Lobbyists 4 Good hires former Representative Steve Driehaus to lobby Congress on two issues
We're excited to announce that we have hired a former member of Congress, Steve Driehaus, to lobby on a campaign recently funded on our platform.
Mr. Driehaus served as a Member of Congress from Ohio's 1st Congressional District from and 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.
He will also be advocating to restore citizenship for thousands of Mauritanians who were denied citizenship during that time. 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 after the community had already met with Driehaus to ask his help lobbying Congress.
The effort 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 on behalf of Lobbyists 4 Good to increase funding for the United States Peace Corps. 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.
Mr. Driehaus is the Managing Partner of the Good Government Group based in Cincinnati. When he was in Congress, he focused on regional development issues, financial reform, and government accountability. 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. This will be the first time he has registered to be a lobbyist.
Billy DeLancey is the Co-founder and CEO of Lobbyists 4 Good, the first crowdfunding platform that empowers everyday Americans to hire lobbyists.