WASHINGTON (Associated Press) - Accenture LLP, the US-based unit of Bermuda-based consulting firm Accenture Ltd., spent more than $3.6 million in 2007 on its own behalf to lobby Washington.

The company spent almost $1.8 million in the second half of 2007 on lobbying, according to a disclosure form posted on February 14 by the Senate's public records office.

The company lobbied on Defence Department and Department of Homeland Security appropriations, as well as patent reform, promotion of higher education and technology, immigration reform and other issues.

Accenture also spent almost $1.9 million to lobby on many of the same issues in the first half of the year, as well as on data security.

The group lobbied Congress and the Department of Education, General Services Administration, Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State.

Lobbyists are required to disclose activities that could influence members of the executive and legislative branches, under a federal law enacted in 1995.