Engineering Inc. - Spring 2020 - 49

or the ACEC Political Action Committee
(ACEC/PAC), the nation's only political organization protecting engineering firms and their legislative
interests, 2019 was yet another record-breaking year.
Due to a wide variety of efforts, national PAC
contributions totaled $1.1 million in 2019. It was
the fourth consecutive year ACEC/PAC raised more
than $1 million, and in each of those years the
fundraising totals surpassed the previous year.
It is no longer a coincidence, since ACEC/PAC
has been on an upward trajectory for the past 10 years. In 2009 it
raised $579,673, approximately half of what was raised in 2019.
The $1.1 million in funding was a result of record receipts,
disbursements, and total contributors. ACEC ranked first in the
country in receipts among design-build industry PACs; 18th of
730 in trade association PACs; 50th in all trade and corporate
PACs; and in the top 2 percent of all federal PACs.
The total number of individual donors was 3,079, and 42 states
reached their fundraising goals. Among the highlights for states in
2019: New York raised $93,235, the highest amount ever raised
by a state; Delaware raised 165 percent of its goal; and California
raised $76,877, an increase of more than $13,000 over 2018.
In addition, ACEC/PAC increased the number of Capitol
Club members: donors who contribute the legal maximum of
$5,000. Furthermore, ACEC/PAC unveiled the new ACEC
Townhouse, where the PAC hosts events both for members of
Congress and ACEC members.
"As the success of our advocacy efforts keeps growing, more
and more of our members understand the value of supporting
ACEC/PAC," says John Carrato, chairman of ACEC/PAC and
CEO of Benesch.
"There have been significant wins for our industry, including
a new 20 percent tax deduction for engineering firms organized
as passthrough businesses," Carrato says. "Our advocacy team is
second to none when working on Capitol Hill."
The overall success of ACEC/PAC is attributed to State Member
Organization PAC Champions as well as the tireless efforts of Dave
Bender, vice president of political affairs at ACEC, and Jennifer
Pugh, political director at ACEC, according to Carrato.
"They work hard to educate our members on the value of contributing," he says.

This year, 1,475 Member Firms, representing over 52,000
Member Firm employees, gave their prior approval to ACEC/
PAC, which is a record. This signed authorization from Member
Firms, which is legally required, gives ACEC/PAC permission to
receive PAC contributions from firm employees, which is critical
in order for states to be able to reach their PAC goals.
ADVOCACY EFFORTS

ACEC/PAC plays an essential role in the success of ACEC's
advocacy program, supporting federal candidates on a bipartisan basis who support the engineering industry's legislative
agenda in Congress.
"Because of the size of our PAC, we certainly command attention," Carrato says. "When you couple that with an excellent
advocacy effort led by ACEC Senior Vice President for Advocacy
Steve Hall and his excellent staff, it leads to great success."
Success, based on ACEC/PAC's impact on business and
trade legislation, breeds followership and engagement, according to Gary Raba, vice chair of ACEC/PAC and president of
Raba-Kistner.
"The organization has demonstrated the power of a trade association, establishing Capitol Hill relationships and speaking with
one collective voice," Raba says. "These relationships can make
an impact upon the rules, regulations, and laws affecting our
respective members' business of engineering and enhancing good
public policy."
Raba attributes ACEC/PAC's success in Washington, D.C.,
and throughout the nation to staying focused on the original
vision and mission of the organization.
"Driving good public policy drives the well-being of our employees, their families, our clients, and the communities in which we
live," Raba says. "As the program has matured, it is rewarding to see
more engagement by a very wide range of small to large business,
young, midlevel, and senior executives. This engagement indicates
that the profession is beginning to understand that one must 'get
into politics or get out of business.'"
ACEC's Advocacy Department utilizes ACEC/PAC in order
to build relationships and actively monitor ongoing
legislative activities. ACEC/PAC provides funding
for members to support federal candidates on
a bipartisan basis, according to Raba. It also

National
ACEC/PAC
contributions
totaled
$1.1 million
in 2019

SPRING 2020

ENGINEERING INC.

Engineering Inc. - Spring 2020

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