Although PMA is primarily a trade advocacy group, it has also provided it members support during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, conducted workplace safety research projects on drug use affects in employees, supported trade with Taiwan, opposed federal tariffs, and developed programs re-purposing Pennsylvania’s many shut-down coal facilities.

[1] The Articles for Agreement, adapted by the committee, called for the group “...to advance and protect the interests of its members.” There was a provision for two classes of membership: 1.

The original membership, mostly textile and related organizations, were focused primarily on protecting their economic interests and the political system that had created their economy.

[6] By the end of World War I the organization enjoyed a dominant political impact, with the PMA leadership also serving as Republican Party bosses.

Its president once stated, “There is no Senator or Representative that our members cannot reach and talk with over every weekend….” The organization preferred to ally itself with other Republican factions or groups when attempting to influence elections.

He also guided nominations to the 32-member board of trustees of Penn State University with the honorific “the 33rd trustee.” In spite of his strong ties to the Republican Party, Anton also enjoyed close relationships with Philadelphia Democrats like Michael Nutter, Ed Rendell and Sen. Arlen Specter.

CEO Taylor called Trump’s position “wrong-headed.” PMA pointed out that Japan is one of the US’ closest allies and failure of the agreement would hurt Pittsburgh.

Also that this type of reform would assist in job creation and encourage more investors in the commonwealth’s businesses, improving competitiveness with other states.

[24] The PMA endorsed the commonwealth’s proposed 2022 budget particularly because it contained funding to open the state’s Office of Trade and Investment in Taiwan, previously abandoned.

[26] In 2021, the Pennsylvania Society event returned to Manhattan after the one-year Covid hiatus, closely resembling its original occurrence in 1898 when Pennsylvania emigrants to New York began gathering to “wheel and deal and catch up on happenings in their home state.” The annual dinner celebrated Dr. Ala Stanford of Philadelphia, founder of the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium.

The other attraction for the Society gala is the PMA independent, annual, invitation-only seminar and luncheon at the Manhattan Metropolitan Club.

[27] In 2020, the organization, collaborating with other organizations and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, engaged in promoting public health safety and diminishing the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic by offering an online “Manufacturing Call to Action Portal,” which offered manufacturers access to data that would enable them to quickly get into producing medical supplies to fight the healthcare crisis.

[29] In 2020, the organization supported a proposal to develop a $400 million natural gas synthesis plant in West Keating PA.

[30] The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) opposed the project, stating air quality concerns.

Subsequently, it was determined that DEP set its restrictions at too high a level and admitted it did not “know why that happened.” As of September 2022, the project is moving forward.

To address that, the state has developed a “play book” to find new uses for the properties using a federal grant to initiate plans to encourage a speedy process.

With the program in place, potential buyers and redevelopers would know what was required to renovate and make the closed plants into viable entities.

[36] In July 2024, the PMA signed a letter to members of both the House Committee on Armed Services and the Senate Committee on Armed Services opposing Section 828 of S. 4628, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025, entitled "Requirement for Contractors to Provide Reasonable Access to Repair Materials," which would require contractors doing business with the US military to agree "to provide the Department of Defense fair and reasonable access to all the repair materials, including parts, tools, and information, used by the manufacturer or provider or their authorized partners to diagnose, maintain, or repair the good or service.