Figure 2. Campaign Contributions by the Pharmaceutical and Health Product Industry to Federal (Presidential and Congressional) Elections by Source, 1999-2018^a.

PAC indicates political action committee.

^aData from the Center for Responsive Politics.²³ Amounts were inflation adjusted to 2018 dollars using the US Consumer Price Index.

^bContributions from individual members, employees, or owners of companies or organizations in an industry or from their immediate family members; there are limits on individual contributions to candidates and national party committees during elections.

^cPACs pool campaign contributions from members of corporations, labor unions, and ideological groups and disburse the funds to political candidates and national party committees; there are limits on PAC contributions to candidates and national party committees during elections.

^dSoft money contributions (banned as of November 6, 2002) and donations to outside spending groups and Levin funds. Outside spending groups, which include so-called super PACs, operate independently of and not in coordination with candidates’ committees; spending by outside groups is largely unregulated and unlimited.

^eEach year corresponds to a 2-year election cycle; eg, 2000 refers to January 1, 1999, through December 31, 2000. Presidential elections occurred in 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016.