ADA Political Action Committee (ADAPAC) Report Spring 2008

ADA has focused its messages to the 110th Congress on two distinct areas — expanded access to Medical Nutrition Therapy in Medicare and Medicaid, and amendments to the 2007 farm bill which would shift resources from farm programs to research, education and food assistance programs, that can help the whole population achieve better nutritional status. ADAPAC supports this work by seeking a more pro-nutrition and food political environment. ADAPAC contributes to federal candidates who play key roles in the development of food, nutrition and health policy and who are receptive to ADA’s issues and concerns.

Background
When policy matters collide with political concerns, politics generally rule the day. The strategy in the management of ADAPAC is to help assure that politics and policies align. In keeping with ADA’s priority issues, ADAPAC currently concentrates on four committees in the House of Representatives: Ways and Means, Education and Labor, Energy and Commerce and Agriculture. In the Senate, three committees are also the target for advancing ADA’s views: Finance, Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, and Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. These committees have jurisdiction over food, nutrition and health legislation, including the farm bill and expansion of medical nutrition therapy, child nutrition and other priorities.

In a report to ADA’s Board of Directors in March, ADAPAC provided an analysis on the effectiveness of ADA advocacy. Fundraising from members and its administrative expenditures are managed strategically.

The following four slides of recent ADAPAC issue investments stand out to tell the story of its impact and its challenges:

Financial Facts

ADAPAC is the only political action committee broadly focused on food, nutrition and health. It ranks among the top 35 health professions political action committees in the country. However, health professions political action committees at the top of the list dwarf ADAPAC, with annual gross receipts in the millions of dollars.

ADAPAC relies solely on the personal (not business) contributions from ADA member and staff, as required by federal campaign finance laws. No operating funds of the association may be used for campaign contributions. In fact, ADAPAC covers many expenses that could be paid for from operating funds, doing its part to deal with financial pressures coming first to bear on ADA in 2001.

All ADA members are asked to contribute annually, and they are encouraged to volunteer to speak about ADAPAC, set up and staff an ADAPAC booth at a state or local dietetic association meeting. Volunteers also attend local fundraisers for candidates running for the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate.

Our goal is to support pro-nutrition candidates for federal office.

In selecting pro-nutrition candidates to receive campaign contributions, the ADAPAC Board of Directors does not take into account a candidate’s party affiliation, ideological stance or extent to which he or she leans “left” or “right.”

The Anniversary Project
ADAPAC has created a direct channel of communications with long-term and “sustaining” donors. These consistent donors already have an understanding about the value of ADAPAC, and they do not need to be called personally in one of ADAPAC’s outreach campaigns. Rather, these donors simply want a reminder that it is time to make this year’s donation. The added benefit of this approach is that it lets ADAPAC direct more dollars to pro-nutrition candidates for federal office by avoiding administrative costs of larger telemarketing efforts.

This campaign with the sustaining donor base is called the Anniversary Project, and on the anniversary of your most recent donation to ADAPAC you can expect to receive an email or personal letter from the chair, asking that you match or exceed your last donation. With your contribution this year, you join 7,000 other ADA members who form the vanguard for ADA’s effective participation in political action.

2008 program of work

  • ADAPAC seeks and accepts voluntary contributions from ADA members and consolidates them into a single fund.
  • ADAPAC makes donations to the campaigns of candidates for federal office who support ADA's mission, vision and priorities.
  • ADAPAC enhances ADA's visibility with policy makers and increases ADA's influence in political venues. Access to current and future lawmakers is critical to the advancement of ADA's public policy priorities. Both ADA members and the professional staff host and attend political events in order to carry messages on food, nutrition and health.
  • ADAPAC provides multiple options for members to contribute – at the time of paying dues, by check, by credit card, on-line, and even through quarterly or monthly payments or deductions. The Public Policy workshop is a major venue for ADAPAC fundraising and education. And all HOD members were invited to attend (at no expense to them) the ADAPAC breakfast at FNCE – an extraordinarily positive event for hearing how dietitians can be effective in promoting nutrition solutions.
  • ADAPAC works with individual Dietetic Practice Groups to connect professional issues to ADA advocacy and representation. DPG membership is a key factor in predicting if ADA members will join ADAPAC.
  • ADAPAC carefully uses direct marketing, monitoring members’ comments and measuring its effectiveness in specific fundraising campaigns. ADAPAC manages direct marketing for cost effectiveness.

ADAPAC’s Board seeks support from every member of the House of Delegates. Participation by you and other leaders giving consistently at a level that is personally appropriate is critical for ADA to be effective in carrying a pro-nutrition message in Washington. When you contribute you convey to ADA membership that ADAPAC is a valued asset and critical for advancing ADA’s mission, vision and goals.

ADAPAC seeks the opportunity to present detailed information to the House of Delegates in Fall 2008.

   Print Version