What is a PAC?
Why does NSPE need a PAC?
Why should I join NSPE-PAC?
What are the levels of membership in NSPE-PAC?
Am I eligible to contribute to NSPE-PAC?
How do I make a contribution?
What is the maximum contribution I can make?
Is my PAC contribution tax deductible?
What is Campaign Finance Reform?
Is NSPE-PAC partisan?
Can I recommend a candidate to receive a PAC contribution?
What candidates has NSPE-PAC supported?
What is a PAC?
A political action committee (PAC) enables NSPE employees and members to combine their political contributions and support candidates who support NSPE's issues. Created as a result of campaign finance reform in the 1970s, PACs are the most transparent and rigorously regulated form of political contributions.
Why does NSPE need a PAC?
Congress makes legislative decisions every day that affect our industry, from infrastructure funding to math and science education initiatives. In order to ensure that Congress understands our issues, we must participate in the political process. NSPE-PAC is one way for us to speak with a collective voice. Of course, NSPE is not the only organization vying for elected officials' attention. We must compete with other groups with different, and often opposing, interests. A strong PAC allows us to be heard, loudly and clearly, by members of Congress whose decisions affect our livelihood and safety.
Why should I join NSPE-PAC?
NSPE-PAC allows you to participate in the political process while enhancing the power of your contribution. Pooling our resources magnifies our collective influence the political process. When you make individual contributions to candidates, candidates may not know why you chose to support them. When our PAC makes a contribution, however, it sends a strong, collective message from NSPE. There is strength in numbers.
What are the levels of membership in NSPE-PAC?
- President's Inner Circle ($500 and above)
- Complimentary admission (with guest) to PAC event during
NSPE Annual Conference
- Eligibility for election as a PAC trustee
- Eligibility to vote in PAC Board of Trustees elections
- Opportunities to meet political leaders
- Opportunity to recommend candidates to receive contributions
- Action Kit — exclusive welcome materials for President's
Inner Circle contributors
- Subscription to bi-monthly PAC newsletter
- NSPE Congressional Directory
- Recognition in PAC newsletter
- Recognition at special events and in Society publications
- Recognition on NSPE-PAC Web site
- President's Inner Circle lapel pin
- Chairman's Club ($250–$499)
- Reduced admission to PAC event during NSPE Annual Conference
- Eligibility for election as a PAC trustee
- Eligibility to vote in PAC Board of Trustees elections
- Opportunities to meet political leaders
- Opportunity to recommend candidates to receive contributions
- Subscription to bi-monthly PAC newsletter
- Recognition in PAC newsletter
- Recognition at special events and in Society publications
- Recognition on NSPE-PAC web site
- Chairman's Club lapel pin
- Champion's Level ($100–$249)
- Eligibility to vote in PAC Board of Trustees elections
- Opportunity to recommend candidates to receive contributions
- Subscription to bi-monthly PAC newsletter
- Recognition in PAC newsletter
- Recognition on NSPE-PAC web site
- Champion's Level lapel pin
- Supporter's Level ($25–$99)
- Eligibility to vote in PAC Board of Trustees elections
- Subscription to bi-monthly PAC newsletter
- Opportunity to recommend candidates to receive contributions
Am I eligible to contribute to NSPE-PAC?
Only NSPE members, employees, and their families may contribute to the PAC.
How do I make a contribution?
You may contribute to NSPE-PAC by mail with a check:
National Society of Professional Engineers
Political Action Committee
P.O. Box 630715
Baltimore, MD 21263-0715
What is the maximum contribution I can make?
An individual's contributions to NSPE-PAC may not exceed $5,000 in a calendar year.
Is my PAC contribution tax deductible?
No.
What is Campaign Finance Reform?
The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA) has made PACs more vital then ever. BCRA prohibits corporations from contributing to federal campaigns ("soft money") and severely limits corporate contributions to other campaigns. PACs and contributions by individuals have become the only means of financial participation in federal campaigns.
What are the criteria candidates must meet to receive a contribution from NSPE-PAC?
NSPE-PAC supports candidates who
- Hold political philosophies and voting records on relevant issues that are compatible with NSPE and its members;
- Support the engineering community;
- Are fair and open to issues important to NSPE and its members;
- Serve on committees having jurisdiction over issues of importance to NSPE and its members; and
- Are capable of mounting a viable campaign with a reasonable chance of winning.
Other considerations include
- Support from NSPE state societies or personal relationships with NSPE members;
- A candidate's financial need; and
- Proximity to election (less than two years).
Contributions are not given for the purpose of retiring a campaign debt.NSPE-PAC does not make discretionary contributions to presidential candidates or committees. Is NSPE-PAC partisan?No. NSPE-PAC contributes to candidates who understand and support our issues, regardless of their political party affiliation. Can I recommend a candidate to receive a PAC contribution?Only members of NSPE-PAC may recommend candidates to receive contributions. If you have contributed to NSPE-PAC during this calendar year, you are a member of the PAC. You may recommend a candidate by completing this form (Word doc) and sending it to Sarah Ogden, Manager of Government Relations. All PAC member recommendations will be considered; however, we may not accommodate all requests. The NSPE-PAC Board of Trustees must approve all candidate contributions.
What candidates has NSPE-PAC supported?
Available soon.
