Honeywell spent $1.7 million in 2Q to lobby federal government on biofuels, defense budget

Honeywell spent $1.7 million on 2Q lobbying

WASHINGTON — Honeywell International Inc. spent $1.7 million in the second quarter to lobby the federal government on biofuels to power aircraft, the budget and other bills.

That was even with the amount the company spent in the same quarter last year and in the prior quarter.

The defense industry faces uncertainty over the direction of Pentagon weapons spending. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has taken steps to tighten budgets and hold contractors more accountable for cost overruns. The military is also buying more high tech tools that can be used to fight shadowy insurgents, forcing companies to adjust from their traditional reliance on building big weapons meant for conventional wars.

Honeywell, an aerospace and auto parts manufacturer and defense contractor based in Morris Township, N.J., lobbied on airline employment, technologies in military vehicles, the environment and more in the April through June period.

Honeywell lobbied Congress, the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, the Army, Navy, Air Force and other agencies, according to the filing made July 20 with the House Clerk’s office.