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AAHOA's Political Action Committee (PAC)

AAHOA's Political Action Committee (PAC) exists to provide AAHOA members with a means of pooling their resources to make contributions to candidates for the United States Congress.

Through their individual contributions to the PAC, AAHOA members can help to elect senators and representatives who support the hospitality industry and who recognize and appreciate the contributions of Asian Americans.

Why It Matters
The United States Congress is composed of 100 senators and 435 representatives. Every other year, approximately one-third of the Senate and all members of the House face re-election campaigns.

Newt Gingrich, the former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, expressed the importance of political involvement during his keynote address at AAHOA’s 2004 Convention.

Whether an incumbent or a challenger, all candidates require funding for their campaigns, and in fact the fundraising process continues year-round.

Members of Congress do not sell their votes for contributions, but they do know who contributes to their campaigns, and they know what groups and organizations are politically active.

It is in the Congress that many decisions are made affecting your business and families. For example, Congress determines how the Small Business Administration administers its programs, enacts federal minimum wage legislation, considers amendments to existing laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, and makes changes in the federal tax code.

The 42nd United States President Bill Clinton gave a keynote address during AAHOA’s 2001 Convention.  In his book Between Hope and History, Clinton said “We don’t want our government in our face, but we do want it on our side when we need it, and quickly.” Being active politically through the AAHOA PAC and grassroots activism can help us gain the assistance we need when we need it.

Contributing to candidates through a PAC sends a strong message that an organization has members who are politically involved. AAHOA members own 37 percent of the hotel properties in the United States and have substantial economic power. A strong and active Political Action Committee is a necessary element of future success and growth.

How It Works
Federal law provides strict guidelines for the operation of PACs such as AAHOA's. Any individual can contribute up to $5,000 per year to the PAC. Subject to that maximum, contributions of any size can be accepted.

Contributions must be by personal check or personal credit card. Corporate contributions may not be made to AAHOA's PAC. If your business is a sole proprietorship or a partnership, contributions from the business account are permissible.

Decisions on contributions to campaigns are made by the AAHOA Government Affairs and Political Action Committee and by the AAHOA Board of Directors.

AAHOA's PAC is administered by an outside firm to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

You Can Help
The old adage that “every little bit counts” rings true with regard to the AAHOA PAC. A strong impact can be made through relatively small contributions. For example if each member of AAHOA had given $25 to the PAC in 2003, the association could have made $2,000 contributions to each of 100 different Senate and House candidates during the 2004 election year.

Help us advocate on your behalf. Support AAHOA’s Political Action Committee. To donate, please download the AAHOA PAC Contribution Card listed below.