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Federal State and Local Legislative Activities
What We Do
KalikLewin maintains close working relationships with Members of Congress and their staffs working most closely with the Senate Finance Committee and the House Committee on Ways and Means. The firm has a long track record of success in drafting legislation, blocking legislation, forming and directing coalitions of like-minded industries and gaining support from elected officials in promoting or opposing administrative initiatives. We also work with State and local governments on behalf of clients when important to supporting the client’s needs.
How We Help Clients
KalikLewin takes a multi-disciplinary approach to legislative and regulatory advocacy, leveraging political capital, legal expertise and strong relationships across the Executive and Legislative branches to manage political risks and craft legislative solutions for clients. KalikLewin principals bring their expertise in the management of trade associations and non-profit organizations to provide a unique perspective on the role of the association in monitoring legislative developments. Together with prior experience as legislative and campaign staffers, this allows KalikLewin to be uniquely effective in developing, drafting and lobbying on legislation of interest to client associations.
Representative Achievements
- Successfully coordinated Senate and House opposition to Notice of Proposed Rulemaking of Customs and Border Patrol and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau’s seeking to prohibit drawback of federal excise taxes. (75 Fed. Reg. 9359). March 2, 2010. The proposals were withdrawn.
- Developed strategy for amending 19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(2), unused merchandise drawback provision of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008, (Pub. L. 110-246; 122 Stat. 2309) (June 18, 2008), as well as Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2004, (Pub. L. 108-429; 118 Stat. 2579) (December 3, 2004).
- Successfully represented client before the New Castle County government and legislative council to gain approval for $15 million in Federal Recovery Zone Bonds (2009).
- Successfully lobbied the Maryland State legislature to kill a proposal to stop the sale of flavored cigars (2007).
- Coordinated effort as part of the Tax Relief and Healthcare Act of 2006, (Pub. L. 109-432; 120 Stat. 2972) to amend designation of wines to conform with the U.S./EU Wine Agreement (December 20, 2006).
- Set the strategy and directed the effort to require Certification of Natural Wine Imported into the United States, Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2004, (Pub. L. 108-429; 118 Stat. 2579) (December 3, 2004).
- Developed and implemented strategy resulting in the amendment of 26 U.S.C. 5388(c), designation of wines, as part of the Tax Payer Relief Act of 1997 (Pub. L. 105-34; 111 Stat. 877), protecting the use of semi-generic wine designation terms in the United States (August 5, 1997).
- Gained exemption for medical equipment from ban on sales of Toshiba products through the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988, (Pub. L. 100-418; 102 Stat. 1107) (August 23, 1988).
- Gained agreement to lift maximum usury interest rate imposed on the District of Columbia by Congress through the Depository Institutions Deregulation and Monetary Control Act of 1980, (Pub. L. 96-221; 94 Stat. 132) (March 31, 1980).