The federal Lobbying Disclosure Act requires the University to report, on a semi-annual basis, a good faith estimate of all expenditures on federal “lobbying activities” conducted on behalf of the University. In order to comply with the Act, please estimate the approximate percentage of your University time that you devoted to such activities from through _______ multiply that percentage by your salary for that period, and report the resulting figure on the electronic FDA form. Also report any actual, out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with federal "lobbying activities," such as plane fares to Washington, D.C., or other travel expenses.

For purposes of the Act, “lobbying activities” includes both “lobbying contacts” and “efforts in support of such contacts,” including “preparation and planning activities, research and other background work that is intended, at the time it is performed, for use in contacts, and coordination with the lobbying activities of others.” The statutory definition of "lobbying contacts" essentially means traditional, back-room lobbying of certain high-level federal officials for the purpose of influencing federal law, regulations, policies, grants, contracts and the like, not public testimony, participation in advisory committees, public position statements on policy issues, or other public communications. A detailed explanation of the statutory definition of "lobbying contacts" can be found here.

Note that the definition includes only those contacts that both are with the specific federal officials listed in the statute and pertain to the federal issues specified in the statute. Contacts that (a) are with other federal officials, (b) do not pertain to the specified federal issues, and/or (c) are with state or local officials should not be included in your estimate.

Note also that "lobbying contacts" includes only those contacts that are made on behalf of the University. It does not include lobbying that you may perform on behalf of your personal or scholarly interests or of any professional organizations. It includes only those contacts that you make at the specific request or authorization of the President, the Vice President for Government Relations, the Assistant Vice President for Government Relations, or other appropriate University official or that are otherwise clearly within the normal scope of your administrative duties. Only those activities should be included in your estimate. Individual faculty members are not, as such, authorized to lobby on behalf of the University, and any efforts in that regard are considered personal in nature in the absence of specific, individual, prior authorization.

Thank you in advance for helping us to collect the information for our report.