Just the facts

A political action committee (PAC) is the legally sanctioned vehicle through which organizations, such as The American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. (AOTA), can engage in otherwise prohibited political action and work to influence the outcome of federal elections. The elections are regulated by the Federal Election Commission.

The American Occupational Therapy Political Action Committee (AOTPAC) is a voluntary, non-profit, unincorporated committee of AOTA members. AOTPAC was authorized by the Representative Assembly in 1976 and has been operational since the Spring of 1978. The committee is nonpartisan and not affiliated with any political party.

The purpose of AOTPAC is to further the legislative aims of the Association by influencing or attempting to influence the selection, nomination, election, or appointment of any individual to federal public office (i.e., U.S. Senate or U.S. House of Representatives), and of any occupational therapist, occupational therapy assistant, or occupational therapy student member of AOTA seeking election to public office at any level (as allowed by law).

AOTA, as an organization, cannot contribute even a token amount to a candidate. Through a PAC, AOTA can solicit and direct the flow of contributions from its members and provide important assistance to individual candidates for election to federal office.

Decisions of Congress can and do have a direct, long-range effect on the occupational therapy profession. When individuals with mutual interests unite and support candidates who share those interests, steps toward favorable action can be encouraged. The candidates who support the profession need our support.

Since its establishment, AOTPAC has made political contributions to candidates for election to both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate in almost every state. This political involvement has enabled the Association to broaden its contacts in the legislative and executive branches. Through AOTPAC, occupational therapy practitioners have a collective voice that will be heard in the debates over the ever-expanding number of health, education, research and funding issues that come before Congress.

By becoming politically aware and involved, occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, and students of occupational therapy can ensure at least some measure of input into the decisions that affect their professional lives so directly. Because of member participation, AOTPAC continues to make a difference, but it can only be as successful as we choose to make it. Remember the candidates who support our profession need our professional support.

None of your AOTA membership dues are used for candidate support. While AOTA can support the administrative functions of AOTPAC, AOTA cannot provide funds directly to candidates nor to the AOTPAC account to support candidates. Only voluntary donations from AOTA members can be deposited to AOTPAC and used to support candidates for federal office (U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate). Federal election law prohibits corporations, like AOTA, from providing funds to federal candidates.

A six-member Board of Directors makes decisions regarding which candidates will receive AOTPAC support. The AOTA Board of Directors appoints the AOTPAC Board members; each one represents a specific region of the United States, with the exception of the Chair. The Chair is elected by the current AOTPAC Board Directors. The funds that are raised by AOTPAC are used to their fullest potential as campaign contributions.

Yes. A campaign contribution through AOTPAC is not a means of buying votes. It is a "no strings attached" way of ensuring that responsible and dedicated legislators who understand and support the occupational therapy profession remain in or are elected to office.

To ensure the money is well protected and properly spent, many detailed reports are required by the Federal Election Commission from both AOTPAC and the candidates it supports. Both must account for the sources of their funds and the purposes for which these funds are spent.

Many professions, including physicians, dentists, nurses, medical laboratory technologists, optometrists, social workers, and physical therapists have made the concept of a PAC part of their government affairs efforts, all working within the system to better their advantage.