APAPAC to Suspend Contributions to Lawmakers Who Refused to Certify Biden Election

American Psychiatric Association

Wed, Jan 13, 2021

The Board of Directors of APAPAC (APA’s political action committee) voted yesterday to suspend contributions to lawmakers in Congress who voted against certifying the election of Joe Biden.“In light of the insurrection that occurred on January 6 at the U.S. Capitol and the votes taken by some members of Congress to subvert the results of November’s presidential election, the APAPAC Board voted today to suspend contributions to those lawmakers who voted to undermine our democracy,” said APA CEO and Medical Director Saul Levin, M.D., M.P.A., in a statement.“APAPAC is supported solely by APA member and staff contributions to help further APA’s advocacy agenda at the federal level in a democratic system,” Levin said. “The APAPAC Board feels strongly that this decision is an important step to take to protect our political system and increase the confidence of the psychiatrists who make their voices heard through APAPAC. The decision to suspend contributions to 147 Republican members of Congress—139 in the House and 8 in the Senate—was not taken lightly and will affect some members of Congress on whom psychiatry has previously relied for support. This is a unique moment in our history and an issue of fundamental importance to the democratic system on which we and our patients rely. APAPAC will continue to support legislators and candidates in both political parties who will work with us to fight for psychiatry and our patients.”The APAPAC Board will also be hosting a virtual forum on Thursday, February 4, to allow APAPAC donors an opportunity to speak directly with the APAPAC Board on this and other issues. The forum will also be an opportunity to discuss APAPAC’s processes and advocacy agenda for 117th Congress.