Case Study: Coalition Building
Immigration Reform Bill Amendments

On behalf of a university client, Lewis-Burke Associates LLC worked closely with a variety of groups on an immigration reform bill to correct the prevailing wage determinations for temporary foreign employees at institutions of higher education. While collaborating with other universities and groups on this large issue, Lewis Burke also worked on behalf of another client - a coalition of independent biomedical research institutes - to gain an additional modification to the proposed legislation that would restore preferential treatment for temporary employees at not-for-profit research organizations. Through Lewis-Burke’s efforts, the proposed language was included in both the House and Senate versions of the bill. This focused advocacy initiative did not detract from the successful higher education effort and did not require a high-profile coalition effort, but the provision was vital to the independent research institutions.