As Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook testifies today before a congressional committee, he may be somewhat comforted knowing his company’s lobbying effort was given an extra boost in the first three months of 2013.

In the first quarter of 2013, Apple Inc. reported spending $720,000 on federal lobbying. This is an increase from the $540,000 it spent in the fourth quarter of 2012. In all of 2012 the company spent $1,970.000. View Political MoneyLine’s chart of their spending on lobbying since 1999 when they spent only $180,000.

Apple Inc. also contracted with the following firms to lobby on its behalf: Capitol Tax Partners LLP, Franklin Square Group LLC, Bernstein Strategy Group, Glover Park Group LLC and Fierce Isakowitz & Blalock.