Gregory Cota Email & Phone Number

Washington, D.C.

Lead lobbyist for national trade association representing commercial service airports in the United States and Canada. Focus on laws and regulations at the Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation Security Administration, and Customs and Border Protection affecting the aviation industry, including infrastructure financing, federal regulation transportation security, and customs facilitation. Prepare congressional testimony, legislative text, fact sheets, and briefing materials to advance the association’s agenda on Capitol Hill. Build coalition support for the association’s policies through strategic relationships with important stakeholders in the transportation community. Participate in association’s Political Action Committee and attend political functions with key congressional members who have jurisdiction over industry issues. Accomplishments include:• Prepared the organization's strategic goals, policy recommendations, and lobbying materials on FAA, TSA, and CBP legislation.• Spearheaded legislative victories in securing $20 billion in emergency relief funding for airports during the COVID-19 pandemic and $20 billion in infrastructure funding for airports in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. • Initiated legislative victories in homeland security policy, including increased airport staffing at TSA and CBP, eased restrictions on future CBP preclearance facilities, and requirements for TSA to continue staffing exit lanes at airports and reimbursing airports for local law enforcement coverage. • Organized annual congressional appropriations requests for U.S. Departments of Transportation and Homeland Security and met with appropriations staff to advance the association’s policy priorities.• Planned the annual Washington Legislation Conference, which featured numerous congressional and administration speakers and a Capitol Hill advocacy day.

Alexandria, Virginia

Appointed committee chair by association’s board of directors. Advised board on local transportation and development projects that impact community listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register.

Alexandria, Virginia

Analyzed and amended plans, methods, and means to control and relieve parking and traffic congestion within the City. Exercised oversight authority over City taxicabs and their owners/operators.

Washington, D.C.

Chief Washington aide for transportation, business, budget, tax, labor, and homeland security policy. Advanced and provided context to the Senator’s agenda by preparing legislation, statements, press releases, correspondence, and memoranda. Developed legislative, outreach, and coalition building strategies with specific focus on helping local communities and companies grow. Managed variety of appropriations projects. • Helped to secure $400 million in federal funds for Vermont and to work through implementation issues with grantees and federal agency staff. • Led legislative effort to remove large and potentially unsafe trucks from historic downtowns by providing Vermont with a 20-year exemption from federal truck weight standards on its interstate highways. • Coordinated ongoing efforts to provide disaster assistance to individuals, businesses, and governments impacted by Tropical Storm Irene in 2011. • Headed legislative effort to postpone implementation of Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative until the federal government properly balanced security concerns and commercial interests by training border officers in new passport requirements, deploying scanning technology to border ports, and conducting outreach to the traveling public and border communities. • Directed Senator's participation in the conference committee for the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.• Initiated and organized events for local businesses to learn about new investment and marketing opportunities, including two statewide conferences on funding availability through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, a statewide matchmaker conference for small businesses and lending institutions, and eight annual Taste of Vermont hospitality receptions on Capitol Hill. • Provided testimony before Vermont General Assembly and remarks before transportation conferences and trade groups.

Washington, D.C.

Researched and composed statements, press releases, and constituent responses on a variety of legal issues, including antitrust, bankruptcy, crime, drugs, and judicial nominations. Established relationships with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Monitored U.S. Department of Justice grants and appropriations projects in Vermont, including assisting local grantees with funding applications. Tracked the process, calculated statistical information, and performed historical research on executive and judicial nominations. Oversaw four staff members in responding to constituent correspondence. Accomplishments include:• Spearheaded efforts to reform the Department of Justice’s Public Safety Officers Benefits Program, including expanding coverage to nonprofit EMS providers and to first responders who suffer fatal heart attacks, strokes, and vascular ruptures while on duty. • Led research team compiling documents and preparing questions for Committee hearings and Senate debate on executive and judicial nominations. • Provided support to Committee counsels advising Democratic Senators on historical record of impeachment precedents and procedure during 1999 Senate impeachment trial.

Ba, Government

Relevant Courses: Public Administration; Public Policy; Economic Statistics; Legislative Processes; Political Polling and Survey Analysis.

Ma, Transportation Policy, Operations & Logistics

Relevant Courses: Transportation Planning and Policy; Transportation and Land Use in the Metropolitan Economy; Transport and Social.