Issues lobbied + lobbyists
SPO — Sports/Athletics
2026 USA Games: The 2026 Special Olympics USA Games will be a monumental celebration of ability and inclusion set against the backdrop of the Twin Cities. The mission of the Games is to create an event inclusive of people with intellectual disabilities that celebrates ability, delivers the highest quality experiences for all who participate, and leaves a legacy of positive change in Minnesota.The Games are scheduled to take place from June 20-26, 2026, at the University of Minnesota, the official host venue. In addition to the university, the event will unfold across other locations, including the National Sports Center in Blaine. The Games are expected to bring together 3,000 athletes (people with intellectual disabilities) and Unified partners (people without intellectual disabilities who play on the same team as people with intellectual disabilities) and 1,500 coaches representing all 50 states. They will engage in 16 Special Olympics team and individual sports (both traditional and Unified, where people with and without intellectual disabilities compete together). The event will be supported by a dedicated team of 10,000 volunteers with an expected audience of 75,000 fans cheering on the inspiring athletes.
Lobbyists: MEREDITH CIACCIA PIERCE; mr SHAWN M FERGUSON (covered position: Senior Advisor to the Senator, Senator Kent Conrad Legislative Director, Representative Brian Baird Office Manager & Director of Scheduling, Representative Marcy Kaptur); CHRISTIAN CLESI (covered position: Science and Technology Policy Fellow, Senate Special Committee on Aging; Disability Policy Aide, Senate Special Committee on Aging)
Government entities lobbied: Executive Office of the President (EOP); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Office of the Vice President of the United States; President of the U.S.; SENATE
HCR — Health Issues
Special Olympics Healthy Athletes and Healthy Communities programming (Healthy Athletes provides free health screenings and education for Special Olympics athletes and Healthy Communities is a recognition program within Special Olympics, working to increase access to quality health care and effective prevention programming to improve the health of people with intellectual disabilities), H.R.3409 - HEADs UP Act of 2025: The HEADs UP Act would designate people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) as a Medically Underserved Population, opening up many government programs aimed at improving access to care and reducing health disparities.
Lobbyists: MEREDITH CIACCIA PIERCE; mr SHAWN M FERGUSON (covered position: Senior Advisor to the Senator, Senator Kent Conrad Legislative Director, Representative Brian Baird Office Manager & Director of Scheduling, Representative Marcy Kaptur); CHRISTIAN CLESI (covered position: Science and Technology Policy Fellow, Senate Special Committee on Aging; Disability Policy Aide, Senate Special Committee on Aging)
Government entities lobbied: Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC); Executive Office of the President (EOP); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Office of the Vice President of the United States; SENATE
BUD — Budget/Appropriations
Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools (programming aimed at promoting social inclusion through intentionally planned and implemented activities affecting systems-wide change. With sports as the foundation, this three component model offers a unique combination of effective activities that equip young people with tools and training to create sports, classroom and school climates of acceptance.), Special Olympics Healthy Athletes and Healthy Communities programming (Healthy Athletes provides free health screenings and education for Special Olympics athletes and Healthy Communities is a recognition program within Special Olympics, working to increase access to quality health care and effective prevention programming to improve the health of people with intellectual disabilities)
Lobbyists: MEREDITH CIACCIA PIERCE; mr SHAWN M FERGUSON (covered position: Senior Advisor to the Senator, Senator Kent Conrad Legislative Director, Representative Brian Baird Office Manager & Director of Scheduling, Representative Marcy Kaptur); CHRISTIAN CLESI (covered position: Science and Technology Policy Fellow, Senate Special Committee on Aging; Disability Policy Aide, Senate Special Committee on Aging)
Government entities lobbied: Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC); Education, Dept of; Executive Office of the President (EOP); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Office of the Vice President of the United States; SENATE
EDU — Education
Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools (programming aimed at promoting social inclusion through intentionally planned and implemented activities affecting systems-wide change. With sports as the foundation, the three component model offers a unique combination of effective activities that equip young people with tools and training to create sports, classroom and school climates of acceptance.)
Lobbyists: MEREDITH CIACCIA PIERCE; mr SHAWN M FERGUSON (covered position: Senior Advisor to the Senator, Senator Kent Conrad Legislative Director, Representative Brian Baird Office Manager & Director of Scheduling, Representative Marcy Kaptur); CHRISTIAN CLESI (covered position: Science and Technology Policy Fellow, Senate Special Committee on Aging; Disability Policy Aide, Senate Special Committee on Aging)
Government entities lobbied: Education, Dept of; Executive Office of the President (EOP); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Office of the Vice President of the United States; SENATE
CIV — Civil Rights/Civil Liberties
H.R.3420 - Words Matter Act of 2025 - The Words Matter Act replaces more than two dozen instances of the term mentally retarded in U.S. Code with contemporary, respectful language.
Lobbyists: MEREDITH CIACCIA PIERCE; mr SHAWN M FERGUSON (covered position: Senior Advisor to the Senator, Senator Kent Conrad Legislative Director, Representative Brian Baird Office Manager & Director of Scheduling, Representative Marcy Kaptur); CHRISTIAN CLESI (covered position: Science and Technology Policy Fellow, Senate Special Committee on Aging; Disability Policy Aide, Senate Special Committee on Aging)
Government entities lobbied: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES