Eastman is committed to complying with all applicable laws relating to lobbying activities, including those requiring disclosure of our activities at the federal, state and local levels. The Lobbying Disclosure Act, and subsequently, the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act, established U.S. guidelines for reporting federal lobbying activity, and most states (and many municipalities) require reporting of lobbying activities (including grassroots activities) at the state and local levels. Often employers and employees who engage in lobbying must register in order to conduct lobbying activities. Moreover, external parties hired to engage in lobbying activities or make lobbying contacts must also register. Specifically, employees of Eastman's Government Affairs Department are authorized to engage in federal, state, local and foreign lobbying activities on behalf of Eastman. No other employee is authorized to approve lobbying activities on behalf of Eastman unless such approval is granted by the Government Affairs Department. Lobbying registrations and disclosures are made publicly available via U.S. government agency websites.
Eastman participates in direct advocacy on certain public policy issues that we believe are important. As part of our advocacy efforts, we participate in a number of trade organizations and industry groups representing the interests of our industry and the broader business community. While Eastman may not always support every position taken by these organizations or their other members, we believe our participation in these organizations is important and furthers Eastman's goals. Payments to these organizations and groups, including membership fees and dues, are not to be used for election-related activity at the federal, state or local levels, including contributions and expenditures for candidates, ballot initiatives, political party committees or political action committees. Eastman has no participation in or payments to organizations that develop and promote model legislation. Proposed memberships in and contributions to trade and business associations are reviewed by Eastman's Government Affairs Department and such memberships are reported annually to Eastman's Board of Directors and its Environmental, Safety and Sustainability Committee.
For its federal lobbying disclosures, Eastman receives information from its U.S. trade and business associations identifying the portion of Eastman dues and payments used by those groups for lobbying activity. The Company includes this information in the aggregate in our quarterly lobbying activity reports filed with the U.S. Congress, as required by the Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA).