"Akin Gump is assisting the Port of Corpus Christi in the pursuit of these highly competitive and coveted grant funds." "With tens of billions of grant dollars appropriated under the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act at stake, the Port of Corpus Christi is establishing a world-class framework for large-scale carbon capture, use and storage, and hydrogen production hub status," the statement reads. In a statement to the Caller-Times, a port spokesperson said the port retained Akin Gump for "their substantial experience in assisting entities such as the City of Houston and the Port of Long Beach in navigating the regulatory and political environment in Washington." On April 19, the port authority voted to approve a services contract with Akin Gump for federal lobbying services from May 1, 2022, to April 30, 2023, for an amount not to exceed $186,000. The deepening is being done alongside the construction of the new Harbor Bridge, which will be tall enough for the larger vessels to clear the bridge. Army Corps of Engineers earmarked $157 million to finish the project, which began in May 2019 to widen and dredge the channel to a depth of 54 feet to accommodate larger vessels capable of carrying a greater amount and wider variety of goods. In a heated meeting before Corpus Christi City Council this week, the longest-serving city-appointed port commissioner, David Engel, told city representatives he was confident the port would secure the remaining federal funding needed to complete the Corpus Christi Ship Channel Improvement Project. Instead, he said that information would be disclosed in the firm's next quarterly disclosure in July. Vela did not answer whether lobbying for the port was his only assignment with Akin Gump. In an email to the Caller-Times, Vela said he would not be lobbying the House and Senate until April 2023, saying he takes "compliance obligations seriously and will continue to comply with applicable post-employment restrictions." By law, he would not engage Congress until March 2023. The law states former House members must wait one year to engage in compensated lobbying efforts.
#TEXAS REP FILEMON VELA FULL#
Regulations barring some officials from jumping into lobbying right after leaving the public sector exist, but they are "weak and full of holes," Holman said. "Former members of Congress are so valued as revolvers because they've got the connections on Capitol Hill that open doors and get returned phone calls that other lobbyists don't have," he said. That influence can be used to great effect on behalf of businesses, corporations or wealthy special interest groups. The contact lists and prestige accrued during an elected official's time in Congress make them some of the most highly valued lobbyists in Washington, Holman said. "It is a rampant problem here on Capitol Hill." "The 'revolving door' is one of the most pernicious influence-peddling tools available to wealthy special interests and corporations, especially," said Craig Holman, a government ethics lobbyist at the liberal watchdog group Public Citizen. They call it the "revolving door," referring to the continuous movement of high-level officials from public-sector jobs to private-sector jobs and vice versa. The ethics experts said that "loophole" is a symptom of weak regulations governing when the country’s most pivotal and influential officials can lobby in Washington. He is, however, permitted to engage the Executive Branch. Lobbying regulations mean the former congressman is legally barred from lobbying Congress for a one-year "cooling-off" period.
#TEXAS REP FILEMON VELA REGISTRATION#
Vela, 59, and two other lobbyists can advocate for bills relating to the environment, energy, maritime and fishing and economic development and will focus on the port’s transportation and infrastructure initiatives, according to lobbyist registration paperwork filed last month by the firm.Įthics experts who spoke with the Caller-Times said Vela's shift from holding elected office to lobbying was not illegal unless he lobbied the House or Senate members. The Brownsville Democrat represented the 34th Congressional District of Texas for nine years before resigning in March, opting not to finish his fourth term and to take a job at Akin Gump, a prominent lobbying firm in Washington. Rep. Filemon Vela, who gave up his congressional seat earlier this year, to push the port's legislative agenda on Capitol Hill.
The Port of Corpus Christi Authority hired a lobbying firm that employs former U.S. Bush. Bush will continue serving as Texas Land Commissioner until early next year. Editor's note: This article was edited after publication to clarify the current position of George P.
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