Why It Matters
The Mechanical Contractors Association of America is lobbying on H.R. 5631, the Geothermal Ombudsman for National Deployment and Optimal Reviews Act, which passed the House and was referred to the Senate on June 3. The bill would establish a geothermal ombudsman within the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and a Geothermal Permitting Task Force to oversee geothermal project permitting and authorizations on federal land; the filing also covers H.R. 4615, the Small Business Payment for Performance Act of 2025, which would require federal agencies to make interim partial payments to small business contractors when the government changes a construction contract without the contractor's agreement.
By the Numbers
The association's combined third-quarter 2026 lobbying total reached $160,000, up $120,000 from $40,000 in the second quarter of 2026. The third-quarter 2025 total was also $40,000, all from outside firm Longbow Public Policy Group LLC. The third-quarter 2026 total comes from two filings:
- In-house: Mechanical Contractors Association of America, $120,000, signed Oct. 20.
- Outside firm: Longbow Public Policy Group LLC, $40,000.
The in-house filing lists one lobbyist: Mike Pantelides, the association's executive director, government affairs, with no prior congressional staff experience listed. Longbow's filing lists Chris Granberg, Robert Simpson, and Andrew Siff.
Broader Context
H.R. 5631 — Geothermal permitting
Rep. Jeff Hurd (R-CO-3) introduced H.R. 5631 on Sept. 30, 2025; the bill was ordered reported in amended form by unanimous consent on March 5, and the House passed it on June 2, sending it to the Senate. The bill would require the Department of the Interior to appoint a geothermal ombudsman from within BLM to liaise among BLM offices, provide dispute resolution services, and lead a Geothermal Permitting Task Force that may reassign employees from other Interior bureaus to assist in completing geothermal authorizations. The Corporate Energy Buyers Association backed the bill, arguing geothermal is a reliable, carbon-emissions-free domestic resource that could help meet rising electricity demand. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce also expressed strong support, contending clearer timelines and more efficient permitting could reduce delays and uncertainty, while calling for further refinement of the bill's royalty-reform provisions.
H.R. 4615 — Small business contractor payments
Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN-8) introduced H.R. 4615 on July 22, 2025; the House Committee on Small Business held a meeting on the bill on Sept. 16. The bill requires agencies to pay small business contractors at least 50% of estimated additional costs while an equitable adjustment request is under review, with those payments passed down to subcontractors. The Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA) urged Congress to support the bill in July 2025, saying it would help small-business federal contractors get paid sooner after approved change orders and manage rising material costs, though it would not fully remedy change-order payment inequities.
Other disclosed issues
The filing also discloses general education on Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements, a legislative proposal to treat retainage as income on the date payment is received, and education on reforming the alternative dispute resolution process under the No Surprises Act. A Sept. 10, letter signed by 67 organizations, including the association, called on Congress to reform the No Surprises Act's independent dispute resolution process, citing 1.4 million disputes in 2024 and 2.6 million in 2025 versus an original federal projection of about 17,000 per year.
Competitive Landscape
Four other organizations are associated with H.R. 5631: CoBank ACB, Corporate Energy Buyers Association, Fervo Energy Co., and Zanskar Geothermal & Minerals Inc.; two others, the National Association of Surety Bond Producers and Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association Inc., are associated with H.R. 4615.
The Bottom Line
The association's combined quarterly spending stayed at a steady level for five quarters before rising in the third quarter of 2026 with the addition of an in-house filing. H.R. 5631 has passed the House and awaits Senate action; the bill lapses if the 119th Congress adjourns without Senate passage.
Access the Legis1 platform for comprehensive political news, data, and insights
Spot something wrong? Report an issue with this article
