Discussions involving VA Home Loan Loss Mitigation
Discussions involving S. 3728, the Veterans Housing Stability Act of 2024
Discussions involving S. 2587 / H.R. 4365, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2024
Discussions involving housing finance reform legislation
Monitored the implementation of P.L. 116-136, the CARES Act (provisions related to mortgage forbearance for consumers and liquidity for mortgage servicers)
Monitored H.R. 3564, the Middle Class Borrower Protection Act of 2023
Monitored H.R. 1059, the SECURE Notarization Act of 2023
Monitored H.R. 4335, the VA Loan Informed Disclosure Act of 2023
Monitored S. 2496, the VALID Act of 2023
Monitored S. 3068 / H.R. 5979, the VA Home Loan Awareness Act of 2023
Monitored executive branch nominations to federal agencies and commissions
Monitored S. 659, the Administrative False Claims Act of 2023
Duration: January 1, 2019
to
present
General Issues: Housing , Law Enforcement/Crime/Criminal Justice , Banking , Consumer Issues/Safety/Protection , Taxation/Internal Revenue Code
Spending: about $660,000 (But it's complicated. Here's why.)
It can be tricky to figure out how much an organization spent on a particular lobbying engagement. The law only requires lobbyists to report the amount they were paid for federal lobbying each quarter rounded to the nearest $10,000—and if it's less than $3,000 in a given quarter (or less than $13,000 for organizations with in-house lobbyists), they don't have to disclose it at all. Plus, some organizations include spending that doesn’t belong in the report—for instance, money spent lobbying state governments or other legal work.
Agencies lobbied since 2019: House of Representatives, U.S. Senate
Lobbyists
Lobbyists named here were listed on a filing related to this lobbying engagement. They may not be working on it now. Occasionally, a single lobbyist whose name is spelled two different ways on filings may be represented twice here.
Lobbyist
Covered positions?
Andrew Barbour
Dep. Asst. USTR for Cong. Affairs, USTR
Jack S. Deuser
Ch. of Staff, U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning; Leg. Dir., U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning
Trevor Kolego
Leg. Assist, Rep. Chris Cannon; Leg. Director, Rep. Jon Porter; Manager of Member Services, Leader John Boehner; Director of Member Services, Speaker John Boehner
Sarah Dumont-Merchak
Director of Congressional Affairs, Federal Housing Finance Agency; Professional Staff Member, Senate Banking Committee
Michael A. Gaffin
Leg. Director, Sen. Sherrod Brown; Leg. Director, Rep. Rob Andrews; Leg. Asst., Rep. Anna Eshoo; Jr. Leg. Assoc., House Ed. and Labor Committee, Rep. George Miller; Staff Assist., Senate HELP Committee, Sen. Edward Kennedy
John Christie
Ch. of Staff, Rep. Alma Adams; Leg. Director, Rep. Alma Adams; Senior Leg. Assist., Rep. Alma Adams; Leg. Assist., Rep. Alma Adams; Leg. Correspondent/Leg. Aide, Rep. Norma Torres
Chris Scribner
n/a
Robert Hickmott
n/a
Disclosures Filed
Once a lobbying engagement begins, the lobbyist or firm is required to file updates four times a year. Those updates sometimes change which lobbyists are involved or add new issues being discussed. When lobbyists stop working for a client, the firm is also supposed to file a report disclosing the end of the relationship.
1st Quarter, 2024
In Q1, The Smith-Free Group, LLC lobbied for Housing Policy Council , earning $60,000. The report was filed on April 22.
Original Filing: 301571856.xml
Lobbying Issues
Discussions involving VA Home Loan Loss Mitigation
Discussions involving S. 3728, the Veterans Housing Stability Act of 2024
Discussions involving S. 2587 / H.R. 4365, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2024
Discussions involving housing finance reform legislation
Monitored the implementation of P.L. 116-136, the CARES Act (provisions related to mortgage forbearance for consumers and liquidity for mortgage servicers)
Monitored H.R. 3564, the Middle Class Borrower Protection Act of 2023
Monitored H.R. 1059, the SECURE Notarization Act of 2023
Monitored H.R. 4335, the VA Loan Informed Disclosure Act of 2023
Monitored S. 2496, the VALID Act of 2023
Monitored S. 3068 / H.R. 5979, the VA Home Loan Awareness Act of 2023
Monitored executive branch nominations to federal agencies and commissions
Agencies Lobbied
U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Senate
Lobbying Issues
Monitored S. 659, the Administrative False Claims Act of 2023
Type of Issue
Law Enforcement/Crime/Criminal Justice
4th Quarter, 2023
In Q4, The Smith-Free Group, LLC lobbied for Housing Policy Council , earning $60,000. The report was filed on Jan. 22.
Original Filing: 301537277.xml
Lobbying Issues
Discussions involving VA Home Loan Loss Mitigation
Discussions involving S. 2587 / H.R. 4365, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2024
Discussions involving H.R. 3564, the Middle Class Borrower Protection Act of 2023
Discussions involving housing finance reform legislation
Monitored the implementation of P.L. 116-136, the CARES Act (provisions related to mortgage forbearance for consumers and liquidity for mortgage servicers)
Monitored H.R. 1059, the SECURE Notarization Act of 2023
Monitored H.R. 4335, the VA Loan Informed Disclosure Act of 2023
Monitored S. 2496, the VALID Act of 2023
Monitored S. 3068 / H.R. 5979, the VA Home Loan Awareness Act of 2023
Monitored executive branch nominations to federal agencies and commissions
Agencies Lobbied
U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Senate
Lobbying Issues
Monitored S. 659, the Administrative False Claims Act of 2023
Type of Issue
Law Enforcement/Crime/Criminal Justice
3rd Quarter, 2023
In Q3, The Smith-Free Group, LLC lobbied for Housing Policy Council , earning $50,000. The report was filed on Oct. 20, 2023.
Original Filing: 301511034.xml
Lobbying Issues
Discussions involving H.R. 3564, the Middle Class Borrower Protection Act of 2023
Discussions involving housing finance reform legislation
Monitored the implementation of P.L. 116-136, the CARES Act (provisions related to mortgage forbearance for consumers and liquidity for mortgage servicers)
Monitored H.R. 1059, the SECURE Notarization Act of 2023
Monitored executive branch nominations to federal agencies and commissions
Agencies Lobbied
U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Senate
Lobbying Issues
Monitored S. 659, the Administrative False Claims Act of 2023
Type of Issue
Law Enforcement/Crime/Criminal Justice
2nd Quarter, 2023
In Q2, The Smith-Free Group, LLC lobbied for Housing Policy Council , earning $50,000. The report was filed on July 20, 2023.
Original Filing: 301488706.xml
Lobbying Issues
Discussions involving H.R. 3564, the Middle Class Borrower Protection Act of 2023
Discussions involving housing finance reform legislation
Monitored the implementation of P.L. 117-308, the Improving Access to the VA Home Loan Benefit Act of 2022
Monitored the implementation of P.L. 116-136, the CARES Act (provisions related to mortgage forbearance for consumers and liquidity for mortgage servicers)
Monitored H.R. 1059, the SECURE Notarization Act of 2023
Monitored executive branch nominations to federal agencies and commissions
Agencies Lobbied
U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Senate
Lobbying Issues
Monitored S. 659, the Administrative False Claims Act of 2023
Type of Issue
Law Enforcement/Crime/Criminal Justice
1st Quarter, 2023
In Q1, The Smith-Free Group, LLC lobbied for Housing Policy Council , earning $50,000. The report was filed on April 19, 2023.
Original Filing: 301457030.xml
Lobbying Issues
Discussions involving housing finance reform legislation
Monitored the implementation of P.L. 117-308, the Improving Access to the VA Home Loan Benefit Act of 2022
Monitored the implementation of P.L. 116-136, the CARES Act (provisions related to mortgage forbearance for consumers and liquidity for mortgage servicers)
Monitored H.R. 1059, the SECURE Notarization Act of 2023
Monitored H.R. 1834, the Middle Class Mortgage Insurance Premium Act of 2021
Monitored executive branch nominations to federal agencies and commissions
Agencies Lobbied
U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Senate
Lobbying Issues
Monitored S. 659, the Administrative False Claims Act of 2023
Type of Issue
Law Enforcement/Crime/Criminal Justice
4th Quarter, 2022
In Q4, The Smith-Free Group, LLC lobbied for Housing Policy Council , earning $50,000. The report was filed on Jan. 19, 2023.
Original Filing: 301434152.xml
Lobbying Issues
Monitored H.R.4120, Comprehensive CREDIT Act of 2021
Lobbying Issues
Discussions involving housing finance reform legislation
Monitored H.R.7735, Improving Access to the VA Home Loan Benefit Act of 2022
Monitored H.R.3008, Homebuyer Assistance Act of 2021
Monitored issues relating to implementation of P.L.116-136, CARES Act (Provisions related to mortgage forbearance for consumers and liquidity for mortgage servicers)
Monitored executive branch nominations to federal agencies and commissions
Agencies Lobbied
U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Senate
Lobbying Issues
Monitored H.R. 4259, Strengthening Cyber-Security for the Financial Sector Act of 2021 (all sections of full text)
Type of Issue
Consumer Issues/Safety/Protection
Lobbying Issues
Monitored S. 2429, Administrative False Claims Act
Type of Issue
Law Enforcement/Crime/Criminal Justice
3rd Quarter, 2022
In Q3, The Smith-Free Group, LLC lobbied for Housing Policy Council , earning $30,000. The report was filed on Oct. 19, 2022.
Original Filing: 301410871.xml
Lobbying Issues
Monitored H.R.4120, Comprehensive CREDIT Act of 2021
Lobbying Issues
Discussions involving housing finance reform legislation
Monitored H.R.7735, Improving Access to the VA Home Loan Benefit Act of 2022
Monitored H.R.3008, Homebuyer Assistance Act of 2021
Monitored issues relating to implementation of P.L.116-136, CARES Act (Provisions related to mortgage forbearance for consumers and liquidity for mortgage servicers)
Monitored executive branch nominations to federal agencies and commissions
Agencies Lobbied
U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Senate
Lobbying Issues
H.R. 4259, Strengthening Cyber-Security for the Financial Sector Act of 2021 (all sections of full text)
Agencies Lobbied
U.S. House of Representatives
Type of Issue
Consumer Issues/Safety/Protection
Lobbying Issues
Discussions related to S. 2429, Administrative False Claims Act
Type of Issue
Law Enforcement/Crime/Criminal Justice
2nd Quarter, 2022
In Q2, The Smith-Free Group, LLC lobbied for Housing Policy Council , earning $30,000. The report was filed on July 19, 2022.
Original Filing: 301384708.xml
Lobbying Issues
Monitored H.R.4120, Comprehensive CREDIT Act of 2021
Lobbying Issues
Discussions involving housing finance reform legislation
Monitored executive branch nominations to federal agencies and commissions
Monitored H.R.2553, Real Estate Valuation Fairness and Improvement Act of 2021
Monitored H.R.3008, Homebuyer Assistance Act of 2021
Monitored H.R.4616, Adjustable Interest Rate (LIBOR) Act of 2021
Monitored issues relating to implementation of P.L.116-136, CARES Act (Provisions related to mortgage forbearance for consumers and liquidity for mortgage servicers)
Monitored issues relating to conforming loan limits
Agencies Lobbied
U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Senate
Lobbying Issues
H.R. 5376, Build Back Better Act (Part 5-Housing; Subpart A-Low Income Housing Tax Credit)
Type of Issue
Taxation/Internal Revenue Code
Lobbying Issues
H.R. 4259, Strengthening Cyber-Security for the Financial Sector Act of 2021 (all sections of full text)
Agencies Lobbied
U.S. House of Representatives
Type of Issue
Consumer Issues/Safety/Protection
Lobbying Issues
Discussions related to S. 2429, Administrative False Claims Act
Type of Issue
Law Enforcement/Crime/Criminal Justice
1st Quarter, 2022
In Q1, The Smith-Free Group, LLC lobbied for Housing Policy Council , earning $30,000. The report was filed on April 20, 2022.
Original Filing: 301365947.xml
Lobbying Issues
Monitored H.R.4120, Comprehensive CREDIT Act of 2021
Lobbying Issues
Discussions involving housing finance reform legislation
Monitored executive branch nominations to federal agencies and commissions
Monitored H.R.2553, Real Estate Valuation Fairness and Improvement Act of 2021
Monitored H.R.3008, Homebuyer Assistance Act of 2021
Monitored H.R.4616, Adjustable Interest Rate (LIBOR) Act of 2021
Monitored issues relating to implementation of P.L.116-136, CARES Act (Provisions related to mortgage forbearance for consumers and liquidity for mortgage servicers)
Monitored issues relating to conforming loan limits
Agencies Lobbied
U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Senate
Lobbying Issues
H.R. 5376, Build Back Better Act (Part 5-Housing; Subpart A-Low Income Housing Tax Credit)
Type of Issue
Taxation/Internal Revenue Code
Lobbying Issues
H.R. 4259, Strengthening Cyber-Security for the Financial Sector Act of 2021 (all sections of full text)
Agencies Lobbied
U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Senate
Type of Issue
Consumer Issues/Safety/Protection
Lobbying Issues
Discussions related to S. 2429, Administrative False Claims Act
Type of Issue
Law Enforcement/Crime/Criminal Justice
4th Quarter, 2021
In Q4, The Smith-Free Group, LLC lobbied for Housing Policy Council , earning $30,000. The report was filed on Jan. 20, 2022.
Original Filing: 301335006.xml
Lobbying Issues
Monitored H.R.4120, Comprehensive CREDIT Act of 2021
Lobbying Issues
Discussions involving housing finance reform legislation
Discussions related to the monitoring of federal agency nominations
Monitored H.R.2553, Real Estate Valuation Fairness and Improvement Act of 2021
Monitored H.R.3008, Homebuyer Assistance Act of 2021
Monitored H.R.4616, Adjustable Interest Rate (LIBOR) Act of 2021
Monitored issues relating to implementation of P.L.116-136, CARES Act (Provisions related to mortgage forbearance for consumers and liquidity for mortgage servicers)
Monitored issues relating to conforming loan limits
Agencies Lobbied
U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Senate
Lobbying Issues
H.R. 5376, Build Back Better Act (Part 5-Housing; Subpart A-Low Income Housing Tax Credit)
Type of Issue
Taxation/Internal Revenue Code
3rd Quarter, 2021
In Q3, The Smith-Free Group, LLC lobbied for Housing Policy Council , earning $20,000. The report was filed on Oct. 18, 2021.
Original Filing: 301301383.xml
Lobbying Issues
H.R.4120, Comprehensive Consumer Credit Report Reform Act (All sections of full text); to amend the Fair Credit Reporting Act to provide comprehensive reforms to the consumer credit reporting laws, and for other purposes.
Agencies Lobbied
U.S. House of Representatives
Lobbying Issues
Discussions involving housing finance reform legislation
Monitored H.R.2553, Real Estate Valuation Fairness and Improvement Act of 2021
Monitored H.R.3008, Homebuyer Assistance Act of 2021
Monitored H.R.4616, Adjustable Interest Rate (LIBOR) Act of 2021
Monitored issues relating to implementation of P.L.116-136, CARES Act (Provisions related to mortgage forbearance for consumers and liquidity for mortgage servicers)
Agencies Lobbied
U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Senate
2nd Quarter, 2021
In Q2, The Smith-Free Group, LLC lobbied for Housing Policy Council , earning $20,000. The report was filed on July 20, 2021.
Original Filing: 301285118.xml
Lobbying Issues
H.R.4120, Comprehensive Consumer Credit Report Reform Act (All sections of full text); to amend the Fair Credit Reporting Act to provide comprehensive reforms to the consumer credit reporting laws, and for other purposes.
Agencies Lobbied
U.S. House of Representatives
Lobbying Issues
Discussions involving housing finance reform legislation
Monitored issues relating to implementation of P.L.116-136, CARES Act (Provisions related to mortgage forbearance for consumers and liquidity for mortgage servicers)
Agencies Lobbied
U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Senate
1st Quarter, 2021
In Q1, The Smith-Free Group, LLC lobbied for Housing Policy Council , earning $20,000. The report was filed on April 20, 2021.
Original Filing: 301261405.xml
Lobbying Issues
Issues relating to implementation of P.L.116-136, CARES Act (Provisions related to mortgage forbearance for consumers and liquidity for mortgage servicers)
Discussions involving housing finance reform legislation
Monitored P.L.117-2, American Rescue Plan Act of 2021
Agencies Lobbied
U.S. Senate U.S. House of Representatives
4th Quarter, 2020
In Q4, The Smith-Free Group, LLC lobbied for Housing Policy Council , earning $20,000. The report was filed on Jan. 21, 2021.
Original Filing: 301243272.xml
Lobbying Issues
Issues relating to P.L.116-94, Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (All sections of full text)
Issues relating to the implementation of P.L.116-136, CARES Act (Provisions related to mortgage forbearance for consumers and liquidity for mortgage servicers)
Issues relating to H.R.925, The Heroes Act (Provisions related to mortgage forbearance for consumers and liquidity for mortgage servicers)
Discussions involving housing finance reform legislation
Agencies Lobbied
U.S. Senate U.S. House of Representatives
3rd Quarter, 2020
In Q3, The Smith-Free Group, LLC lobbied for Housing Policy Council , earning $20,000. The report was filed on Oct. 19, 2020.
Original Filing: 301215080.xml
Lobbying Issues
Issues relating to P.L.116-136, CARES Act (Provisions related to mortgage forbearance for consumers and liquidity for mortgage servicers)
Issues relating to H.R.925, The Heroes Act (Provisions related to mortgage forbearance for consumers and liquidity for mortgage servicers)
Discussions involving housing finance reform legislation
Discussions involving potential legislation to modernize Federal Housing Administration (FHA)
Agencies Lobbied
U.S. Senate U.S. House of Representatives
2nd Quarter, 2020
In Q2, The Smith-Free Group, LLC lobbied for Housing Policy Council , earning $20,000. The report was filed on July 20, 2020.
Original Filing: 301197587.xml
Lobbying Issues
Issues relating to P.L.116-136, CARES Act (Provisions related to mortgage forbearance for consumers and liquidity for mortgage servicers)
Issues relating to H.R.6800, The Heroes Act (Provisions related to mortgage forbearance for consumers and liquidity for mortgage servicers)
Discussions involving housing finance reform legislation
Discussions involving potential legislation to modernize Federal Housing Administration (FHA)
Monitored H.R.3958, FHA Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2019
Monitored discussions involving funding to modernize FHA information technology systems
Agencies Lobbied
U.S. Senate U.S. House of Representatives
1st Quarter, 2020
In Q1, The Smith-Free Group, LLC lobbied for Housing Policy Council , earning $20,000. The report was filed on April 20, 2020.
Original Filing: 301173568.xml
Lobbying Issues
Issues relating to P.L.116-136, CARES Act (All sections of full text)
Discussions involving housing finance reform legislation
Discussions involving potential legislation to modernize Federal Housing Administration (FHA)
Monitored H.R.3958, FHA Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2019
Monitored discussions involving funding to modernize FHA information technology systems
Agencies Lobbied
U.S. Senate U.S. House of Representatives
4th Quarter, 2019
In Q4, The Smith-Free Group, LLC lobbied for Housing Policy Council , earning $20,000. The report was filed on Jan. 21, 2020.
Original Filing: 301124026.xml
Lobbying Issues
H.R.2445, Self-Employed Mortgage Access Act of 2019 (All sections of full text)
Discussions involving housing finance reform legislation
Discussions involving potential legislation to modernize Federal Housing Administration (FHA)
Monitored H.R.3958, FHA Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2019
Monitored discussions involving funding to modernize FHA information technology systems
Agencies Lobbied
U.S. Senate U.S. House of Representatives
3rd Quarter, 2019
In Q3, The Smith-Free Group, LLC lobbied for Housing Policy Council , earning $20,000. The report was filed on Oct. 21, 2019.
Original Filing: 301077490.xml
Lobbying Issues
Discussions involving housing finance reform legislation
Discussions involving potential legislation to modernize Federal Housing Administration (FHA)
Monitored H.R.3958, FHA Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2019
Monitored discussions involving funding to modernize FHA information technology systems
Agencies Lobbied
U.S. Senate U.S. House of Representatives
2nd Quarter, 2019
In Q2, The Smith-Free Group, LLC lobbied for Housing Policy Council , earning $20,000. The report was filed on July 18, 2019.
Original Filing: 301049049.xml
Lobbying Issues
Discussions involving housing finance reform legislation
Discussions involving potential legislation to modernize Federal Housing Administration (FHA)
Discussions involving funding to modernize FHA information technology systems
Agencies Lobbied
U.S. Senate U.S. House of Representatives
1st Quarter, 2019
In Q1, The Smith-Free Group, LLC lobbied for Housing Policy Council , earning $20,000. The report was filed on April 12, 2019.
Original Filing: 301024789.xml
Lobbying Issues
Discussions involving housing finance reform (reform of GSEs) legislation
Discussions involving potential legislation to modernize Federal Housing Administration (FHA)
Discussions involving funding to modernize FHA information technology systems
Agencies Lobbied
U.S. Senate U.S. House of Representatives
Source: Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives and Secretary of the Senate