Bottom line

DEFENSE

Defense manufacturing company Sig Sauer Inc. hired Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP to work on defense and homeland security issues specific to the National Defense Authorization Act and defense appropriations. Ryan Thompson, former chief of staff to Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), and former Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) will work on the account.

HEALTH CARE

StemExpress LLC hired Avenue Solutions to work on issues related to diagnostic testing and COVID-19. Tracy Spicer, former deputy chief of staff to the late Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), will work on the account.

Pathfinder International, a global health firm, hired Husch Blackwell Strategies to monitor the state and foreign operations appropriations bills regarding funding for improved health for women and youth. John Ariale, former chief of staff to ex-Rep. Ander Crenshaw (R-Fla.), will work on the account.

TRAVEL

Hill East Group LLC, on behalf of Idemia Identity & Security USA LLC, hired Atlas Crossing to work on issues related to Transportation Security Administration pre-check enrollment for air travel. Sean Joyce, former chief of staff to Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), will work on the account.

Hill East Group LLC, on behalf of the Syracuse Regional Airport Authority, also hired Atlas Crossing to work on transportation and airport development issues. Joyce will work on the account.

VETERANS

Podimetrics Inc., a care management company that produces medical devices to help prevent diabetic foot ulcers, hired Mehlman Castagnetti Rosen & Thomas to work on patient access within the Veterans Health Administration, a branch of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Bruce Mehlman, former general counsel and policy director for the House Republican Conference, and David Castagnetti, former chief of staff to ex-Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), will be among those working on the account.

CIVIL RIGHTS 

The Brennan Center for Justice, a bipartisan law and public policy institute, hired Crossroads Strategies to work on matters related to civil rights, civil liberties, election integrity, election security and government issues, including H.R.1, the For the People Act of 2019. Rontel Batie, former legislative assistant to ex-Rep. Corrine Brown (D-Fla.), will work on the account.