FORMER TRUMP TRADE CHIEF LOBBIES SENATE ON TARIFF LANGUAGE: "Donald Trump's former trade chief Robert Lighthizer has joined forces with the Biden administration to persuade GOP senators to oppose legislation that would roll back Trump-era tariffs on China — and they're having some success," POLITICO's Gavin Bade reports. — "The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has been pushing senators in recent days to oppose language in the China economic competitiveness legislation that would direct the agency to temporarily cut tariffs on more than 2,200 imports from China, allow new companies to apply for exemptions, and offer refunds to those whose tariff exemptions expired." — "The tariff language is expected to be one of the major points of contention in the conference committee negotiations over the bill, which will start May 12 and are expected to stretch all summer." — "Lighthizer has been assisting the lobbying campaign, reaching out to Republican senators to oppose the provisions, according to three officials with knowledge of the conversations. Trump-aligned groups like America First Policy Institute, the former president's policy shop, and populist trade groups like the Coalition for a Prosperous America have also joined the fray. Lighthizer did not respond to requests for comment, and USTR stressed his involvement is independent of the Biden administration's aligned lobbying efforts." — "The outreach appears to be working. Though 91 senators voted for the trade title that was included in the Senate version of the legislation last year, only 53 voted for a motion this week supporting the tariff language itself as part of a motion to instruct conference committee members on what to include in the final bill." WILL PAPER BEAT PHARMA ONCE AGAIN?: "Specialty paper mills and drug companies are squaring off as the debate over whether prescribing information should move from hard copy to online is reignited on Capitol Hill," our Megan Wilson reports. — The seemingly obscure fight, which has raged in the halls of Congress since 2014, "centers on the crinkly paper booklets attached to the side of prescription bottles that health care professionals use to spot drug interactions and potential health risks before they happen." — "Executives from paper mills that make the thin sheets needed for the booklets, represented by the Pharmaceutical Printed Literature Association , will walk the halls of Congress this week for their annual fly-in — the first in-person visit in two years — and plan to meet with roughly two-dozen offices to tout the importance of the industry. For years, they've reminded members of the jobs that could be lost if the prescriber information, or PI, is eliminated — a potent argument especially among members with timber interests or paper mills in their district." — "The pharmaceutical industry, however, believes this is the year it can finally claim victory, as proponents of an electronic system attempt a different approach. The industry is lining up behind the bipartisan bill, from Reps. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.) and John Curtis (R-Utah) that attempts to strike a balance between moving toward electronic labeling and allowing paper to remain an option for doctors and pharmacists who request it — either once, or in perpetuity. The duo had previously partnered with other House lawmakers to support a move to electronic labeling." FLYING IN: The Energy Workforce and Technology Council , which represents companies in the energy technology and services sector, is holding its annual fly-in this week. Executives from the energy services sector will meet with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, as well as members of the Biden administration and executive branch to discuss potential bipartisan energy legislation, the role its members play in energy and national security, supply chain issues, the war in Ukraine, ESG and the energy transition. — They're set to meet with Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) and Reps. Kevin Brady (R-Texas),Lizzie Fletcher (D-Texas), Colin Allred (D-Texas), Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), Yvette Herrell (R-N.M.), Michael Burgess (R-Texas), August Pfluger (R-Texas) and staff for Sens. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Sherrod Brown(D-Ohio) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.). COZEN O'CONNOR SHUFFLES NEW YORK OFFICE LEADERSHIP: Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies, the lobbying arm of law firm Cozen O'Connor, has promoted Rose Christ and Katie Schwab to co-chairs of the New York practice group. They'll succeed Stuart Shorenstein , who opened the New York outpost in 2009 and has served as its chair for nearly a dozen years. Shorenstein will remain with Cozen, which represents New York institutions like the Apollo Theater Foundation, the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York University and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, in a senior role. — Christ recently served as president of the Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City and on the equity transition committee during New York Mayor Eric Adams' transition, while Schwab has served in city government across three mayoral administrations before managing government affairs for the advertising firm Cemusa and doing stints with local business associations.
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