Practice Areas

The Breaux Lott Leadership Group (BLLG) provides strategic advice, consulting and lobbying on a wide range of public policy matters, including energy, defense, health care, tax and homeland security. Given the broad-based background and experience of its members, The Breaux Lott Leadership Group is particularly well positioned to impact important debates in Congress across numerous areas, including:

Agriculture

BLLG works on issues across the spectrum of agriculture policy, both before Congress and a variety of federal agencies including the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Issue expertise includes commodity support programs, international trade of agriculture goods, commodities futures markets and Food for Peace.

Defense

BLLG navigates the complex legislative process related to defense for a variety of clients with interests in a broad range of national security issues.

We advocate on behalf of our clients before Committees in both the House and Senate with jurisdiction over these issues, including the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, House and Senate Appropriations Committees, the House Homeland Security Committee and the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, as well as before relevant government departments and agencies.

Energy and the Environment

BLLG has policy expertise in all energy issue areas – ranging from oil and gas exploration to working with high-level officials of the Administration, Department of Energy and Mineral Management Service.  Our access to energy policy makers in Congress is one of our strongest attributes.  In addition to Senators Breaux’s and Lott’s unmatched network in the area of energy related matters, Breaux-Lott has professionals with substantive knowledge and invaluable political expertise in the energy and environment arenas.

To further the goals of a diverse set of clients, we draw upon years of experience in matters relating to production of natural resources, including the development of fossil fuels, electricity and alternative fuels. We work with key policy makers in Congress and the Administration to formulate policies that will help shape the future of energy production for years to come.

We represent clients with interests under the jurisdiction of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, the Ways and Means and Finance Committees and other various Administrative agencies and departments including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Interior.

Financial Services

In advocating client interests related to financial services, BLLG brings decades of experience to bear in an area that is critical to the economy, and in which significant changes to the current law and regulatory structure are expected to be considered in the coming months and years. Subject matter expertise extends to all of the major components of the nation’s financial services sector including banking, housing, insurance and securities, and additional matters under the jurisdiction of the House Financial Services and Senate Banking Committees. We also advocate on behalf of clients before agencies and institutions with jurisdiction over financial services policy, including U.S. Department of Treasury, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.

Health Care

Having once served as leaders in Congress on health reform issues, Senators Breaux and Lott today continue to be instrumental in the development of major health legislation related to Medicare and Medicaid, pharmaceuticals and reimbursement of health care providers. Advocacy for our clients includes matters before the House Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means Committees, the Senate Finance and HELP Committees and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and its various agencies including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Homeland Security

We are well positioned to navigate the complex legislative process related to homeland security for a variety of clients with interests in a broad range of homeland and national security issues.  Senators Breaux and Lott were both senior members of the Senate Commerce Committee, including leadership positions as chairman of the Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Subcommittee. During their tenure in Congress, specifically the Senate, they sponsored numerous legislative initiatives in support of homeland and national security.  In the aftermath of 9-11, they championed the Maritime Transportation Security Act, Safe Ports Act and other measures. BLLG also has a unique understanding of the Department of Homeland Security, including the U.S. Coast Guard.  Senators Breaux and Lott sponsored all Coast Guard Authorization Acts while serving in the House and Senate.

BLLG advocates on behalf of our clients before Committees in both the House and Senate with jurisdiction over these issues, including the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, House and Senate Appropriations Committees, the House Homeland Security Committee and Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, Senate Commerce Committee, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, as well as before relevant government departments and agencies.

Tax Policy

BLLG utilizes decades of experience in working to formulate and pass significant tax legislation affecting individuals and corporate entities of all types. As senior Members of the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over corporate and individual taxation, both Senators Breaux and Lott were actively engaged in the formulation and passage of most of the major tax legislation over the last decade.

Both Senators Breaux and Lott played key roles in shepherding through major tax legislation in 2001, and again in 2003 and 2004, that lowered individual income tax rates, the estate tax, capital gains and dividends and a multitude of taxes on business activities both domestic and international. Additionally, Senator Breaux co-chaired the Mack/Breaux tax panel commissioned by President George W. Bush to recommend specific changes to make the Internal Revenue Code fairer and less complex.

International Relations/Trade

BLLG is able to assist foreign countries in advancing their priorities before the Administration, Congress and the U.S. State Department. We can help further clients’ interests by drawing upon decades of involvement on behalf of those interested in free and fair trade.  We represent clients with interests before the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees (and their international trade subcommittees), USTR, Customs and Border Protection, Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission.

Our principals have helped shepherd the passage of bipartisan trade legislation and bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements, Trade Promotion Authority and various trade preference programs. At the same time, BLLG utilizes years of experience in working with policymakers at all levels to ensure international trade is conducted on a level playing field.

Maritime

BLLG offers an in-depth understanding of the issues and concerns of the maritime industry combined with an ability to advance those interests in the nation’s capitol. Often referred to as two of the most influential and respected advocates of the maritime industry, Senators Breaux and Lott now work to advance initiatives on behalf of maritime and fisheries clients before the Administration and Congress.  Their leadership can be traced and associated with all maritime, fisheries and marine resource issues before Congress for more than 30 years.

BLLG works closely with respective congressional maritime committees (on which Senators Breaux and Lott served), and maintains longtime relationships established with the U.S. Maritime Administration, U.S. Coast Guard, Federal Maritime Commission, Department of Defense and other relevant agencies.

Space

As former members of the Senate Commerce Committee with jurisdiction over NASA, Senators Breaux and Lott today continue to be instrumental in the advancement of U.S. space policy. On behalf of our clients, we advocate in support of matters before relevant congressional committees, NASA and other agencies.

Telecom

In support of client interests related to telecommunications issues, BLLG draws upon comprehensive knowledge of the inner workings of the Senate Commerce Committee, and House Energy and Commerce Committee to formulate strategies to advance client issues. We also advocate on behalf of clients before agencies and institutions with jurisdiction over telecommunications, including the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Transportation

BLLG has legislative and project experience with all sectors of the transportation industry and we represent clients from many industries including air, freight rail, highway, shipping and waterborne commerce.



 

© 2010 Patton Boggs LLP

The Breaux Lott Leadership Group (BLLG) is a wholly owned affiliate of Patton Boggs LLP, a Washington, DC-based law firm. BLLG is not engaged in the practice of law and does not provide legal advice or legal services to its clients. Content included on this web site is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice, nor does the transmission, display and/or viewing of the information contained here constitute an attorney-client relationship. We are not providing legal advice through this web site, therefore you should not act upon any information you might receive from it without seeking professional counsel. The materials on this web site are intended, but not guaranteed, to reflect current legal developments and the current state of the law. We do not, however, represent, warrant or guarantee they will be complete, accurate or up to date when you view them. BLLG is not responsible for any third-party content that may be accessed through this web site nor is Patton Boggs. Any reference to third-party information, products or services linked to this web site does not constitute an expressed or implied endorsement by either BLLG or Patton Boggs. This site is not intended to constitute advertising. Under the applicable laws, regulations and ethical rules of some jurisdictions, however, the contents of this web site might be deemed to constitute advertising. We do not wish to represent anyone desiring representation based upon viewing this web site in one of those jurisdictions.