Chair Danny Rosin, CAS, co-owner and co-president of Brand Fuel, PPAI 100’s No. 29 distributor. “It’s an investment that will pay dividends for members long-term.” PPAI’s advocacy efforts have yielded several important successes in the past year: 1. The SWAG Act is all but dead, as its author, Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, announced in September that she will step down when her current term ends in 2027. The “Stop Wasteful Advertising by the Government Act” would have prohibited government agencies from using federal funds on promo products, which are often used to help educate citizens about public safety programs and health initiatives. “LEAD gives us a chance to meet with our representatives in Congress to let them know the importance of our products and how they can be of benefit to organizations by showing people who’s there to be of service to them,” says longtime attendee Linda Kittlitz, principal at Linda Kittlitz & Associates. “No matter who the main logo belongs to, when an individual sees the logo, it reminds them that there is someone there who can help.” 2. In November, the U.S. Trade Representative announced a one-year pause on proposed maritime trade actions against China, including vessel fees on transport services and tariffs on ship-to-shore cranes and cargo-handling equipment. This reprieve prevents new cost pressures across shipping and logistics channels that affect many of our member firms and supply-chain predictability for 2026 production and imports. 3. Congress passed a one-year extension of trade preference programs for Africa and Haiti in February. Renewing the African Growth and Opportunity Act – which lapsed on Sept. 30 after more than two decades – has been a key goal for the Association in the past few years. We will continue to advocate for a longer-term renewal to prevent disruptive cost increases while supporting supply chain diversification for U.S. businesses. 4. We are seeing positive momentum for rules favorable to independent contractors on two fronts: The Modern Worker Empowerment Act moved forward and is eligible for a vote in the House, and the U.S. Department of Labor has proposed a new independent contractor rule that would largely restore 2021 guidelines. “After 35 years in the promotional products industry, I’ve learned that if we want our story understood, we have to show up and tell it,” says longtime attendee Carroll Hanley Goggin, MAS, owner and CFO of DBG Promotions and a GRAC member. “LEAD gives us the opportunity to advocate directly with lawmakers about the businesses and jobs our industry supports.” Please contact Rachel Zoch, CAS, PPAI’s public affairs manager, at rachelz@ppai.org if you have any questions about regulatory issues or government affairs. “Branded merch powers lasting connections, and our presence in Washington ensures that impact is recognized.” — Drew Holmgreen, CAS, PPAI president and CEO Promo By The Numbers Our industry is vital to the U.S. economy, employing more than a million Americans and bringing creative advertising and marketing campaigns to life that drive revenue and engagement for government agencies, nonprofits and an untold number of businesses large and small. Check out our Promo By The Numbers page at ppai.org/promo-by-the-numbers/ for case studies, state-by-state estimates of the scope and economic impact of the industry and more. PPAI • APRIL 2026 • 57 LEAD Preview | Must Read
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