What Happened?
A private university has hired professional lobbyists to press its case before the federal government on Homeland Security matters, though it has not yet said publicly what it wants. The LD-2 Disclosure Form is listed under the U.S. Senate Office of Public Records (OPR).
Maven Advocacy Partners LLC registered Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP on behalf of Olivet University as a new lobbying client on July 16.
Federal lobbying rules require any firm hired to influence Congress or federal agencies to register with the OPR and file quarterly reports. Those reports must name the client, the issue areas, and any specific bills the lobbyists are working on.
Why Does it Matter to Me?
The filing names no specific legislation or policy objective, so it is not yet clear what Olivet University wants from the federal government.
Two lobbyists are working the engagement: Jeff Burton, founder of Maven Advocacy Partners, and Matt Sagely, a government affairs professional at the firm. Both bring deep experience inside Congress, which can shape how effectively a client's message reaches lawmakers.
Sagely brings roughly 12 years and six months of prior congressional staff experience, including service as chief of staff to a U.S. senator. Burton logged approximately seven years and four months of experience across multiple congressional offices. Together, the two lobbyists bring nearly 20 years of combined congressional staff experience to Olivet's account.
Both Sides, Now
Those concerned about institutional lobbying on Homeland Security matters point to documented problems in federal detention and immigration enforcement. A February 2023 report by the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General identified deficiencies in how Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection responded to deaths in their custody, according to the DHS Office of Inspector General. Because Olivet's filing discloses no specific policy goal, it is not possible to connect the university's lobbying agenda directly to those concerns.
What Happens Next?
Maven Advocacy Partners filed reports for nine clients in the second quarter, including defense contractors and energy companies. Olivet University's engagement is new, and future filings will be required each quarter, which may reveal more specific legislation or policy goals the university is pursuing.
Lobbyists must file their next quarterly report covering activity through the end of this quarter with the OPR. The Senate Office of Public Records (OPR) publishes lobbying disclosure forms, including LD-2 filings. That report must name any specific bills or agency actions the lobbyists worked on, which would give the public its first clear look at what the university is asking Congress or federal agencies to do.
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