Members of Congress are spending more and more time at political fundraising events. That is where donors have the ability to interact with Senators and Representatives in a social setting, and seeing them there enhances the ability to meet with them and their staff to advance the Association's point of view.

The Aluminum PAC is an organization created for raising and spending money to support federal officeholders whose interests align with the aluminum industry. This PAC is a key tool, but not the only tool, in the Association’s advocacy toolbox to increase the industry’s profile, build credibility and develop long term relationships with lawmakers. A PAC will help create an audience of federal policymakers for listening and understanding our industry’s issues.

The Aluminum PAC is nonpartisan and supports both Democrats and Republicans. Your contributions help support candidates who are sensitive to the issues that impact our industry. The Aluminum PAC Board of Advisors helps to determine eligibility for PAC Contributions to Members of Congress based on: Congressional Aluminum Caucus membership; key committee and leadership assignments; shared vision for industry issues and the democratic process; and lastly location of aluminum facilities.

Our industry is in a period of rapid change. Your participation helps get candidates elected that best support our industry goals and business strategy. Combining our work at the federal, state and local levels with PAC contributions provides the best positioning for our industry. Competing materials – steel, plastic, cement, etc. – each have industry PACs raising anywhere from $45,000 to $245,000 per election cycle. If the aluminum industry does not advocate on its own behalf, we place ourselves at a competitive disadvantage with industries that are doing so. 

With individual contributions, candidates may not know why you supported them. When the Aluminum PAC makes a contribution, it sends a strong, collective message that contributors share the interests of our industry. There is strength in numbers.

The cost of running for public office has become increasingly expensive. PAC funds go toward many aspects of successful campaigning, including developing printed materials, purchasing advertising time and providing salaries for campaign staff.

In accordance with federal law, employees eligible to join the PAC are defined as the member company’s executive and administrative personnel (and their immediate families) who are paid by salary, rather than an hourly basis. These individuals also have policy-making, managerial, professional or supervisory responsibilities. Member companies may only approve solicitations by one trade association per calendar year.

Before soliciting funds for the Aluminum PAC, the Association is required to secure ‘prior approval’ from member companies allowing the Association to solicit individual employees.  Member companies may only approve solicitations by one trade association per calendar year.  Please check with the necessary staff within your organization – including legal counsel – to ensure your company has not already granted prior approval to another association political action committee. Once approved, simply fill-out the prior approval letter online here or downloading it here and send it to pac@aluminum.org.

After signing and submitting a ‘prior approval’ letter, you can contribute as much as $5,000 from your personal account to the Aluminum PAC. The PAC cannot receive donations from companies, and contributions to the PAC are not tax-deductible.  

Please mail your personal check to The Aluminum PAC, c/o Jennifer Cassidy, 1400 Crystal Drive, Suite 430, Arlington, VA 22202.  

All PAC donors will receive a quarterly newsletter with access to Beltway news and information. Please reach out to Liz Sullivan for more information