![]() In a heated meeting before Corpus Christi City Council this week, the longest-serving city-appointed port commissioner, David Engel, told city representatives he was confident the port would secure the remaining federal funding needed to complete the Corpus Christi Ship Channel Improvement Project. Instead, he said that information would be disclosed in the firm's next quarterly disclosure in July. Vela did not answer whether lobbying for the port was his only assignment with Akin Gump. In an email to the Caller-Times, Vela said he would not be lobbying the House and Senate until April 2023, saying he takes "compliance obligations seriously and will continue to comply with applicable post-employment restrictions." By law, he would not engage Congress until March 2023. The law states former House members must wait one year to engage in compensated lobbying efforts. Regulations barring some officials from jumping into lobbying right after leaving the public sector exist, but they are "weak and full of holes," Holman said. "Former members of Congress are so valued as revolvers because they've got the connections on Capitol Hill that open doors and get returned phone calls that other lobbyists don't have," he said. That influence can be used to great effect on behalf of businesses, corporations or wealthy special interest groups. ![]() The contact lists and prestige accrued during an elected official's time in Congress make them some of the most highly valued lobbyists in Washington, Holman said. "It is a rampant problem here on Capitol Hill." "The 'revolving door' is one of the most pernicious influence-peddling tools available to wealthy special interests and corporations, especially," said Craig Holman, a government ethics lobbyist at the liberal watchdog group Public Citizen. They call it the "revolving door," referring to the continuous movement of high-level officials from public-sector jobs to private-sector jobs and vice versa. The ethics experts said that "loophole" is a symptom of weak regulations governing when the country’s most pivotal and influential officials can lobby in Washington. He is, however, permitted to engage the Executive Branch. Lobbying regulations mean the former congressman is legally barred from lobbying Congress for a one-year "cooling-off" period. To send the office a flag request, please fill out this form.Ethics experts who spoke with the Caller-Times said Vela's shift from holding elected office to lobbying was not illegal unless he lobbied the House or Senate members. To complete a Privacy Release Form electronically, please fill out this form. Constituents who do not have pending cases but require assistance in matters relating to federal government agencies are invited to contact the nearest district office for further information and assistance. If they wish to continue with their case, a new Privacy Release Form must be completed. These constituents will receive a letter from the Clerk requesting whether the staff should continue assistance or not. The staff of the vacant office will continue to assist constituents who have cases pending with the office. The staff of the vacant office can assist constituents with general information concerning the status of legislation, but cannot provide analysis of issues or render opinions.Īssistance with Federal Government Agencies (Casework) Mail received by the vacant office will be acknowledged. Constituents may choose to express opinions on legislation or issues to your elected Senators or wait until a new Representative is elected and takes office. ![]() Until a new Representative is elected, the vacant congressional office cannot take or advocate positions of public policy. Although the scope of the vacant congressional office is limited, constituents of the district are invited to contact this interim office for information and assistance as indicated below. Currently, the congressional district does not have voting representation. This interim vacant status continues until a new Representative is elected to fill the unexpired term. Resigned from Congress effective March 31, 2022.īy federal law and the Rules of the House of Representatives, the employees of the former Representative continue to staff the offices of the congressional district under the supervision of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Under the supervision of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Will continue to serve the people of the Thirty-Fourth Congressional District of Texas The Washington, DC, office and the district offices of former Representative Filemon Vela ![]() Office of the Thirty-Fourth Congressional District of Texasįormerly the Office of Representative Filemon Vela ![]()
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