What is the difference between Agents Advocacy Coalition, New Jersey PIAPAC and PIA National’s PIAPAC?

April 20, 2021

Often, PIA fields questions from its members about PIA’s political action committees.

PIA Northeast has two state PACs—Agents Advocacy Coalition, the official PAC of PIANY and New Jersey PIAPAC. Each of them supports legislators and candidates from their respective state offices (such as the state Assembly and state Senate) who support and represent the insurance industry.

Additionally, PIA National’s PIAPAC, supports U.S. Congressional legislators from and candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, who support and represent the insurance industry.

While all three organizations are political action committees and make political contributions to legislative candidates, the three organizations operate at different levels of government and serve different constituencies.

Here is a chart that will help members best understand the differences between each of the political action committees.

Agents Advocacy Coalition, the official PAC of PIANYNew Jersey PIAPACPIA National’s
PIAPAC
Type of
political action committee
Operates only in New York stateOperates only in New JerseyOperates at the federal level
Who the PAC supportsDonates to N.Y. state legislators and candidatesDonates to N.J. state legislators and executive candidatesDonates to U.S. congressional candidates from across the country
Donations to the PACDonations to Agents Advocacy Coalition can be personal or from a corporation (your agency).Donations to NJPIAPAC can be personal or from a corporation (your agency).Donations to PIAPAC must be personal, not from corporations.
How donations are usedDonations to Agents Advocacy Coalition stay in New York. They are used to support state legislators and candidates who understand the state issues facing agents and the insurance industry.Donations to NJPIAPAC stay in New Jersey. They are used to support state legislators and candidates who understand the state issues facing agents and the insurance industry.Donations to PIAPAC are used to support federal legislators and candidates from across the country who understand the federal issues facing agents and the insurance industry.
Donation limitsAny individual or agency can donate up to $5,000 a year.Any individual or agency can donate up to $7,200 a year.Any individual can donate up to $5,000 a year.
How to donateClick here to donate.Click here to donate.Click here to donate.
Fiscal yearJan. 1 – Dec. 31Jan. 1 – Dec. 31Jan. 1 – Dec. 31
Who to contact with questionsKatherine Slye-Hernandez,
PIA Northeast
PAC coordinator &
public policy analyst,
govaffairs@pia.org, or (800)-424-4244
Katherine Slye-Hernandez,
PIA Northeast
PAC coordinator &
public policy analyst,
govaffairs@pia.org, or (800)-424-4244
Marc Martinez,
PIA National
government relations coordinator,
marcma@pianet.org, or (703) 518-1364
Katherine “Kat” Slye-Hernandez, Ph.D.
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Katherine “Kat” Slye-Hernandez received her Ph.D. in political science from the State University of Albany, Albany, N.Y., in May 2020. She also has her Master of Arts from SUNY Albany and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and History from Elmira College, Elmira, N.Y.

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