Becker & Poliakoff

Federal Lobbying

The Becker Federal Government Relations team includes Washington, D.C. and state capitol insiders, Capitol Hill veterans, former high-level administration officials and agency experts, and former in-house corporate lobbyists. The team is highly regarded by Members of Congress, congressional and committee staff, state legislators, third party trade and industry organizations, and executive personnel, as effective advocates for their client partners’ interests. At its core, the team is diverse and bipartisan, which enables team members to work successfully on both sides of the aisle. Because of the team’s collective years of experience working on Capitol Hill and inside Washington and state political circles, they are skilled in identifying strategic opportunities for their client partners, particularly with the Appropriations, Commerce, Financial Services, Judiciary, Small Business, Transportation, Veterans Affairs, and Ways and Means Committees.

DGR Pledge SignerAdditionally, the team has very strong working relationships with Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Multicultural Media Caucus, Congressional Hispanic Conference, New Democrats, and Blue Dogs. The firm also has access to state leaders and legislators in key state capitols such as Tallahassee, Sacramento, Albany, Austin, and Richmond.

Services Provided

  • Assist and advise client partner in developing strategy
  • Participate in, represent, and help prepare client partner for meetings and hearings before Congress and at Executive Agencies
  • Monitor and review legislation and other actions proposed for the aforementioned governmental bodies for potential impact on client partner’s interests
  • Advise and assist client partner in passing or defeating legislation or other proposed action by governmental bodies
  • Arrange meetings with Members of Congress and their staff as well as with key federal agency officials to advocate for client partner’s goals and objectives
  • Secure partnerships with Washington based third party organizations and corporate partners to advance client partner’s priorities
  • Assist client partner with branding opportunities in Congress and state capitols associated with strategic fly-ins, caucus meetings, presentations by client partner executives with strategic Members and staff, and materials that showcase the client partner’s work in the community, among other initiatives.
  • Prepare the political and legislative landscape for potential future heavy engagement through a strategic soft approach we call “brand lobbying”
  • Assist client partner’s government relations team with strategic PAC management activities and help with coordinating the development and execution of PAC fundraising initiatives

Notable Client Accomplishments

$500 Million Included in Omnibus Bill for Coast Guard’s Offshore Patrol Cutter Program
On behalf of Eastern Shipbuilding Group, $500 million was included in the FY18 Omnibus bill of the Homeland Security Appropriations for the Coast Guard’s Offshore Patrol Cutter program, an increase of $400 million over FY17 funding.

$130 Million in Appropriations for Small Business Development Centers
For Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), secured $130 million in appropriations, an increase of $30 million over the President’s proposed budget.

$83.7 Million for Virginia Port Authority; One of Only Four Construction New Starts in the President’s FY2022 Budget
Secured one of only four Construction New Start’s in the President’s FY2022, the first time the Virginia Port Authority has secured New Start funding for the critically important deepening and widening of the Norfolk Harbor and Channels. Significantly, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers set aside full funding for the project at $83.7 million which will enable the Port to maintain its overall construction schedule.

$25 Million in National Defense Authorization Act for Leading Government Contractor
Secured a $25 million authorization in the National Defense Authorization Act for client STS International Inc.

$20 Million Port Infrastructure Grant Awarded to Virginia Port Authority
Secured $20 million from US Department of Transportation (USDOT) for Virginia Port Authority, the largest Port infrastructure grant in the country in 2020. After years of trying, VPA achieved success with the Becker team’s three-dimensional strategy: politics, policy, and impact. Becker also used regional economic data and support from a regional coalition of Members to make a winning case for the port.

$13 Million U.S. Department of Transportation TIGER Grant for Collier County, FL
Secured a $13 million US Department of Transportation (USDOT) TIGER Grant for transportation infrastructure for Collier County. The highly competitive grant was won on a re-application following a high level debrief with USDOT and outreach from the entire delegation including then House Transportation Appropriations Committee Chairman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL). The Becker team worked closely with USDOT’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to achieve this major win for Collier County.

$12 Million in Capital Funding for Florida Historically Black Colleges and Universities
For Florida Memorial University, Bethune-Cookman University, and Edward Waters College, secured $12 million in capital funding after negotiations with program officials within the U.S. Department of Education and Congressional committee staff.

$10 Million to Protect Communities Using ShotSpotter Gunshot Location System Coverage
Guided and advised public safety innovator ShotSpotter and its local government clients in securing over $10 million in federal funding to protect their communities through Gunshot Location System coverage.

$9+ Million for Collier County, FL to Purchase New Buses and Rehabilitate Operations
Secured $9+ million in 2020 for Collier County to purchase new buses and to rehabilitate its existing operations and maintenance building. We helped the County design a project that was well-aligned with both the grant requirements and our knowledge of FTA’s priorities and interests. We also engaged their Congressional delegation to weigh in with support, arming them with draft letters of support and talking points for outreach to USDOT leadership.  Notably, we leveraged the support of House Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Mario Diaz-Balart.

$5.1 Million Air Force Grant for FIU’s Reconfigurable Antenna Research Program
Secured $5.1 million for client, Florida International University to create a Center of Excellence in joint partnership with the Department of Defense, NASA, and NOAA for research in origami antennae.

$4.6 Million to Rehabilitate Aging Force Main Pipeline in North Bay Village, FL
For 42 years, wastewater from North Bay Village pumped through the same pipe traveling more than two miles to Miami Beach to be processed. This force main pipeline rested on the Biscayne Bay floor and was exposed to hazards such as impacts from boats. Damage to the pipe was accelerated by corrosion and age. This pipeline had caused six spill accidents and was causing continued environmental damage and health risks to North Bay Village and all the surrounding communities. Becker began working with North Bay Village to see if federal funding would be available for this project. Working closely with then-Senator Bill Nelson and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s office, we resubmitted the appropriations request. After several years of work, North Bay Village received notification that it had been awarded $4,655,012 to completely rehabilitate the existing 12,000 feet of 12-inch force main that crosses the Biscayne Bay.

Serving Clients from Coast to Coast

Public

  • Broward Sherriff’s Office
  • City of Cape Coral, FL
  • City of Coral Gables, FL
  • City of Gastonia, NC
  • City of Hialeah, FL
  • City of Miami Gardens, FL
  • City of North Miami, FL
  • City of South Miami, FL
  • City of Virginia Beach, VA
  • City of West Park, FL
  • Collier County, FL
  • Hennepin County, MN
  • Palm Beach County, FL
  • Sarasota County, FL
  • Town of Davie, FL
  • Village of Pinecrest, FL
  • Virginia Port Authority
  • Volusia County, FL

Private

  • Advanced Green Technologies
  • America’s Small Business Development Centers
  • Bay Harbor Islands
  • BEAM Global
  • Bethune-Cookman University
  • Brooke USA
  • Chiles Group
  • CHRAD
  • Converged
  • Eastern Shipbuilding Group
  • Florida Crystals Corporation
  • Fox Corporation
  • Florida Memorial University
  • Florida Rural Economic Development Association
  • Genasys Inc.
  • Hispanic National Bar Association
  • Hitachi, Ltd.
  • Jogan Thermal
  • The Latino Coalition
  • MB&A Outcomes
  • National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP)
  • NextCity
  • NTT Data
  • OST Global
  • Ozone Professionals
  • Pigeonly
  • SoundThinking
  • Signal Restoration
  • Tantalus
  • Transurban
  • University of Miami
  • Virginia Union University