Practice Areas

Submitted by monument_admin on March 27, 2009 - 03:51

TRANSPORTATION, AVIATION & INFRASTRUCTURE

Our nation’s transportation network is a complex and interdependent system that relies on all modes—surface,

air and maritime—to work in synchronicity to efficiently move goods and people. In addition, each mode relies on a large—and expensive—infrastructure to effectively meet the demands of millions of users. While some resources are being pumped into the nation's transportation infrastructure through several government programs to stimulate economic growth, this is just a drop in the bucket in terms of what our nation needs to invest. Additionally, given the belt-tightening that will soon take place in Washington, it will become harder and harder to cobble together the political support that is necessary to pass the multi-billion dollar, multi-year bills necessary to invest in infrastructure, whether the funding is relating to the Federal Aviation Administration or the highway system. Whether it is trucking, maritime, rail, aviation, aerospace, or automotive, Monument Policy Group provides our clients with strategic counseling and assistance in navigating Capitol Hill and the agencies that regulate transportation issues at the federal level.

Monument Policy Group has worked with a number of entities across the spectrum of transportation policy, advising on trade, security technologies, regulatory regimes, safety, intellectual property, international issues, immigration, hazardous materials carriage, cargo and freight issues. Our Transportation Practice highlights our team’s unique expertise in supply chain networks and related public policy issues confronting transportation entities and their customers.

A key part of the firm’s work includes helping transportation companies and organizations understand the federal regulatory environment, technology marketplace and current political atmosphere in Congress and the Administration. We also help clients—particularly vendors—assess ways to better promote their products and partner with other stakeholders, particularly those related to transportation system security and safety. Monument Policy also works with both private and public clients on infrastructure issues, including surface transportation, the protection of critical assets, seaports, and airport-related issues.

Our team includes Monument Policy's Group's founding partner, Stewart Verdery, who served as the first Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning at DHS. In that capacity, he led efforts to develop and implement policies related to immigration, visa policy, travel facilitation, and transportation security. Partner Andrew Howell founded and led the homeland security practice at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the world’s largest general business trade association, where he worked with corporations on transportation, cargo security, and infrastructure protection issues. Andrew also worked on initial efforts by transportation stakeholders on the industry specific, and then multi-modal, transportation sector specific plans.

Partner Jessica Herrera-Flanigan served as the Staff Director and General Counsel for the House Committee on Homeland Security, where she managed the Committee’s legislative, policy, and oversight activities, including those relating to transportation security. Partner Tim Punke, former Trade Counsel to Senator Max Baucus and the Senate Finance Committee, has worked extensively on transportation issues, in particular those involving the intersection of international trade and security. Our team also includes Senior Vice President Rich Thomas, whose experience includes advising Congressman Bill Pascrell on SAFETEA-LU legislation.

Monument Policy Group works closely with a number of key Members and Committees in Congress, including the House and Senate Homeland Security Committees, the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, the Senate Commerce Committee, and the House Energy & Commerce Committee.

In addition, we have extensive relationships within the federal agencies that regulate transportation or fund the underlying infrastructure, including the Department of Transportation, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

Represented a major trade association on reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Represented a major contractor on maritime security and transportation issues.

On behalf of Fortune 100 company, secured legislative language on airport perimeter security technology.

Drafted and secured inclusion of legislative language supporting of the Registered Traveler program.

Advise a fast-growing global biometrics company on the implementation of biometrics in transportation systems.

Represented a trade association in supporting the passage of legislation to assist business travelers who are wrongly placed on terrorist watch lists and are continually subjected to secondary screening.