Former Congressman Registers to Lobby for a Nonprofit Whose Mission is to Hire Lobbyists For The People

WASHINGTON, March 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Lobbyists 4 Good, the nation's first nonprofit that hires lobbyists on behalf of the American people, announced today that it has hired former Representative Steve Driehaus as a lobbyist.

 

Mr. Driehaus, who served as a Member of Congress from Ohio's 1st Congressional District, will lobby Congress to pressure the African nation of Mauritania to end protection for perpetrators of ethnic cleansing campaigns against black Africans from 1989 to 1992 and restore citizenship for thousands of Mauritanians. Many of Driehaus's former constituents are of Mauritania descent and their families came to the U.S. to escape the violence and severe human rights violations by the Mauritania government. The campaign was created on Lobbyists 4 Good's platform after the community had already met with Driehaus to ask his help lobbying Congress.

 

"Mr. Driehaus should be applauded for taking on this issue as a lobbyist," said Billy DeLancey, Co-founder and CEO of Lobbyists 4 Good. "It proves that not all members of Congress take jobs with big corporations or wealthy special interest groups when they leave Congress. The people funding this campaign are lucky to have somebody with his experience and expertise."

 

The campaign has already raised over $5,000 with an average donation of $200. It was started by Hawa Sall who was born in a refugee camp in Senegal after her family fled the violence.

 

"I think, too often, lobbying is associated with former Members trying to use their experience to parlay it for personal financial gain," said Driehaus. "But lobbying is also necessary to educate current Members about injustices that persist around the world. It is a way to give voice to the voiceless. That is why I entered public service, and I view lobbying as a means of continuing that service to the people of southwest Ohio. I hope that drawing upon my experience, we can affect change for the thousands of Mauritanians, living in the US and abroad, who are adversely impacted by their government's policies."

 

Congressman Driehaus has also agreed to lobby Congress to increase funding for the United States Peace Corps if the campaign can reach the $5,000 milestone needed to hire a lobbyist. Driehaus served as a Peace Corps Country Director in the African countries of Swaziland and Morocco, empowering youth and combating the scourge of HIV/AIDS after he left Congress.

 

More about Lobbyists 4 Good

 

Lobbyists 4 Good is the first crowdfunding platform that empowers people to hire lobbyists working for them. Similar to other crowdfunding platforms, individuals submit campaign ideas on their website and funds are raised through peer-to-peer small donations. Campaigns must align with the group's Founding Principles and raise $5,000 to hire a lobbyist for the issue.

 

More about former Representative Steve Driehaus

 

Mr. Driehaus is the Managing Partner of the Good Government Group based in Cincinnati. He served as a Member of Congress from Ohio's 1st Congressional District focusing on regional development issues, financial reform, and government accountability.  After Congress, he led the efforts of the United States Peace Corps in the African countries of Swaziland and Morocco, empowering youth and combating the scourge of HIV/AIDS. Before serving in Congress, Steve served eight years in the Ohio Statehouse, and was elected by his peers to House Minority Whip. He received his B.A. from Miami University (OH) and his M.P.A. from Indiana University.

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