BUSPAC is the Political Action Committee of the American Bus Association and allows the motorcoach and group travel industry to speak with a strong voice on Capitol Hill.
Funding
BusPAC receives its funding on a voluntary basis from ABA members involved in all aspects of the motorcoach tour and travel industry.
Disbursements
BusPAC funds are contributed to political campaigns of Members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives who are both leaders in Congress and have shown support of the industry. BusPAC has, and will continue to use its resources to promote the needs of the industry to those on Capitol Hill.
Contributions
BusPAC is regulated by the Federal Election Commission (FEC). BusPAC thus requests your authorization to solicit your company's executive and administrative staffs for contributions. FEC regulations do not allow corporations or labor unions from contributing to PACs. Therefore, only personal checks may be accepted. Also, the FEC regulates the amount an individual may donate to a PAC. Currently, the limit is $5,000 per year. For reporting purposes only, all donations over $250 must be disclosed to the FEC.
Accomplishments
With the aid of BusPAC funds, the ABA has helped drive the critical agenda of issues affecting your bottom line. So far, ABA and BusPAC has:
- Kept fuel taxes at current rates
- Gained Congressional support for enforcement of the Federal Transit Administration Charter Regulations
- Secured $7 million per year in Americans with Disabilities Act grants to assist operators in equipping coaches with wheelchair lifts, 90% of which were ABA members.
- Secured $35 million in Transportation Security Administration funds to support the industry's efforts to improve security measures for drivers and passengers.
The Future
The next legislative session will soon be here, and the ABA has already begun working with Members of Congress. The proposed legislation has the ability to severely impact each company within the industry. The ABA and BusPAC is working on:
- Protecting the fuel tax exemption
- Keeping the current 90% federal share for wheelchair lift grants
- Following up on our 2005 successes in the 2009 transportation reauthorization bill.
If you would like to grant authorization and become active in BUSPAC, please fill out this form: