Bottom Line: Asphalt trade group adds House alum amid lobbying shakeup

Infrastructure

The ​National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA) hired GrayRobinson to lobby on issues related to infrastructure and the asphalt industry, including implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and highway and federal aviation reauthorization bills. Chris McCannell, a former chief of staff and press secretary to several members of Congress, will work on the account.

GrayRobinson is the second firm NAPA has hired in the past six months — Cassidy and Associates registered to lobby on behalf of the trade association last fall — as it brings on new lobbying firepower for the first time in a decade. NAPA parted ways with two firms in the back half of 2023: Whitmer & Worrall filed a termination report during the third quarter, and Van Scoyoc Associates filed one during the fourth quarter after working with the group since 2013 and 2000, respectively.

“We’re excited about the recent hires of Paul Sass at Cassidy & Associates and Chris McCannell of GrayRobinson to help us evolve and elevate NAPA’s advocacy team. Highway funding is always our industry’s top priority, but many more issues and opportunities impact asphalt mix producers and contractors,” Nile Elam, NAPA’s vice president of government affairs, told The Hill.

“We must be nimble to serve them in Washington, so they can build and maintain our nation’s critical roadway infrastructure. Paul and Chris possess relationships and resources that enable NAPA to be involved in relevant conversations with new policy champions in Congress as well as the latest policy agenda items with our federal agencies.”

Agriculture

The ​Texas Vegetable Association hired Breakthrough365 Government Relations Strategies to lobby on issues related to the farm bill, federal appropriations and immigration in agriculture. Robert Guenther, a former aide to the House Agriculture Committee who previously spearheaded government relations for the United Fresh Produce Association and the International Fresh Produce Association, will work on the account.

Health

Amgen hired HillNorth to lobby on issues related to the pharmaceutical industry. The lobbyist on the account is Doug Schwartz, a White House, Department of Energy and Capitol Hill alum who was previously chief of staff to the Senate Republican Conference under Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.).

Tax

The ​American Endowment Foundation hired Tiger Hill Partners to lobby on tax issues related to charitable contributions and donor-advised funds. One of the lobbyists on the account is Milan Dalal, a Capitol Hill veteran whose resume includes stints as staff director of the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance and Investments, and economic adviser to Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.).

​Cornell University hired Capitol Tax Partners to lobby on taxation issues related to tax-exempt universities and their endowments. Richard Grafmeyer, former deputy chief of staff for the Joint Committee on Taxation and former deputy staff director for the Senate Finance Committee, will work on the account.