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“The leadership demonstrated by
Representatives Chabot and Walden on
behalf of small businesses has been instru-
mental in protecting and promoting the inter-
ests of the promotional products industry,”
says Paul Bellantone, CAE, PPAI president
and CEO. “PPAI is proud to recognize and
celebrate these legislators whose commit-
ment and support truly exemplifies the entre-
preneurial spirit and business-friendly culture
of our growing industry.”
Chabot has served Ohio’s First
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 creation faced by startups and entre-
preneurs. He works to encourage American
small-business growth by simplifying the com-
plex tax code, ensuring better access to capi-
tal, reducing debt and deficit, and stopping
federal regulations that are estimated to do
more harm than good.
In Chabot’s home state, 94 percent of
promotional products companies are small
businesses employing approximately 26,531
people 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 legisla-
tion 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 busi-
nesses 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 inter-
ests and success, a willingness to meet with
industry professionals and who have given
their support to issues critical to the promo-
tional products industry.
Past recipients of the PPAI Legislator of
the Year award are Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA),
2012; Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-MN), 2013; Rep.
Renee Ellmers (R-NC), 2014; and Sen. Ron
Johnson (R-WI), 2015.
Read more on the 2016 L.E.A.D in the
July issue of
PPB
.
INSIDE
PPAI
78 •
PPB
• JUNE 2016
CONNECT
REP. STEVE CHABOT (R-OH) AND REP. GREG WALDEN (R-OR)
were honored as the Association’s 2016 Legislators of the Year.
The awards were presented in May during PPAI Legislative
Education and Action Day (L.E.A.D.) in Washington, D.C.
PPAI RECOGNIZES CHABOT, WALDEN AS 2016 LEGISLATORS OF THE YEAR
By James Khattak
Lawmakers
Make The Grade
Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH)
Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR)