Engaging With Government
As a leading global manufacturer and U.S. net exporter, Caterpillar actively participates in the public policy process, advocating for key issues that align with our purpose and the execution of our strategy.
Caterpillar’s continued success and ability to increase shareholder value requires advocacy for a favorable legislative and policy environment. Our bipartisan approach is focused on our business priorities and guided by Our Values in Action, strong ethical standards and our commitment to helping our customers build a better, more sustainable world.
The Purpose of Engagement, which outlines how we advocate for a policy and regulatory environment that supports our long-term success and provides value to shareholders, can now be found on pages 46 through 55 of Caterpillar’s 2024 Sustainability Report. The reporting provides greater transparency and disclosure of the company’s U.S. political engagement strategy, including a description of the governance oversight and management of these activities.
U.S. Disclosures
Our commitment to transparency and disclosure in our advocacy activities has long been recognized. In its 2024 CPA-Zicklin Index of Corporate Political Disclosure and Accountability, the independent and nonpartisan Center for Political Accountability again ranked Caterpillar within its first tier of S&P 500 and Russell 1000 companies, alongside or above many industry peers. Our disclosures provide more transparency and understanding of our political engagement strategy through several key areas including political contributions, trade association support, and our quarterly lobbying disclosures.
Political Contributions: Caterpillar may make corporate political contributions in the U.S. when permitted by law. We may support political committees, political parties and measures that align with Caterpillar’s business interests. Caterpillar does not make independent expenditures on behalf of or in opposition to federal, state or local candidates and does not contribute to presidential campaigns or Super PACs. Our ability to help our customers build a better, more sustainable world depends on working with associations and elected officials on both sides of the aisle. Our political giving reflects a bipartisan approach to policy and political engagement.
CATPAC: CATPAC is an important tool in our efforts on the public policy front by supporting the election of lawmakers who promote and influence policies that allow Caterpillar to help our customers build a better, more sustainable world. CATPAC only contributes to candidates in federal and state elections, which are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, guided by Our Values in Action and business priorities. We have established stringent criteria in this evaluation; more information on our CATPAC governance can be found below. Like Caterpillar, CATPAC does not make independent expenditures on behalf of or in opposition to federal, state or local candidates and does not contribute to presidential campaigns or Super PACs.
Trade Associations: Beginning in 2023, Caterpillar reports all U.S. trade and industry association memberships biannually. The full-year report includes the tiered dollar amount of Caterpillar’s membership dues paid to all U.S. trade and industry associations and the percentage of those dues used for federal lobbying activities, as reported by each organization.
Lobbying Disclosure: In the United States, in compliance with the Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA), Caterpillar files a quarterly report (LD-2) that includes: 1) total federal lobbying expenditures, 2) the name of the specific piece of legislation or subject that was the topic of communication, 3) disclosure of Caterpillar individuals who qualify as lobbyists on behalf of Caterpillar and 4) identification of the legislative body or executive branch agency that was contacted. This report incorporates expenses associated with lobbying the federal government, including the portion of trade association membership dues associated with federal lobbying. As required by the LDA, Caterpillar reports certain contributions and payments on a biannual basis, including those made by CATPAC in our LD-203.
Below you will find direct links to our LDAs for the last five years. These and additional records for prior years are available on the U.S. Senate Office of Public Records website or the U.S. House of Representatives Office of the Clerk website.
Caterpillar participates in the public policy process, advocating for a range of issues that supports our corporate strategy and business objectives. The policy priorities below are driven by our enterprise strategy for profitable growth and reflect the value we provide to shareholders, customers and other stakeholders.
CATPAC is funded through voluntary contributions made by eligible individuals. A steering committee comprised of Caterpillar non-officer employees oversees all contributions made by CATPAC to ensure they promote the company’s business interests. The committee is comprised of seven to twelve U.S.-based employees who represent a diverse mix of U.S. locations and business units. The SVP of GGCA appoints committee members and oversees setting CATPAC strategy and goals.
The steering committee regularly meets to discuss Caterpillar’s legislative strategy and priorities. In addition, committee members receive legal training related to campaign finance laws and review a proposed disbursement budget from the state and federal government affairs teams. The steering committee also regularly meets during the election cycle to review the approved budget and offer updates. These meetings include an evaluation of all candidates on a case-by-case basis with a focus on our business priorities and guided by Our Values in Action and candidate criteria. CATPAC also considers third-party research and key insight analysis when selecting candidates.
CATPAC Candidate Criteria
The SVP of GGCA presents a report to the SPPC annually, including CATPAC operational policies and a list of all candidates supported. Audits, which rotate between internal audit teams and an outside law firm with an independent political accounting and compliance auditor, are also conducted at the end of the federal election cycle.
CATPAC members are kept informed through newsletters, webinars and a thorough report issued after each federal election cycle that details financials, statistics on bipartisanship, governance and all CATPAC activities.
In addition to regular CATPAC disclosures to the Federal Election Commission and appropriate state election authorities, CATPAC also voluntarily discloses our contributions biannually. Recent corporate and CATPAC political contributions are listed above, along with other prior disclosures for the last five years.
Utilizing Grassroots Campaigns
When appropriate, we encourage employees, as constituents, to contact their federal or state lawmakers and share their views. These efforts* bring awareness to issues impacting Caterpillar and our industry and ultimately help influence public policy. This employee outreach complements and magnifies the efforts of our government affairs team and U.S. trade and industry associations as part of an integrated advocacy strategy.
Get-Out-The-Vote Efforts
For more than 70 years, Caterpillar has empowered employees to exercise their right to vote and help elect future lawmakers. We believe the more our employees engage with and participate in the democratic process, the better. We help facilitate this participation through GOTV initiatives. We provide educational opportunities and resources and plan events to help employees prepare for elections. We do not endorse specific candidates or parties.
*All grassroots engagements, including when employees are encouraged to contact their elected officials directly about important public policy issues must be approved by the SVP of GGCA. Caterpillar ensures that all advocacy efforts are conducted per applicable law, policies and procedures, sound corporate practice, integrity and our high standards of ethical conduct, which enable us to advance our priorities in a way that supports Caterpillar.
Transforming end-of-life products back to a like-new state.
Learn MoreWe're helping customers shape a more sustainable future through trailblazing projects around the globe.
Full StoryAs society navigates the global energy transition, Caterpillar’s mining customers are playing a key role. We’re supporting them through forward-looking collaborations and innovative sustainability solutions.
Full StoryFind the latest Annual, Sustainability, Diversity & Inclusion and Lobbying Reports.
View ReportsLiving Our Values helps create a workplace we’re proud of and a company others admire.
Learn About Our ValuesCaterpillar's sustainability efforts aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help customers meet climate-related goals.
Explore Our Commitment
