Clerk of the House of Representatives
Legislative Resource Center
135 Cannon Building
Washington, DC 20515
http://lobbyingdisclosure.house.gov 		Secretary of the Senate
Office of Public Records
232 Hart Building
Washington, DC 20510
http://www.senate.gov/lobby
LOBBYING REPORT

Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (Section 5) - All Filers Are Required to Complete This Page

1. Registrant Name Organization/Lobbying Firm Self Employed Individual
MIDDLE EAST FORUM

2. Address

Address1
1650 Market Street
 Address2
​Suite 3600
City
Philadelphia
 State
PA
 Zip Code
19103
 Country
USA

3. Principal place of business (if different than line 2)

City
​Philadelphia
 State
​PA
 Zip Code
​19103
 Country
​USA
4a. Contact Name b. Telephone Number c. E-mail
​Mr.
​Benjamin Baird
​2537201536
​Baird@meforum.org
5. Senate ID#
​401108540-60398
7. Client Name Self Check if client is a state or local government or instrumentality
​MIDDLE EAST FORUM
6. House ID#
​565320001
TYPE OF REPORT 8. Year
​2025
 Q1 (1/1 - 3/31) Q2 (4/1 - 6/30) Q3 (7/1 - 9/30) Q4 (10/1 - 12/31)

9. Check if this filing amends a previously filed version of this report

10. Check if this is a Termination Report Termination Date
​
11. No Lobbying Issue Activity
INCOME OR EXPENSES - YOU MUST complete either Line 12 or Line 13
12. Lobbying 13. Organizations
INCOME relating to lobbying activities for this reporting period was: EXPENSE relating to lobbying activities for this reporting period were:
Less than $5,000
Less than $5,000
$5,000 or more $
​
$5,000 or more $
​40,000.00
Provide a good faith estimate, rounded to the nearest $10,000, of all lobbying related income for the client (including all payments to the registrant by any other entity for lobbying activities on behalf of the client). 14. REPORTING Check box to indicate expense accounting method. See instructions for description of options.
Method A. Reporting amounts using LDA definitions only

Method B. Reporting amounts under section 6033(b)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code

Method C. Reporting amounts under section 162(e) of the Internal Revenue Code

Signature
Digitally Signed By: Benjamin Baird
 Date
11/12/2025 11:22:44 AM

LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.

15. General issue area code EDU

16. Specific lobbying issues

H.R. 1048/S. 1296: Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions Act or the DETERRENT Act. This legislation seeks to counter malign foreign influences in higher education by improving transparency and accountability of foreign gifts and contracts to colleges and universities.

Published and disseminated a report on Qatari government influence at Northwestern University, documenting potential terrorism ties among university faculty. The report was distributed to Congress and executive branch officials along with policy recommendations, such as supporting the DETERRENT Act and banning educational partnerships from Qatar.

Assisted House Education and Workforce Committee ahead of a August 5, 2025 hearings involving questions about antisemitism on Northwestern University's campus.

Supported a bill in the early stages of adoption that is referred to as the Influence Act, which seeks to deny federal student aid to students who travel abroad and participate in foreign propaganda on behalf of countries of concern.

17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U.S. SENATE, Education - Dept of

18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area

First Name Last Name Suffix Covered Official Position (if applicable) New
Benjamin
Baird
​
​

19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None

​

LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.

15. General issue area code FOR

16. Specific lobbying issues

U.S.-Turkey arms deal: Educated policymakers regarding concerns with a potential sale of F-35 fighter aircraft to Turkey.

Promoted new legislation to levy sanctions on countries that host Hamas political leadership.

Advocated for sanctions on Iran-backed militias in Iraq.

Iran nuclear nonproliferation and hostile influence education.

17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None

U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Defense - Dept of (DOD)

18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area

First Name Last Name Suffix Covered Official Position (if applicable) New
Benjamin
Baird
​
​

19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None

​

LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.

15. General issue area code HOM

16. Specific lobbying issues

DHS Spending Report- Published and distributed a report that showed DHS/FEMA spending through three grant programs that supported extremist groups. Programs included the Nonprofit Security Grant Program. Countering Violent Extremism, and Disaster Relief grants. A total of $25 million went to radical U.S. nonprofits. Suggested vetting and appropriations reforms.

Consulted with member of the Homeland Security Advisory Council on Counter-Violent Extremism program.

17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None

U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security - Dept of (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area

First Name Last Name Suffix Covered Official Position (if applicable) New
Benjamin
Baird
​
​

19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None

​

LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.

15. General issue area code BUD

16. Specific lobbying issues

Identified Department of Health and Human Services grants to extremist organizations, including nonprofits with links to Foreign Terrorist Organizations. Shared with HHS officials, advocated for recissions.

17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None

Health & Human Services - Dept of (HHS)

18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area

First Name Last Name Suffix Covered Official Position (if applicable) New
Benjamin
Baird
​
​

19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None

​

Information Update Page - Complete ONLY where registration information has changed.

20. Client new address

Address
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City
​
State
​
Zip Code
​
Country
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21. Client new principal place of business (if different than line 20)

City
​
State
​
Zip Code
​
Country
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22. New General description of client’s business or activities

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LOBBYIST UPDATE

23. Name of each previously reported individual who is no longer expected to act as a lobbyist for the client

First Name
Last Name
Suffix
First Name
Last Name
Suffix
1
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3
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2
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4
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ISSUE UPDATE

24. General lobbying issue that no longer pertains

​
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​
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AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS

25. Add the following affiliated organization(s)

Internet Address:

Name Address Principal Place of Business
(city and state or country)
Street Address
City State/Province Zip Country
City
State Country

26. Name of each previously reported organization that is no longer affiliated with the registrant or client

1 2 3

FOREIGN ENTITIES

27. Add the following foreign entities:

Name Address Principal place of business
(city and state or country) 		Amount of contribution for lobbying activities Ownership percentage in client
Street Address
City State/Province Country
City
State Country
%

28. Name of each previously reported foreign entity that no longer owns, or controls, or is affiliated with the registrant, client or affiliated organization

1 3 5
2 4 6

CONVICTIONS DISCLOSURE

29. Have any of the lobbyists listed on this report been convicted in a Federal or State Court of an offense involving bribery, extortion, embezzlement, an illegal kickback, tax evasion, fraud, a conflict of interest, making a false statement, perjury, or money laundering?

Lobbyist Name Description of Offense(s)