PPAI Announces 2016 Legislators of the Year

Rep. Steve Chabot (left) and Rep. Greg Walden (right) received PPAI’s Legislator of the Year Award.

Promotional Products Association International (PPAI), Irving, Texas, will present two Legislator of the Year Awards. Rep. Steve Chabot, R-Ohio; and Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., will be recognized at its seventh annual PPAI Legislative Education and Action Day (L.E.A.D.), held May 25 to 26 in Washington, D.C.

“The leadership demonstrated by Reps. Chabot and Walden on behalf of small businesses has been instrumental in protecting and promoting the interests of the promotional products industry,” said Paul Bellantone, CAE, PPAI’s president and CEO. “PPAI is proud to recognize and celebrate these legislators whose commitment and support truly exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit and business-friendly culture of our growing industry.”

Chabot has served Ohio’s 1st Congressional District for 18 years. He is the chairman of the House Committee on Small Business and a small-business owner. He advocates for policies that remove obstacles to job creations that startups and entrepreneurs face. He works to encourage American small-business growth by simplifying the complex tax code, ensuring better access to capital, reducing debt and deficit, and stopping federal regulations that are estimated to do more harm than good.

In Chabot’s home state of Ohio, 94 percent of promotional products companies are small businesses, employing approximately 26,531 and generating revenues of more than $2.04 billion.

Walden, a small-business owner with his wife for more than 21 years, is the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Communications and Technology. He has worked to pass legislation to grow American jobs by expanding U.S. technology and innovation. To revive the economy and create jobs, he works to reduce government spending and incentivize businesses to create jobs.

In Walden’s home state of Oregon, 99 percent of promotional products companies are small businesses, employing approximately 3,088 people and generating revenues of more than $85.7 million.

The PPAI Legislator of the Year Award recognizes members of Congress who have shown a commitment to small-business interests and success, a willingness to meet with industry professionals, and have given their support to issues critical to the promotional products industry.

At L.E.A.D., more than 70 advocates from 30 states will conduct more than 250 meetings with senators, congressional representatives and their legislative staffs on Capitol Hill to discuss pending legislation and issues relevant to the promotional products industry.

Past recipients of the PPAI Legislator of the Year award are Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Pa., 2012; Rep. Erik Paulsen, R-Minn., 2013; Rep. Renee Ellmers, R-N.C., 2014; and Sen. Ron Johnson R-Wis., 2015.

For more information, visit www.ppai.org.