LegiStorm

Shawn Bengali, who has been lobbying for VDMA America Inc. since 2022, has returned to the Hill as a legislative assistant to Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-Texas).

Bengali previously interned for Rep. Tom MacArthur (R-N.J.). He was most recently vice president of trade policy at VDMA America: an arm of its German parent company, VDMA, which represents a group of German and European mechanical and plant engineering companies.

On behalf of VDMA America Inc., Bengali lobbied on a range of issues concerning tariffs and resolving "the Section 232 dispute with the European Union," per lobbying filings.

Bengali will handle trade, agriculture and energy issues for Rep. Arrington's office. 

On the heels of its reported IPO filing late last year, the fast-fashion company SHEIN amped up its lobbying in 2024 Q1.

The company's U.S.-based SHEIN Technology group spent over $1.4 million in lobbying during the first quarter of 2024, a notable increase from the approximately $970,000 it spent on lobbying for 2023 Q4. Based on Q1 2024 lobbying data, the company appears on its way to surpassing the approximately $3.1 million it spent lobbying for all four quarters of 2023.

"SHEIN's presence, operating footprint, and economic impact in the United States" are top issues reported in this quarter's lobbying filings. Validating its economic stronghold in the U.S. could aid the company in winning over lawmakers and obtaining an IPO. 

While SHEIN made headlines last week for its labor practices, and CNBC reports that its attempts to join the National Retail Federation - the largest trade association for the retail industry - have repeatedly been denied, the $66 billion company continues to eye a U.S. IPO, per CNBC's report. 

In the wake of charges against Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), another one of his top staffers has left the office.

Lauren Mueller is now the scheduler for Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.). Mueller had served for just over a year as Cuellar's scheduling and operations director, her first job on the Hill.

The Department of Justice has accused Cuellar of accepting bribes and acting as an unregistered foreign agent. Cuellar allegedly attempted to influence federal policy on behalf of the government of Azerbaijan and a Mexican bank.

Cuellar's chief of staff, Jacob Hochberg, departed almost immediately after news broke of the indictment, with other staffers reportedly looking to exit as well. 

With more than five years of experience on the Hill, Zach Weber is returning to his alma mater, the University of Michigan, as federal relations director.

Weber was most recently deputy director of federal affairs to Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D). Prior to joining Whitmer's office, Weber was legislative director to former Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-Mich.).

Weber graduated from the University of Michigan in 2014 with a bachelor's in international studies and Spanish.

The university lobbies on a range of issues, including health, veterans and budget/appropriations issues.

Clarification: Monday's Caught Our Eye reported that Steve Dwyer, senior director of innovation for the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, was invited to Microsoft's Spring Congressional Staff Delegation Trip. A representative for the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer informed LegiStorm that Dwyer did not attend this event. 

Following the U.S. House's institution of a ban on staffers' use of Microsoft Copilot, as reported by Axios, various congressional staffers were invited to Microsoft's Spring Congressional Staff Delegation Trip, which included a demonstration of Copilot.

Members of Democratic and Republican congressional offices were invited by Microsoft Corp. to this privately financed trip from April 24-26. A notable invitee was Steve Dwyer, senior director of innovation for the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, according to a disclosed invitee list. A representative for the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer informed LegiStorm that Dwyer did not attend this event. 

The Chief Administrative Officer, Catherine Szpindor, provided direction to House offices on the Copilot ban. The office also said that it will evaluate a government version of Copilot when it is released and determine if it will face the same ban as the commercial version, according to Axios' report.

The trip also included a briefing on "Responsible AI" that explained "Microsoft's vision for a responsible generative AI ecosystem," per a travel disclosure.

Before this event, Microsoft had not hosted a congressional staff delegation since October 2022, according to LegiStorm congressional travel data.

Although it is unclear if Microsoft won over any congressional offices during its spring delegation, with the House Committee on Homeland Security requesting via a letter sent May 9, 2024, that the president of Microsoft, Brad Smith, testify on the company's cybersecurity "shortcomings," it appears that the company is still facing an uphill battle with Congress.