For Faculty and Staff: Disclose Your Advocacy
Federal policymakers in Congress, the White House, and regulatory agencies routinely rely on the expertise of researchers, clinicians and scientists at Johns Hopkins University and Medicine. This vital contribution to federal deliberations is encouraged and must be reported.
We ask that you complete this simple survey to share some basic information about your contacts each quarter (ending in March, June, September, and December). This information is one small component of the institution’s lobbying disclosure report; neither your name nor your individual contacts will appear in the final submission. The information you provide is viewed by the Federal Strategy team alone.
Don’t sweat it – You do not need to determine whether the contact “counts” as lobbying. “Lobbying” is a term of art that means different things in different contexts (state and federal laws vary widely), and the practice of lobbying is governed by different rules depending on the official with whom you meet; legislative and executive branch contacts are treated differently.
Lobbying disclosure laws do not restrict or prohibit lobbying, but reporting is required. By completing the form, you will meet your reporting obligations. If further clarification is needed, we will follow up with you directly with any questions.
Common questions:
- What if I lobby through a professional association? Report it. While not essential for lobbying compliance purposes, it can serve as an opportunity for collaboration and coordination with our office.
- What if I am invited to testify? Report it. Invited testimony is not incorporated into the institution’s lobbying disclosure report, but the Federal Strategy team can be an asset to help you prepare and know what to expect.
- What if I am acting in my own capacity? No need to report it. If you are engaging with a policymaker in a purely personal capacity for matters unrelated to your work and without using institutional resources, then you can skip the form. You may still list institutional affiliations for identification purposes. If you are unsure, just ask.
- Do students need to report contacts? No, only Johns Hopkins employees must report.
- What if I need help? If you have any questions, contact Kristen Reek at fedaffairs@jhu.edu.
For more information, email fedaffairs@jhu.edu.