Jewelers of America to Award Contributors to Lobbying Efforts

(IDEX Online News) – Jewelers of America (JA), the national trade association for businesses serving the fine jewelry marketplace, has announced the launch of the Jewelers of America Political Action Committee (JAPAC) Awards. 

The awards will acknowledge the generous contributions made by individual JA Members in support of JA’s ongoing legislative advocacy on behalf of the jewelry industry.

JAPAC is the only PAC (Political Action Committee) that supports the fine retail jewelry industry in Washington, D.C. Through JAPAC, individual employees of Jewelers of America member firms can join with other jewelry industry professionals in supporting candidates for office at the federal level who understand the interests of the jewelry industry.

“In 2014 – a year that will be critical in terms of the legislative landscape – we are looking to expand the reach of the Jewelers of America Political Action Committee,” said JA Director of Public Affairs & Education Susan Thea Posnock. “That’s critical, since every day, legislators make decisions that impact businesses, including jewelers. We have to be proactive, not reactive, when it comes to legislation which could hurt our industry.

“The jewelry industry’s support of JAPAC will help ensure jewelers have a collective voice on Capitol Hill, and Jewelers of America can now gratefully acknowledge those JA members who support JAPAC with an awards pin,” she added.

JAPAC contributors will receive a JAPAC pin that represents three different levels of individual contributions: $500-$1,999, $2,000-$3,499, and $3,500-$5,000.

To be eligible for the JAPAC Awards, all contributions from JA members must be received before December 31.