Michael J. Fox Foundation Spends $190K on Lobbying in First Quarter

filed its First Quarter 2026 lobbying disclosure, reporting $190,000 in in-house lobbying expenditures. Combined with concurrent filings from external firms, the Foundation's quarterly spending totaled $230,000, part of sustained federal advocacy that has exceeded $1.17 million across all filings over the past year.

Why It Matters

The [Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research]( https://app.legis1.com/lda-filings/detail?id=2082812#summaryFoundation is navigating a complex federal policy environment for Parkinson's research. The National Plan to End Parkinson's Act (P.L. 118-66) was signed into law, but its advisory council—required to deliver its first report to Congress by January 2, 2026—was not seated until April 10, 2026, just days before this filing. Separately, the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program's Parkinson's Research Program was eliminated in the FY2025 continuing resolution. The Foundation's sustained lobbying effort reflects efforts to advance research funding, protect existing programs, and implement the newly enacted National Plan.

By the Numbers

The first quarter 2026 in-house filing of $190,000 represents a slight decrease from fourth quarter 2025's $210,000, though it remains elevated compared to the first half of 2025. In-house spending over the past five quarters:

The Foundation also retains two external firms. Alston & Bird LLP has filed four quarterly disclosures totaling $120,000 over the past year, focused on advancing Parkinson's research. Lewis-Burke Associates LLC has filed four disclosures totaling $160,000, with a companion first quarter 2026 filing of $40,000 filed April 16, 2026. Neither the in-house nor Lewis-Burke first quarter 2026 filings listed specific issues lobbied.

The in-house lobbying team for first quarter 2026 consists of five lobbyists: Sallie Weart, Grant Cope, Danielle Mutone-Smith, Drew Hatter, and Mason Zeagler. This is the same team that handled fourth quarter 2025. Grant Cope previously served as Senior Counsel to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee; Drew Hatter has prior congressional staff experience in the House.

The Agenda

The first quarter 2026 in-house filing lists no specific issues or legislation. This represents a departure from prior quarters, which included detailed issue descriptions. Based on the Foundation's prior filings over the past year, the recurring lobbying agenda has included: funding for implementation of the National Plan to End Parkinson's Act; advocacy to ban or restrict environmental risk factors linked to Parkinson's, including trichloroethylene (TCE) and paraquat; increasing the affordability and accessibility of Parkinson's treatments; advocacy around Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs research programs; and support for the Credit for Caring Act (H.R. 2036), which would provide a tax credit for working family caregivers.

Legislation referenced in prior Foundation filings includes the ABC Act, the Safe Step Act, and multiple congressional disapproval resolutions targeting EPA regulations on TCE. Lewis-Burke's prior filings have specifically cited the HEALTHY BRAINS Act and FY2026 Labor-HHS appropriations.

Broader Context

The advisory council established under the National Plan to End Parkinson's Act was seated by HHS on April 10, 2026—just days before this filing was signed—after a prolonged delay. The council had been required to deliver its first report to Congress by January 2, 2026, a deadline it missed. In January, a bipartisan group of lawmakers sent a letter to HHS demanding the department fulfill its obligations under the law.

The foundation's lobbying period coincided with active constituent advocacy on Capitol Hill. Multiple congressional offices posted about foundation-organized meetings and visits during the first quarter. In February, members recognized Foundation advocates visiting Washington and another received the Parkinson's Congressional Champion Award at the foundation's annual Parkinson's Policy Forum. In March, members noted constituent meetings with foundation advocates from their districts.

On the research funding front, the HEALTHY BRAINS Act—which would direct NIH to study environmental risk factors for neurodegenerative diseases—was reintroduced in the current Congress by Reps. Suhas Subramanyam and Gus Bilirakis on a bipartisan basis.

The Bottom Line

The Michael J. Fox Foundation is a consistent and significant presence in federal lobbying, with combined spending across in-house and external firms running above $1.17 million annually. The Foundation's sustained spending, stable lobbying team, and active constituent engagement demonstrate federal advocacy as a core organizational function. The Q1 2026 filing offers no window into specific priorities for the quarter, but the foundation's trajectory suggests continued focus on research funding, treatment accessibility, and implementation of the recently seated National Plan advisory council.