
Dla Piper LLP (US): The Northeast Maglev, LLC
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP: Energy Fuels Resources Inc.
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP: George E. Warren Corporation
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP: Marathon Oil Company
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP: Stericycle
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP: Telehealth Encounters Count Coalition
Gotham Government Relations: Texas Medical Center Supply
Jenkins Hill Consulting, LLC: Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Americas, Inc
John T. Doolittle, LLC: Phyllis Faber
John T. Doolittle, LLC: Resilient Agriculture Group
John T. Doolittle, LLC: San Francisco Dog Owners' Group
Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP: Controp USa Inc.
Kevin Kayes: Fwd.US
Law Offices Of Kevin G. Curtin: Convergence Services, Inc. On Behalf Of Public Media Venture Group
Munk Policy & Law: Dumont Aviation Group, Inc.
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough: Northern Hospital District Of Surry County D/B/A Northern Regional Hospital
Oldaker & Willison, LLP: Lankford & Reed, Pllc
Patriot Angels Consulting Corporation: Patriot Angels Consulting Corporation
Polaris Government Relations, LLC: Healthe By Lighting Science
Polaris Government Relations, LLC: Port Authority Of New York And New Jersey
Squire Patton Boggs: Alvogen, Inc.
Squire Patton Boggs: Calvary Hospital
Squire Patton Boggs: The Proof Of Trust
Squire Patton Boggs: Ukpeagvik Inupiat Corporation
Squire Patton Boggs: Urban Ecology Center (Uec)
The Campbell Consulting Group: Charleston County Government
The Livingston Group, LLC: Sikhs For Justice
The Picard Group, LLC: City Of Monroe
The Picard Group, LLC: Rowc Energy Services, LLC
Tremont Strategies Group LLC (F/K/A Ads Ventures): Boston Health Care For The Homeless Program
Van Scoyoc Associates: City Of Irvine, Ca
Vitello Consulting: Wilson N. Jones Regional Medical Center
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