Bottom Line: American Airlines lobbies up ahead of credit card swipe fee hearing

credit card

american airlines hired williams and jensen Lobbying on a variety of issues affecting the airline industry, including taxes, fees, and credit card interchange fees.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) has called on executives from American Airlines, United Airlines, Visa and Mastercard to testify in April. He said companies are “actively pushing back on legislation that would require credit card issuers to offer more payment network options” to “protect the billions of dollars in windfall profits that companies have amassed through co-branded credit cards.” He claimed to be against it. Opponents of the bill say it enriches retailers rather than lower prices for consumers and threatens credit card rewards programs.

Karina Lynch, a former adviser to the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, will investigate the account. One of the committee members, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Missouri), co-host On Durbin’s bill last week.

Transportation facilities

Former Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), who moved from Congress to K Street last January after more than 20 years in the Capitol, has registered as a lobbyist.he launched DeFazio and Associates Consulting Immediately after leaving office, he partnered with lobbying firm Summit Strategies for a mandatory year.Cooling off period”

Former House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman DeFazio signs up to lobby Portland transit operators trimet, American Trucking Association, Flight Attendants Association – CWA, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and anti-Tesla groups dawn project.

Maintenance

Ducks UnlimitedAdopted by a non-profit organization specializing in wetland conservation Brownstein Hyatt Faber Schreck Lobbying on issues related to water conservation, habitat creation, and the use of federal programs to achieve these goals. Former Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Arkansas) will be in charge of the account.

oil and gas

of American Petroleum Institute hired greenberg traurig Lobbying on issues affecting oil and gas production. The lobbyist for this account is Robert Jones, a former adviser to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

health

Amazon hired Tarplin, Downs & Young Lobbying on a variety of health issues, including health savings accounts, Medicare Advantage, high-deductible health plans, Medicare Part D, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) direct contracting program. Jennifer Young, a former HHS assistant attorney general, will work on the account.

Agriculture

whole foods market hired defense of monuments Lobbying on issues related to food, sustainability, and the Farm Bill. One of the account’s lobbyists is Lilia McFarland Hoder, who worked for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for nearly 12 years.