TIA Political Action Committee

 

The Importance of Political Action Committee Contributions from TIA Members

The Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) is the professional organization of the $162 billion third-party logistics industry.  Transportation intermediaries, or third party logistics companies (3PL), act as the facilitators to arrange the efficient and economical movement of goods between cargo ships, airplanes, trucks, rail, warehouses, and store shelves.  TIA member companies serve tens of thousands of shippers and play a key role in domestic and international commerce.

As the leader for the third-party logistics industry, we can and should be a leader in advocating your point of views in the political arena to help effect public policy solutions – the mission of our Political Action Committee and Government Affairs Department is to identify issues of importance to the industry and then inform Members of Congress and Federal Agency officials to make sure that your point of view related to these issues is clearly understood.  Our Political Action Committee – TIAPAC is an essential tool in achieving our mission. 

TIAPAC is a bipartisan political action committee, which enables our members and their employees to have a voice with legislators who make laws and policy that have a direct impact on the way your company does business.  Its purpose is to collect voluntary personal contributions from eligible members and then use these funds to support candidates for federal office in accordance with applicable election laws.

The Director of Policy for TIA is responsible for the day-to-day management of the PAC, subject to the oversight and supervision of TIAPAC Chair and TIA’s Executive Committee.  In 2012, TIA will be putting together a TIAPAC Committee to aid the Executive Committee in PAC fundraising and execution of PAC activities. The supervisors are responsible for the solicitation of contributions and disbursement of funds consistent with state and federal laws.  The disbursement of funds is based on a candidate’s leadership position, committee assignment and other factors in making contribution decisions. The TIAPAC does not contribute in primary races. 

Every cent you personally contribute to TIA’s PAC, is used only for political contributions, we do not use it for administrative or overhead costs.

Under the Federal Election Campaign Act, participation in TIA’s political action committee is limited to:

 

• U.S. Citizens or green card holders with permanent resident status and living in the United States.
  
  
• The TIA primary member contact and the employees of their business.  TIA must first receive permission from a member company’s primary contact prior to accepting or soliciting a PAC contribution.  The “restricted class” of a member company is defined as “the company executives and administrative personnel or their families.”  Executive and administrative personnel are paid on a salary and have policy making, managerial, professional, or supervisory responsibilities.

• The TIA member company may not approve a solicitation by any other trade association if they sign the TIA authorization.  Federal election law states that a corporate member company of a trade association can only give prior authorization to one trade association PAC per year.
   
• An individual can give up to $5,000 annually to the TIAPAC.

Unfortunately, just visiting with Representatives is not enough, we need to participate in their fundraisers as well, as it costs money to run for Congress.  Each of us can support candidates who share similar views on the 3PL industry.   Individual contributions to a candidate can only do so much, but there is a way to increase the impact of your contribution.  You can join forces with your colleagues, the thousands of domestic freight brokers, who share your interests, to maximize the opportunities to support candidates who understand your profession and support your legislative goals.

This gives you a stronger voice in Washington.  The PAC is the most effective tool to give you the opportunity to express your concerns and ideas.  Your contribution assists the profession in keeping like-minded individuals who understand our issues in our nation’s Capitol.  That’s why your voluntary donations to this bipartisan, political action committee matter so much.

Under the tireless and generous leadership of the PAC Chairman, the TIAPAC in 2011 has been able to raise the largest sum of money since its inception. In the 3rd quarter of the 2011 Federal Election cycle, the TIAPAC was able to raise and contribute $21,500 to Members of the House Transportation & Infrastructure and Homeland Security Committees and the Senate Commerce, Science, & Transportation Committee.

The majority of the funds raised each year, is by the TIA Board of Directors. We need every member’s support.  When we go to Capitol Hill, we go on behalf of the entire membership.  We prepare scorecards which show the TIA members that each Representative has in their district and what these companies bring economically to the Representatives district, this is a very effective tool.

In order to be as effective as we need to be, and to make sure we are as visible as our counterparts, who have much larger political action committees, we need each member to contribute.

To make a contribution please fill out the TIAPAC donation form.

For more information please contact Nancy O’Liddy at (703) 299-5711 or oliddy@tianet.org or Chris Burroughs at (703) 299-5705 or burroughs@tianet.org.