An updated letter to PAC donors on the pause
Read an April 2021 updated letter from the APASI President and APASI CEO regarding the PAC's pause on donation decisions.
Psychology PAC candidate criteria, updated 2021
Psychology PAC makes contributions to federal candidates and is funded solely by the voluntary contributions of APASI members and staff who support the political interests of psychology and psychologists. Psychology PAC is nonpartisan. Psychology PAC evaluates a candidate slate on a quarterly basis using specific criteria (PDF, 152KB), as well as questions used as a guide.
Management Team
Katherine B. McGuire (Chair)
Aaron Bishop, MSSW
Pat Kobor
Karen Studwell, JD
Advisory Committee
Sharon Berry, PhD, ABPP (MN)
Lindsey Buckman, PsyD (AZ)
Derek Phillips, PsyD (FL)
Peter Sheras, PhD (VA)
Juan Dominguez, PhD (TX)
Kate Brown, PhD (FL)
About Psychology PAC
The Psychology PAC, makes contributions to federal candidates and is funded solely by the voluntary contributions of APA members and staff who support the political interests of psychology. Those contributions are made directly to the PAC. While the Psychology PAC provides psychologists an opportunity to participate in the democratic process, the PAC is committed to doing so in a responsible manner that is consistent with APA’s values and mission to benefit society.
WHERE DOES THE MONEY COME FROM? No APA member dues are ever used to make contributions to political candidates. As a 501(c)3 organization, the American Psychological Association is prohibited by law from contributing money to any political candidates. APA’s organization, APA Services Inc., engages in advocacy but it also makes no political contributions to candidates, per the law.
WHY DOES IT MATTER? Psychology PAC is an important tool that gives psychologists a seat at the table. Psychology PAC provides the APA/APASI advocacy team with an important means to educate legislators on our work to support the discipline, science and practice of psychology. In making contributions, the PAC fights for APA’s and APASI’s priorities for research, education, professional practice and the public interest. These include more research dollars for our science; for reimbursement and scope of practice issues for practicing psychologists; for psychology workforce development; for health care reform; for ending violence; for criminal justice; for promotion of social justice issues, and for the fight against bigotry and racism. The PAC has also supported candidates who have fought cuts to Medicare reimbursement.
WHY SHOULD PSYCHOLOGISTS CONTRIBUTE? Through Psychology PAC, U.S. psychologists can participate in the democratic process and make their voices heard on issues vitally important to psychology.
WHAT IS NEXT IN 2021? We will face strong headwinds in the coming months to advance APA advocacy priorities in the divided Congress with razor thin margins. Continuing to support candidates who support psychology will be crucial to our success.
What is Psychology PAC?
APA Services Inc. is a companion professional organization to the American Psychological Association serving all members and advocating for psychology. Psychology PAC is the political action committee (PAC) of APA Services Inc. Located in Washington, D.C., Psychology PAC is bipartisan; we contribute to candidates of both political parties and we do not contribute to presidential candidates.
Your Contribution Makes a Difference
Our PAC demonstrates that psychology supports those candidates for congressional office who stand for psychology..
Through Psychology PAC, members have an opportunity to make their voices heard concerning issues vitally important to psychology and the mental health industry. Psychology PAC allows us to fully participate in the American democratic process. Your voluntary contribution will help strengthen our collective voice.
Other key legislative activities include direct lobbying on Capitol Hill and grassroots psychologists' engagement with their members of Congress.