Ride-sharing companies have been recently mired in controversies, including potential threats of regulation from state and federal agencies. But now one leading company is telling politicians that ride-sharing should be supported as a solution to many of government’s most challenging problems.

Uber has been under fire by its drivers and by regulators, according to Bloomberg. But the company is now actively lobbying in Washington, with a novel approach that neither mirrors the defensive of many industries nor the company’s typical assertiveness.

Led by their recent hire David Plouff, who previously managed President Obama’s 2008 campaign, Uber is urging federal government officials to see the company as a problem-solver. His approach is to sell Uber as a neutral force that can be used for social good, and to claim that criticisms of the company are misguided.

In a speech earlier this week, Plouff noted that the ride-sharing industry could help tackle transportation and traffic problems, wage stagnation, unemployment, and discrimination.

He also rejected the notion that Uber drivers should be treated as traditional workers, noting that half of the company’s 400,000 domestic workforce works ten hours per week or less. He says the company allows such drivers to easily supplement their primary income, and can thus serve as a force for economic growth.

Noting the company has 27,000 drivers in Washington, Plouff noted that a factory opening offering such employment numbers would be met with celebrations. In a slide presentation, he highlighted the thousands of Uber drivers employed in districts across the country, suggesting to politicians that the company’s workers depend on deregulation for their livelihoods.

Plouff’s visit to Washington seems to suggest that Uber intends to work on its reputation among politicians who continue to question the company’s business model, especially as many other countries regulate ride-sharing as taxi services, with stronger worker protections.