Government Relations

Overview

Arent Fox has one of the nation’s leading public policy practice groups, bringing first-hand knowledge, judgment and experience to clients’ government relations needs. We have a bipartisan team of lawyers and policy professionals with experience in Republican and Democratic politics and government service. The group includes two former US senators, a former member of the board of directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, as well as attorneys and professionals with extensive and recent experience in senior positions on Capitol Hill, in the executive branch and in the political arena.

We work with colleagues in other Arent Fox practice groups such as intellectual property, life sciences, antitrust and tax to support government relations strategies. We build and maintain effective coalitions, grassroots efforts and constituent support initiatives, including Web-based advocacy networks. We also coordinate and incorporate public relations efforts, fundraising and media campaigns.

Federal Advocacy

Arent Fox concentrates on the issues, rules and advocacy strategies that are important to clients that have matters under consideration by the administration, Congress, federal regulators, state and local legislators and national policymakers. We help large and small companies in nearly every sector – manufacturing, service, trade, technology and financial – achieve their business objectives by advocating on their behalf with the right people. We resolve legislative and regulatory problems for numerous trade associations, universities, governmental organizations and other nonprofits, and we assist clients in identifying opportunities for federal funding.

Arent Fox supports clients at the federal level by:

• Shaping legislation, regulations and government policy through direct lobbying and coordination with members of Congress, administration officials and key staff members
• Monitoring, analyzing and reporting on legislative and regulatory developments
• Drafting legislation, position papers, agency comments and testimony
• Preparing witnesses for hearings, testifying on behalf of clients before Congress and representing clients in Congressional and executive branch investigations

Results of our recent federal advocacy efforts include:

• For a small importer in the Midwestern United States, secured a provision in the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (which incorporated the text of a miscellaneous tariff bill) that resulted in the reliquidation of $500,000 in previously assessed duties
• An increase in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico’s share of funds for health and education benefits under the federal No Child Left Behind Act
• Passage of HR 6143, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act of 2006, which provides over $2 billion in HIV/AIDS treatment and support services funding annually, on behalf of Communities Advocating Emergency AIDS Relief (CAEAR) Coalition, the largest HIV/AIDS coalition of metropolitan areas and community health clinics in the nation
• For a regional passenger rail project, developed a congressional advocacy strategy that resulted in $6 million in appropriations for engineering and design work and legislation authorizing the final construction phase
• More than $1 million for Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania, to establish the Center for Assistive Technology, which will train K-12 teachers in new learning technologies for disabled and English-as-a-second-language students
• Millions of dollars for a rural telemedicine program that ensures high-quality care for at-risk pregnant women in the South
• More than $4 million in Defense Department medical technology research grants for AdMeTech Foundation, a nonprofit in Boston devoted to facilitating the development of early prostate cancer detection systems using advanced digital imaging technologies
• Modifications to the market transparency provisions for natural gas and electricity in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to minimize the cost of the regulations on existing businesses and markets
• A seven-year deferral of a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) decision to impose substantial and accelerated licensing restrictions, saving our client, an international coalition of mining companies, millions of dollars

State and Local Advocacy

Arent Fox has worked on state and local issues for many years, but we are most active in Washington, where the firm was founded. We maintain an active local government affairs practice and diverse relationships throughout the District of Columbia government, including the mayor’s office, numerous executive agencies, the attorney general’s office, the City Council and with Eleanor Holmes Norton, the District’s representative in Congress.

Arent Fox was selected to represent the city before the White House and Congress, and we have worked closely with District of Columbia departments that are likely to play a role in proposed economic development projects. We also have steered many historic projects through the complex processes that require approvals from the mayor, city council and independent agencies.

Results of recent state and local advocacy efforts include:

• Passage of HR 3699, the historic “Federal and District of Columbia Government Real Property Act of 2005,” which transfers large parcels of land, including Poplar Point on the Anacostia River and Reservation 13 adjacent to RFK Stadium, from the federal government to the District government for development
• Passage of the $1.8 billion Southeast Federal Center development next to the Washington Navy Yard, the largest single economic development project in the District of Columbia
• $25 million grant to expand the Shakespeare Theater
• $20 million in appropriations in a two-year period for Arena Stage’s $100 million redevelopment in Southwest Washington
• $100,000 in emergency public funding to leverage private funds and prevent the Washington Free Clinic from closing its doors after 30 years of serving the health care needs of District residents
• A $1,000,000 annual tax abatement for a large nonprofit trade association in exchange for bringing even greater convention and tourist revenue to Washington, DC

Elections and Political Activity Law

Arent Fox counsels a diverse group of corporate, governmental, quasigovernmental, political and association clients on federal and state election law and tax and communications laws. Political and nonprofit law professionals advise candidates, officeholders, PACs, nonprofits and corporations on election, ethics and lobbying laws.

Arent Fox has significant experience in corporate governance, FCC and Internal Revenue Service regulations, coalition-building and government contracts. We also counsel clients on the Lobbying Disclosure Act, Foreign Agents Registration Act and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.