$0.5-M lobby contract with US firm is 'renewable'
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The veterans’ issue is the only one mentioned at length and in specific terms under the contract with Covington & Burling LLP, the new U.S. lobbyist of the Philippine government.
Originally, it was not included in the Philippine embassy’s Dec. 11, 2007 announcement of the intent to hire the lobby group.
In the signed agreement, Stuart E. Eizenstat, partner and chair of the international practice of Covington & Burling LLP, said the veterans’ issue “will be among our priorities, and we expect to be very active in seeking legislation to rectify the rescission of veterans’ benefits for Filipinos who fought alongside the United States in World War II."
“Although the Philippines was then a Commonwealth, the Filipino soldiers have been singled out for unfair and unjustified treatment and the deficiency should be rectified," he added.
In Eizenstat’s two-and-a-half page, single-spaced acceptance letter dated January 29, he stated he and his top-tier team “will focus on issues of importance to the Philippines, including foreign assistance, bilateral trade, military cooperation, and veterans’ benefits."
He stressed his team aims to “build on the Philippines’ historically strong relationship with the United States, deepen the Philippines’ relations with Congressional leaders, build on the strong bilateral trade and investment, increase the existing military, defense, and anti-terrorism cooperation, and support the continuation of U.S. financial assistance for the Philippines."
Below Eizenstat’s signature and under the words “Agreed to: the Republic of the Philippines," Ambassador Willy C. Gaa signed the contract with the date indicated as Jan. 30, the day he left for the Philippines with the contract. The agreement was released Feb. 8 last by Minister Carlos D. Sorreta.
Eizenstat and his team will be paid a total of $450,000 in legal fees and an expense allowance of $50,000 during a six-month period, or about $83,333 a month, beginning in January 2008.
Renewable contract
He noted the contract is “renewable for an additional six-month period, under the same terms, at the discretion of the Philippines Government" but “cannot exceed your term as appointing head of the procuring authority."
Tim Pugh of the Department of Justice told Philippine News the contract “came in late" on Feb. 5 last week. The registration is in compliance with the federal law, the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) of 1938.
Veterans bills
The veterans’ issue was added following the huge outcry from the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) and the American Coalition for Filipino Veterans (ACFV), both based in this nation’s capital. Leaders from both groups strongly urged Gaa and people close to Malacanang, the official residence of the Philippine president, to include the issue.
Currently, the active legislation in the 110th U.S. Congress seeks to grant pension to non-service-connected Filipino World War II veterans living in the Philippines and the U.S. Nonservice-connected veterans are those who did not suffer from combat-related injury or ailment.
On learning the official news that the veterans issue is among Eizenstat’s top agenda, NaFFAA National Chair Alma Q. Kern said Feb. 9, “This is a welcome development as we need to put pressure on the U.S. Congress to pass the equity bill this year."
“We will, of course, continue to mobilize the grassroots as this is still the most effective way for constituents to demand action from their representatives," she stressed. “Covington’s added push, on behalf of the Philippine government, complements our nationwide efforts."
ACFV executive director Eric Lachica said last week he had relayed a request for his group to meet with Eizenstat. On Feb. 8, he said in a phone interview a top aide to Sen. Daniel K. Akaka (D, HI), told him and his group on Tuesday Akaka had moved for cloture (end of debates to proceed with the vote) on the pension bill, as well as the family reunification bill.
Akaka is chairman of the veterans’ committee and author of both bills. The reunification bill seeks to allow expedited entry to the U.S. of adult sons and daughters of WWII veterans, many of them in their 80s.
“We need to have three to five key Republican senators to sign in as co-sponsors, so Majority Leader Harry Reid can schedule the vote on both bills," he said. He added his group is eyeing the support of Sen. John McCain (AZ), the presumed Republican nominee.
His group is stepping up lobbying this week, using the anniversary of the Rescission Act of 1946 to remind lawmakers about the two bills. “I’m joining the lobbying this Wednesday," said retired guerrilla Maj. Alberto Bacani, 97, of Alexandria, in the neighboring state of Virginia.
“That’s good, the veterans’ issue is included in the contract," Bacani said in a phone interview Saturday, in reaction to the official news. “But (the lobby group) should include Republicans, so the approach is bipartisan."
Eizenstat, who served two Democratic presidents, has included Republicans in this team. He was President Jimmy Carter’s chief domestic policy advisor, and he served in the treasury and commerce departments during President Bill Clinton’s administration, the latest as ambassador to the European Union.
He said his team included “the top tier of our government affairs and international practice groups." He and Alan Larson, former undersecretary of State and the first interim CEO of the Millennium Challenge Corp., will lead the team.Others are: Mike Barnes, former Democratic congressman from the nearby state of Maryland; Marty Gold, former counsel to Republican Majority Leaders Howard Baker and Bill Frist, and former Clinton White House official Brian Smith.
The team will also avail itself of the expertise of Marney Cheek, who recently rejoined the firm after negotiating trade agreements for the U.S. Trade Representative, and Bill Wichterman, former chief of staff to two Republican congressmen and policy advisor to the Senate majority leader.
Eizenstat said, “Our approach will be to work broadly on a bipartisan basis with Congress and the Administration to build on the strengths of the U.S.-Philippines relationship and the personal relationships built during the (President Gloria) Arroyo Administration." - Philippine News
Originally, it was not included in the Philippine embassy’s Dec. 11, 2007 announcement of the intent to hire the lobby group.
In the signed agreement, Stuart E. Eizenstat, partner and chair of the international practice of Covington & Burling LLP, said the veterans’ issue “will be among our priorities, and we expect to be very active in seeking legislation to rectify the rescission of veterans’ benefits for Filipinos who fought alongside the United States in World War II."
“Although the Philippines was then a Commonwealth, the Filipino soldiers have been singled out for unfair and unjustified treatment and the deficiency should be rectified," he added.
In Eizenstat’s two-and-a-half page, single-spaced acceptance letter dated January 29, he stated he and his top-tier team “will focus on issues of importance to the Philippines, including foreign assistance, bilateral trade, military cooperation, and veterans’ benefits."
He stressed his team aims to “build on the Philippines’ historically strong relationship with the United States, deepen the Philippines’ relations with Congressional leaders, build on the strong bilateral trade and investment, increase the existing military, defense, and anti-terrorism cooperation, and support the continuation of U.S. financial assistance for the Philippines."
Below Eizenstat’s signature and under the words “Agreed to: the Republic of the Philippines," Ambassador Willy C. Gaa signed the contract with the date indicated as Jan. 30, the day he left for the Philippines with the contract. The agreement was released Feb. 8 last by Minister Carlos D. Sorreta.
Eizenstat and his team will be paid a total of $450,000 in legal fees and an expense allowance of $50,000 during a six-month period, or about $83,333 a month, beginning in January 2008.
Renewable contract
He noted the contract is “renewable for an additional six-month period, under the same terms, at the discretion of the Philippines Government" but “cannot exceed your term as appointing head of the procuring authority."
Tim Pugh of the Department of Justice told Philippine News the contract “came in late" on Feb. 5 last week. The registration is in compliance with the federal law, the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) of 1938.
Veterans bills
The veterans’ issue was added following the huge outcry from the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) and the American Coalition for Filipino Veterans (ACFV), both based in this nation’s capital. Leaders from both groups strongly urged Gaa and people close to Malacanang, the official residence of the Philippine president, to include the issue.
Currently, the active legislation in the 110th U.S. Congress seeks to grant pension to non-service-connected Filipino World War II veterans living in the Philippines and the U.S. Nonservice-connected veterans are those who did not suffer from combat-related injury or ailment.
On learning the official news that the veterans issue is among Eizenstat’s top agenda, NaFFAA National Chair Alma Q. Kern said Feb. 9, “This is a welcome development as we need to put pressure on the U.S. Congress to pass the equity bill this year."
“We will, of course, continue to mobilize the grassroots as this is still the most effective way for constituents to demand action from their representatives," she stressed. “Covington’s added push, on behalf of the Philippine government, complements our nationwide efforts."
ACFV executive director Eric Lachica said last week he had relayed a request for his group to meet with Eizenstat. On Feb. 8, he said in a phone interview a top aide to Sen. Daniel K. Akaka (D, HI), told him and his group on Tuesday Akaka had moved for cloture (end of debates to proceed with the vote) on the pension bill, as well as the family reunification bill.
Akaka is chairman of the veterans’ committee and author of both bills. The reunification bill seeks to allow expedited entry to the U.S. of adult sons and daughters of WWII veterans, many of them in their 80s.
“We need to have three to five key Republican senators to sign in as co-sponsors, so Majority Leader Harry Reid can schedule the vote on both bills," he said. He added his group is eyeing the support of Sen. John McCain (AZ), the presumed Republican nominee.
His group is stepping up lobbying this week, using the anniversary of the Rescission Act of 1946 to remind lawmakers about the two bills. “I’m joining the lobbying this Wednesday," said retired guerrilla Maj. Alberto Bacani, 97, of Alexandria, in the neighboring state of Virginia.
“That’s good, the veterans’ issue is included in the contract," Bacani said in a phone interview Saturday, in reaction to the official news. “But (the lobby group) should include Republicans, so the approach is bipartisan."
Eizenstat, who served two Democratic presidents, has included Republicans in this team. He was President Jimmy Carter’s chief domestic policy advisor, and he served in the treasury and commerce departments during President Bill Clinton’s administration, the latest as ambassador to the European Union.
He said his team included “the top tier of our government affairs and international practice groups." He and Alan Larson, former undersecretary of State and the first interim CEO of the Millennium Challenge Corp., will lead the team.Others are: Mike Barnes, former Democratic congressman from the nearby state of Maryland; Marty Gold, former counsel to Republican Majority Leaders Howard Baker and Bill Frist, and former Clinton White House official Brian Smith.
The team will also avail itself of the expertise of Marney Cheek, who recently rejoined the firm after negotiating trade agreements for the U.S. Trade Representative, and Bill Wichterman, former chief of staff to two Republican congressmen and policy advisor to the Senate majority leader.
Eizenstat said, “Our approach will be to work broadly on a bipartisan basis with Congress and the Administration to build on the strengths of the U.S.-Philippines relationship and the personal relationships built during the (President Gloria) Arroyo Administration." - Philippine News
Comments