From this morning's Earlybird:

• "The United Arab Emirates is wise to the ways of Washington," AP reports. "With Capitol Hill soon to review a deal to send American nuclear power technology to the U.A.E., the oil-rich nation has enlisted a pair of heavyweight lobbying firms to convince lawmakers the agreement won't be a boost to neighboring Iran's pursuit of atomic weapons."

• "An environmental group is increasing the pressure to pass a sweeping environmental measure by taking out ads in the home districts of Republicans who oppose the bill," Politico reports. "The League of Conservation Voters will advertise in the Michigan district of Republican Rep. Mike Rogers starting Friday, officials at the group said. It will be the second in a series of ads accusing members who oppose the legislation of lacking faith in America."

• "Representatives from the American League of Lobbyists, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, and the American Civil Liberties Union are set to meet with White House ethics adviser Norm Eisen on Friday," Roll Call (subscription) reports. "The groups recently sent a letter to White House Counsel Gregory Craig expressing frustration at the Obama administration's recently minted lobbying restrictions on stimulus funds."

• "Black lawmakers are roiled over the Obama administration's move to potentially cap billions of dollars in compensation owed to black farmers, saying the position contradicts legislation the president championed as an Illinois senator," The Hill reports. "In a meeting Wednesday, the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) vented frustration at recent court filings by the Justice Department that could severely limit compensation owed to black farmers discriminated against in the past by the Department of Agriculture (USDA)."