Why It Matters
The Florida Ports Council has registered LSN Partners LLC as its federal lobbying firm, according to a new congressional lobbying disclosure filed April 28, 2026. The Florida Ports Council represents the state's seaports at a moment when federal funding for port infrastructure is in flux. The Trump administration has frozen or cancelled several major port grant programs, creating urgency for port advocates to engage Capitol Hill directly.
By the Numbers
The new registration lists no financial figure, as is standard for initial registrations. LSN Partners represented 23 clients in 2025, generating approximately $1.97 million in total lobbying revenue. The firm's portfolio spans defense procurement, energy, technology, and infrastructure.
Two lobbyists are named in the Florida Ports Council lobbying disclosure:
- Tom Quinn, who previously served as legislative director for Rep. Peter Visclosky (D-IN), a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee. Quinn has represented clients including AgustaWestland Philadelphia Corp., Tidal Basin Government Consulting LLC, and Miami-Dade County, with a focus on appropriations and infrastructure.
- Neil Ohlhausen, who has worked alongside Quinn on several shared clients, including AgustaWestland and Socure Inc., covering homeland security and technology issues.
Both lobbyists are assigned to all three issue areas in the filing.
The Agenda
The Florida Ports Council lobbying registration covers three broad issue areas: budget and appropriations, homeland security, and transportation. No specific legislation or detailed issue descriptions are included in the disclosure. The filing does not identify any bills the Council is lobbying on directly.
Relevant legislation does exist across all three areas. On the homeland security front, the Secure Our Ports Act of 2025 passed the House in June 2025. It would bar certain U.S. maritime facilities from contracting with enterprises owned by China, Iran, North Korea, or Russia. The Strategic Ports Reporting Act also passed the House, directing the State and Defense Departments to identify ports of strategic importance and assess Chinese influence over them. On port staffing, the Securing America's Ports of Entry Act would require Customs and Border Protection to hire at least 1,000 new officers annually.
Broader Context
Florida's seaports are navigating a period of significant federal funding uncertainty. A FreightWaves report cited a Florida port official raising concerns about the Trump administration's federal funding freeze affecting port infrastructure grants, specifically the Port Infrastructure Development Program, which provides $450 million annually. Separately, the administration cancelled $679 million in federal port funding that had been designated to support offshore wind infrastructure projects, according to a report on WUFT, the PBS affiliate in north central Florida.
On the security side, FEMA confirmed that the fiscal year 2025 Port Security Grant Program has $90 million available for maritime security infrastructure. A GAO report released in September 2025 found the program awarded $690 million across 82 U.S. ports over seven years, but called for improved transparency in grant decisions. The DHS fiscal year 2026 budget also proposed a $1 billion increase for the Coast Guard, focused on maritime border security.
At the state level, Florida legislation advanced to expand the Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development program, which provides $25 million annually in grants, plus $35 million allocated by the Florida Department of Transportation. An additional $15 million per year for five years was made available from the State Transportation Trust Fund for intermodal logistics centers connected to seaports.
Between the Lines
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment held a hearing in December 2025 on Water Resources Development Act priorities, covering port navigation, dredging, and Army Corps of Engineers funding. The House Judiciary Committee held a March 2026 hearing titled "Pier Pressure: Regulation and Competition in Maritime Shipping," examining antitrust exemptions and federal maritime regulation. The House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation held a concurrent hearing on maritime readiness and supply chain resilience.
On the member communications front, Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL-16) met directly with Florida Ports Council leaders in May 2025, posting that he was "committed to supporting initiatives that strengthen Florida's position as a global trade hub." Buchanan also raised concerns about a global carbon tax affecting Florida businesses and ports, and cosponsored the U.S. Customs and Border Protection SPACE Act on port security. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL-14) announced a federal investment in Port Tampa Bay in April 2026. The House Homeland Security Committee also met with executives from the Port of Long Beach and Port of Los Angeles in April 2026 as part of its maritime infrastructure review.
Competitive Landscape
LSN Partners' existing client Miami-Dade County and the Miami-Dade Transportation Planning Organization both lobby on transportation and appropriations issues that overlap with the Florida Ports Council's agenda. The International Longshoremen's Association and the U.S. Travel Association are also active on port-related legislation. In December 2025, a bipartisan group of House members introduced the Securing Smart Investments in our Ports Act to strengthen the Port Infrastructure Development Program, drawing support from multiple port stakeholders.
The Bottom Line
The Florida Ports Council's entry into federal lobbying comes at a moment when port funding and security are active legislative and administrative concerns. With an appropriations-focused lobbyist in Tom Quinn, and the homeland security background of Neil Ohlhausen, the firm's team closely aligns with the Council's stated issue areas.
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