With more than two decades of experience in government and government relations, Neal is Senior Director of Government Relations at ML Strategies. He has represented clients before the U.S. Congress and Executive Branch on a wide range of issues including appropriations, energy and sustainability, tax policy, trade, and transportation. In support of a client portfolio that has included Fortune 100 companies, start-ups, non-profits and associations, and colleges and universities, Neal works to advance client goals related to federal policy and funding opportunities, and to increase client visibility with decision makers at the congressional and federal agency level.
Prior to joining ML Strategies, Neal served as a legislative assistant to U.S. Senator Max Cleland (D-GA), advising him on numerous issues including appropriations, energy and environment, international relations, natural resources, and trade.
Education
- University of Georgia (BA)
Case Studies
Case Study
ML Strategies formed a coalition of hydropower and renewable energy developers to build support for Massachusetts legislation, which was enacted in August 2016, that allows the state’s utilities to enter into long-term contracts with energy suppliers.
Case Study
ML Strategies advocated for the National Association of Health and Educational Facilities Finance Authorities (NAHEFFA) amid the Trump administration’s tax law overhaul. The final bill maintained the private activity bond tax exemption, including for nonprofit hospitals and higher education.
Case Study
ML Strategies advocated for the interests of the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association (MHA) and its members before the Massachusetts legislature and health agencies through several rounds of cost containment legislation and bills designed to address the opioid crisis.
Recent Insights
Viewpoints
Energy & Sustainability Washington Update — July 2024
June 25, 2024
Hot EPA Issues Heading into the Election Year
May 23, 2024
Events
Neal Martin and Sebastian Lucier from ML Strategies and Mintz will speak on Cleantech San Diego's webinar, "Energy and Cleantech Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act."
Sebastian Lucier and Neal Martin will discuss how President Biden’s transportation and infrastructure plan will affect the cleantech sector on Cleantech San Diego's webinar, "Energy and Infrastructure in the Biden Administration."
Viewpoints
Energy & Sustainability Washington Updates – October 2019
October 2, 2019|
Congress returned from the annual August recess on September 9 for a three-week work period before returning home for a district work period the first two weeks of October.
Infrastructure & Surface Transportation Update
August 21, 2019|
Read about infrastructure-related bills and measures before Congress, including the surface transportation and Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) reauthorizations.
DHS’s Final EB-5 Regulations: What Stakeholders Need to Know
August 5, 2019|
Read about DHS’s Final EB-5 Regulations that will take effect on November 21, 2019, including a new standard minimum investment amount of $1.8 million.
President Signs Legislation Reforming CFIUS & Export Controls
August 28, 2018|
Congress has continued its 57-year tradition of passing an annual defense authorization bill with the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2019 finalized by Congress on August 1 and signed into law by President Trump on August 13. The NDAA makes important reforms and updates to the process by which investments in U.S. businesses by foreign persons are reviewed by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and updates and codifies Department of Commerce practices related to export controls.
As Deadline for Expiration Approaches, Congressional Action Likely
December 7, 2015|
Now just days away from the December 11th expiration of a short-term Continuing Resolution (CR) that has been funding federal activities since the start of the current fiscal year on October 1st, Congress is feverishly working to reach agreement on a long-term Omnibus spending bill that will fund the federal government through the remainder of the fiscal year.
EB-5 Regional Center Program to Get Short-Term Reprieve with Passage of Continuing Resolution
September 30, 2015|
Coinciding with the end of the current fiscal year, the EB-5 regional center program is set to expire today but will get a temporary reprieve with expected final passage of a Continuing Resolution (CR) that will fund the government through December 11 and also temporarily extend the regional center program through that same date.
Created by the Immigration Act of 1990, the Immigrant Investor Program, more commonly referred to as the EB-5 program, offers foreign investors an opportunity to secure permanent residency in the United States by making a minimum capital investment of $1 million per investor into a New Commercial Enterprise (NCE) that will create at least 10 jobs for US workers.
Energy & Sustainability Washington Update — April 2024
July 1, 2024|
Our April 2024 Energy & Sustainability Washington Update covers new Bipartisan Infrastructure Law & Inflation Reduction Act opportunities, new DOE funding for industrial decarbonization, electric heat pumps, and Interconnection of renewable energy into the grid, plus new vehicle pollution standards focused on EVs and a new national zero-emission freight corridor strategy
Events
Apr
8
2024
Nov
18
2021
Energy and Cleantech Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
Cleantech San Diego
Virtual Event
May
26
2021
Feb
17
2021