Understanding AOTPAC and why it matters for occupational therapy

What is the American Occupational Therapy Political Action Committee (AOTPAC)?

A political action committee is a group formed by an industry or an issue-oriented organization (in our case, AOTA representing the profession of occupational therapy) to raise and contribute money to the campaigns of candidates likely to support issues of concern to that group. AOTPAC was created by the AOTA Representative Assembly resolution #491-76 in 1976, and it has been operational from 1978 to present, marking 47 years of advocacy for occupational therapy.

AOTPAC's role in supporting AOTA's federal legislative advocacy

AOTPAC is a critical entity supporting the AOTA Federal Affairs team in their work to advocate for occupational therapy with the U.S. Congress (U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate) as they consider legislation crucial to the profession. AOTPAC supports candidates for election and re-election who support occupational therapy’s legislative goals. AOTPAC donations help the AOTA Federal Affairs staff and AOTPAC supporters build relationships with members of Congress and candidates. These relationships let us share why access to occupational therapy services is so crucial and provide insight into how legislation might positively or negatively impact the profession or access to OT services.

Candidate Support

With 535 Members of Congress to consider, and the limited funds available (AOTPAC is limited by law only to solicit contributions from AOTA members), AOTPAC’s focus is on candidates who support the occupational therapy profession. Members of Congress may focus on legislative issues important to occupational therapy, including early intervention and K-12 education, higher education, mental health, Medicare, health insurance, or community-based services. Just as other associations’ PACs focus on issues important to their profession, AOTPAC must focus on occupational therapy.

AOTPAC is aware that individual AOTA members span the ideological and political spectrums. They have their own views and opinions about candidate support that encompass other issues important to them, and have their own party affiliations. It is appropriate and necessary that AOTPAC focus solely on issues that affect the professional interests of occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, and students of occupational therapy. Additionally, we focus on issues that help to improve consumer access to health care services, educational support, and community-based services. There are Members of Congress who champion occupational therapy issues but may have views that some AOTA members do not support.

AOTPAC strives to contribute equally to each party, though there may be slight differences in giving from one reporting period to the next. The Board has established a specific criterion to guide decisions on which candidates to support with political contributions. This criterion is periodically reviewed to ensure it remains up to date and aligns with the current AOTPAC board's goals.

Role of the AOTPAC Board

AOTPAC is led by a volunteer Board of Directors consisting of a Chair and five Directors representing different regions of the U.S. These are AOTA members appointed by the AOTA Board of Directors.

The AOTPAC Board has multiple responsibilities. First, it raises money from AOTA members. AOTPAC Board members can only solicit funds from AOTA members, and by law, no AOTA dues can be used to support political candidates; only voluntary contributions to AOTPAC can be used. The Board also directs how money is spent on candidate support; AOTPAC is non-partisan. We are the party of occupational therapy, and candidate support is focused on advancing occupational therapy. The AOTPAC Board and the AOTPAC Ambassadors also present to student groups, classes, and state associations about AOTA Federal Affairs’ work. This helps encourage involvement in legislative advocacy, share information about legislative efforts and successes, and help raise funds. However, the AOTPAC Board does not direct advocacy or the legislative issues addressed. Additionally, the AOTPAC Board does not have the authority to issue official statements, either on its own or on behalf of AOTA, on specific policies. AOTPAC is a separate, segregated fund of AOTA.

Regulated by the FEC

Federal laws and regulations limit the amount AOTPAC can contribute to each candidate, depending on the election cycle (primary, general, or special). The Federal Election Commission regulates federal campaign activities, and AOTPAC must file detailed reports of its receipts and expenditures to the Commission on a schedule set by the Commission. It is important to know that AOTPAC contributions are not secret; the Federal Election Commission (FEC) requires all candidates and political committees (such as AOTPAC) to file regular financial reports detailing the candidates they support. These filings are publicly available on the FEC website. AOTA members with questions about candidate support are welcome to contact us directly at aotpac@aota.org.