FLYING IN: The Catholic Health Association and the March of Dimes are partnering up for a set of advocacy days on Capitol Hill, Megan R. Wilson reports. The two advocacy organizations are having meetings with policymakers and staff today and tomorrow to push for measures that would support maternal health and aim to reduce premature births and infant mortality. They're also asking Congress to provide increased funding for food assistance programs in the upcoming funding bills.
— The Colorectal Cancer Alliance has kicked off a fly-in as well to lobby for dedicated funding for colorectal cancer research within the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs. Michael Sapienza, the group’s chief executive, will meet with the offices of nearly 20 congressional appropriators, including Reps. Hal Rogers (R-Ky.), Ken Calvert (R-Calif.) and Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), and Sens. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). — The American Society of Association Executives, which represents trade association professionals, has flown in 100 of them to lobby on workforce development bills. Association leaders are set to meet with Senate Banking Chair Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and members of the Senate Finance Committee and House Ways and Means Committee, including Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Reps. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.) and Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.). ANOTHER TIKTOK THREAT: A bipartisan group of House lawmakers introduced a new bill today that would ban TikTok from U.S. app stores unless the popular video platform is sold, our Rebecca Kern writes, with a committee markup set for Thursday. — “Reps. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) — the chair and ranking member of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party — are leading the bill along with 17 cosponsors, including members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee like Reps. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) and Bob Latta (R-Ohio).” — The new proposal “comes just weeks after President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign joined the app — spurring criticism from conservative lawmakers who raise data security concerns with TikTok’s Beijing-based owner ByteDance. TikTok has poured millions of dollars into lobbying efforts to build support on Capitol Hill after CEO Shou Chew faced a bruising hearing last March before the House Energy and Commerce Committee.” — “Tuesday’s bill would breathe new life into stalled efforts in Congress to ban the app. The legislation gives the president authority — after notifying Congress — to require divestment of an app if it is determined to be controlled by a foreign adversary, or face a ban on U.S.-based app stores or web hosting sites. The bill claims ByteDance fits this criteria. The legislation only applies to apps controlled by China, Russia, Iran and North Korea, according to a Select Committee aide.” SUPER TUESDAY ROUND UP: ”A group of the Republican Party’s most prominent megadonors are pouring millions of dollars into a handful of primaries in deep-red congressional districts — part of a bid to influence the makeup of the House GOP conference after a difficult and conflict-ridden year,” NBC News’ Bridget Bowman and CNBC’s Brian Schwartz report. — “With the political world’s attention focused on the presidential election, two super PACs financed by a small group of donors quietly spent over $6 million against five Republicans running for House seats in Super Tuesday primaries, according to Federal Election Commission records.” — “The super PACs, Conservatives for American Excellence and America Leads Action, have targeted candidates who are either endorsed by the political arm of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus or would align with the caucus, which has been a thorn in GOP leadership’s side since it launched in 2015.” The big money effort seems aimed at ensuring the caucus’ “ability to tank legislation or threaten speakers doesn’t grow in the next Congress.” — Those financing the super PACs include Citadel’s Ken Griffin, Stephens Inc.’s Warren Stephens, SnapAV’s Jay Faison and Walmart heir Rob Walton. — Meanwhile, our Jasper Goodman dives into how today’s wave of primaries will be “the first big test of the cryptocurrency industry’s effort to rebuild its Washington influence operation” following the implosion of FTX and short-lived political kingmaker Sam Bankman-Fried. — “A network of super PACs backed by major crypto firms and executives has spent more than $13 million to sway races in California, Texas, Alabama and North Carolina. It’s the largest spend yet from the groups’ $80-plus million war chest.” — “The super PACs — Fairshake, Protect Progress and Defend American Jobs — are aiming to boost crypto allies and take down potential critics. A good showing by the industry’s preferred candidates could signal traction in its fight to build out a roster of lawmakers who are open to crypto-friendly policies.” — The groups’ No. 1 target today is California, where the industry has funded more than $10 million in attacks on Democratic Rep. Katie Porter and her Senate bid, while the super PACs have supported Democratic House candidates in Alabama (Shomari Figures) and Texas (Julie Johnson).
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