ARLINGTON, Texas -

The political action committees of the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association and National Auto Auction Association announced they have made a joint contribution to Sen. Tim Scott, a Republican from South Carolina, in conjunction with last week's NIADA National Leadership Conference and Legislative Summit in Washington D.C.

In addition, NIADA PAC announced a contribution to Rep. Steve Stivers, an Ohio Republican and the featured speaker at the annual conference's Wednesday night dinner.

Scott spoke to the association at a luncheon Thursday.

The National Leadership Conference was the culmination of NIADA’s inaugural PAC Cup fundraising competition between the association's four regions. The competition, won by the Southeast region, raised more than $51,000 for the PAC fund.

Scott, who on Nov. 4 became the first African-American elected to the U.S. Senate from a Southern state since reconstruction, is a member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, which has jurisdiction over many of the issues affecting the used-vehicle industry and business in general. He is also a member of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee.

“These contributions allow us to continue to build relationships with elected officials and to support those who are willing to work on behalf of small business and the auto industry,” NIADA executive vice president Steve Jordan said. “That's especially important when those legislators are members of key committees that are closely tied to our industry.”

The NIADA and NAAA PACs made a joint contribution to Rep. Joe Barton, a Texas Republican, during last year's National Leadership Conference, and previously made contributions to Rep. Bill Shuster, a Pennsylvania Republican and chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, as well as Rep. David McKinley, a West Virginia Republican.

Stivers, who was recently elected to a third term from Ohio's 15th district, serves on the House Financial Services Committee and is a member of the Congressional Automotive Caucus.