Legislation
Government Affairs - Legislation
Our Practice
During the past several years, the Firm has been at the forefront of legislative and regulatory activity in acquisition reform, aviation, counter-terrorism initiatives, environmental issues, natural gas and electricity deregulation, product liability reform, and timber and other natural resources issues. Examples of the range of legislative and public policy services provided by C&M lawyers follow:
- We represent major US airlines in proceedings on Capitol Hill and at the Department of Transportation with respect proposed legislation and regulations on a variety of competition related issues, including alleged unfair methods of competition, airline alliances, and airline mergers and acquisitions.
- The leading US manufacturer of hand-held motorized tools retained us to represent it in a rulemaking by EPA with respect to the air pollution impact of small hand-held engines. Working this issue through EPA, the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in the Office of Management and Budget, key Congressional committees and the Federal courts, we have been able to challenge the agency findings by demonstrating (through the use of outside experts) the inadequacy of the testing and performance results used by EPA to justify the very low emission standard in the rulemaking.
- The American hostage held for seven and one-half years by the Iranian-backed Hezbollah retained us to obtain legislation to permit victims of terrorism and their families to collect judgments obtained in US courts against Iran. Working with sponsors in the House and Senate, a bipartisan coalition of supporters, and a network of similarly situated hostage families, we crafted legislation to address both the technical and political issues raised by the Administration. Negotiating with lawyers at Treasury, Justice and the National Security Council, the C&M lawyers helped to establish appropriate payment procedures to permit the families to collect on their judgments. The bill passed in the last days of the 106th Congress and was signed by President Clinton.
- We represent two of the largest electric utility distribution customers of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) on legislation to reform the TVA power supply and transmission system, which is the largest in the US This representation includes all facets and issues present in the electric industry restructuring debates.
- The primary business coalition interested in product liability reform retained us to lead their efforts. Working at the Federal and state levels, white papers, statutory language, amendments and testimony have been prepared for use by representatives of the coalition and members of key legislative committees.
- We represent national trade associations and other clients on matters related to forest products, livestock, agriculture and mining, focusing on environmental, public lands, endangered species, employee safety and health issues faced by these industries.
- We represent a State before Congress and the FCC on issues related to "universal service," the federally administered programs that provide support for telephone services in rural and high-cost areas and for telecommunications and Internet access services to schools, libraries, and rural health care providers.
- Among our legislative, regulatory, and other lobbying activities in Europe, we have represented US and foreign companies before the European Commission on competition-related issues arising in merger reviews, including some of the largest proposed transactions in the telecommunications and information industries. We have also represented a major US airline both before the European Commission and the European Parliament on a variety of issues, such as airline alliances and noise regulations.