Candidates Supported

NEMPAC Mission and Candidate Selection Process

NEMPAC serves a vital role in advancing ACEP’s legislative agenda and in broadening emergency medicine’s visibility with Congress. In the 2022 election cycle, ACEP members contributed $1.75 million to NEMPAC which enabled us to contribute more than $1.6 million to candidates, party committees, leadership PACs, and independent expenditure campaigns. View NEMPAC's impact on the 2022 congressional elections to learn more. 

NEMPAC is focusing on supporting candidates in the 2024 mid-term elections who will work in the best interests of emergency medicine and patients, regardless of party affiliation.

We ask non-incumbents to complete and return this questionnaire as part of an overall strategy which also includes interviews or meetings with our staff here in DC and connecting the candidates with chapter leadership and ACEP members in their district. The questionnaire also helps educate the candidate about ACEP and the most pressing issues facing the specialty that Congress can address.

Incumbents in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives are evaluated based on other criteria including voting records, co-sponsorships of legislation, leadership and committee assignments and overall willingness to work with and help emergency medicine.

How Does NEMPAC Make Decisions?

The NEMPAC Board of Trustees, comprised of ACEP members, approves guidelines, evaluation criteria and a budget for each election cycle. In the 2022 election cycle, the Board adopted the following strategies:

• Identify and assist candidates and incumbents who support ACEP’s mission, vision, and values.
• Support candidates, regardless of party affiliation, who will work to advance ACEP’s issues or can influence positions important to the specialty of emergency medicine.
• Identify “Champions” of emergency medicine who would receive maximum funding for their re-election campaigns ($10,000) and for the Leadership PACs (if applicable) of $5,000 per year, in addition to other benefits identified by the Board and staff.
• Continue to fund independent expenditure campaigns as warranted with hard dollars.
• Prioritize check deliveries and attendance at in person and virtual fundraisers by ACEP members ACEP leaders, Chapter leaders, and NEMPAC VIP Donors.

2022 Election Cycle Guidelines and Evaluation Criteria

At the beginning of each election cycle, the NEMPAC Board looks at how to best evaluate and support federal candidates. Below is a list of important metrics that are tracked for every member of Congress and help determine the decisions of the NEMPAC Board and staff. None is a litmus test but rather collectively looked at in addition to the legislator’s history with ACEP and emergency physicians in the district.

• Behavior and actions consistent with the mission, vision, and values of the ACEP
• Upholding the principles of our democratic process and orderly governance
• Affirming science and evidence and fact in words and actions
• Supporting ACEP’s key legislative initiatives by voting for or co-sponsoring bills or signing letters to regulatory agencies
• Serving on a key health care committee or in congressional leadership of either party
• Developed strong relationship with an ACEP state chapter or local ACEP member
• Competitive race

The relative weights placed on these issues will be determined by the NEMPAC Board of Trustees throughout the election cycle. The Board maintains flexibility throughout the cycle in assessing the importance of these issues and they will be considered important information when determining a candidate’s level of support from NEMPAC.

The integrity and character of the candidate will be assessed on an ongoing basis and NEMPAC may consider ceasing contributions to a candidate or committee if credible, specific, and serious allegations about the candidate’s behavior arise.

NEMPAC will also continue our commitment to inclusiveness and respect for diversity.

Legislative Issues NEMPAC Tracked Last Election Cycle

NEMPAC works with our lobbying team in DC and the ACEP Federal Government Affairs Committee to determine which bills are a priority for emergency physicians and focus solely on issues impacting the practice and delivery of emergency medicine.

What we tracked in the 117th Congress – legislators are credited with taking action consistent with ACEP’s position:

U.S. Senate

• Co-sponsor of S. 4182, Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act
• Co-sponsor of S. 2538, Alternatives to Opioids Reauthorization Act
• Co-sponsor of S. 2157, Improving Mental Health Access from the Emergency Department Act
• Co-sponsor of S. 610, Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act
• Co-sponsor of S. 445, Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act
• Co-sponsor of S. 529, Background Check Expansion Act
• Co-sponsor of S. 281, Gun Violence Prevention Research Act of 2021
• Co-sponsor of S. 1512, Connect for Health Act, to further expand use of telemedicine
• Support of efforts to fund appropriations requests for trauma programs, EMSC, grants for programs to assist with OUD and mental health disorders in the ED, to name a few.
• Signing on to letters asking for Congress to take action on pending Medicare cuts
• Support of peaceful democracy and election certification.

U.S. House of Representatives

• Co-sponsor of H.R. 8800, Supporting Medicare Providers Act of 2022
• Co-sponsor of H.R. 7961, Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees (SAVE) Act 
• Co-sponsor of or vote for H.R. 4846, Alternatives to Opioids Reauthorization Act
• Co-sponsor of or vote for H.R. 1205, Improving Mental Health Access from the Emergency Department Act 
• Co-sponsor of or vote for H.R. 1195, Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers 
• Co-sponsor of H.R. 1667, Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act
• Co-sponsor of H.R.  1384, Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act
• Co-sponsor of H.R. 315, the Medicare Sequester COVID Moratorium Act
• Co-sponsor of H.R. 8, Bipartisan Background Checks Act 
• Co-sponsor of H.R. 1446, the Enhanced Background Checks Act 
• Co-sponsor and vote on the House floor for H.R. 1868, to prevent across-the-board direct Medicare spending cuts, and for other purposes.
• Co-sponsor of H.R. 2903, to expand access to telehealth services
• Co-sponsor of H.R 3012, to provide for liability protection for health care providers for damages with respect to any harm caused by any act or omission of such health care professional or related health care entity while arranging for or providing health care services during the COVID-19 public health emergency period
• Co-signed letter asking HHS/CCIO to follow intent of law on the No Surprises Act, legislation enacted in 2020 to end surprise medical billing
• Support of peaceful democracy and election certification.
• Support of efforts to fund appropriations requests for trauma programs, EMSC, grants for programs to assist with OUD and mental health disorders in the ED, to name a few.