RAILROAD SAGA CONTINUES: 322 federal, state, and local trade associations are calling on President Joe Biden to continue to work with the railroad unions and railroads so that their tentative agreement is ratified. — In a letter addressed to Biden, the trade associations urged the administration to see the process to the finish line, explaining that the White House played a central role in the tentative agreement. Two unions have rejected that agreement, and the trade associations fear that others may follow suit. The letter's signatories include the American Petroleum Institute, the American Chemistry Council, and the United States Chamber of Commerce. — "We continue to urge that the contracts be ratified to provide stability and predictability to the system," the trade associations wrote. "Your involvement can only help make that happen and ensure there is no interruption to rail service." — A rail strike could begin as early as next month, unless Congress intervenes or 12 rail unions ratify their contracts, my POLITICO colleagues Eleanor Mueller and Tanya Snyder report. JUSTICE DEPT. WARNS OF BROIDY RULING: "A judge's ruling allowing a close ally of former President Donald Trump to obtain documents about Qatar's activities in the U.S. could endanger the safety of American diplomats abroad, a Justice Department attorney argued to a federal appeals court Friday," POLITICO's Josh Gerstein reports . — "That ruling, the Justice Department argued, could imperil U.S. diplomats by encouraging other countries to gain access to records held by security or building contractors for U.S. embassies." — "The warning about American diplomats overseas came as lawyers for former Republican National Committee deputy finance chair Elliott Broidy squared off with attorneys for Qatari agents in a suit Broidy filed to uncover details of how a large trove of his emails leaked to news outlets in 2018 as part of what he has claimed was an illegal "hack and smear" campaign." APCO TAPS NEW HEAD OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS IN D.C.: Obama campaign alum Ami Copeland joins APCO Worldwide as head of public affairs in Washington, the firm announced. — Copeland, previously executive vice president at Resolute Public Affairs, was deputy national finance director for Barack Obama's first presidential campaign. He has also worked for the campaigns of Sens. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), and Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), along with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. — "Today, more than ever, leaders from around the world seek to engage in Washington, D.C. with credibility and impact," Copeland said in the press release announcing his new position. "I am excited to join and help lead APCO's exceptional team in creating public affairs solutions for their clients' complex challenges and unique federal opportunities." — Copeland also earned the rank of First Sergeant in the Israeli Defense Forces and has been an investment banker and business journalist, according to the release. TUMULT AT BIO: "The leading industry group for biopharmaceutical companies is reeling after the departure of its CEO — just as the Biden administration is poised to begin implementing key drug pricing provisions and the balance of power could shift in Congress," POLITICO's Megan Wilson reports . — "Michelle McMurry-Heath stepped down earlier this month after leading the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, a 1,000-member trade group that lobbies for policies impacting biotechnology products made in the healthcare, agricultural and environmental sectors, for a little more than two years." — "McMurry-Heath, the group's third leader since its founding in 1993, faced headwinds shortly after taking the reins in mid-2020, including over how aggressive BIO should be on social and political issues that dominated the headlines but were outside the group's traditional interests, according to six people with knowledge of the group's inner workings." — "The turmoil at the industry group comes as Democrats are set to implement one of the most sweeping drug reform packages in the last decade and underscores the challenge of leading a large board with disparate policy goals and views about its mission."
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