Coalition for a Prosperous America is a research and advocacy group championing trade-protectionist policies in the United States. The organization opposes various U.S. trade agreements with China.

Background

The Coalition for a Prosperous America (CPA) was founded in 2007 by a group of farmers, ranchers, manufacturers, and labor representatives. ¹ CPA advocates for the adoption of stricter foreign trade regulations, including the imposition of higher tariffs on imports to the United States. ²

The nonprofit maintains a bipartisan membership, encompassing Republicans, Democrats, and independents. ³ It also organizes an annual two-day conference, gathering industry experts and members of Congress to participate in discussions on matters of importance to its members. ⁴

The Coalition for a Prosperous America is among more than 80 organizations, including the American Center for Law and Justice, Concerned Women for America, and the James Madison Institute, that sit on the advisory board for Project 2025, a policy coalition convened by the Heritage Foundation. ⁵

The Coalition for a Prosperous America is a subsidiary organization of the Coalition for a Prosperous America Education Fund. ⁶

CPA is an advocate for changing the current U.S. international corporate tax system to adopt a sales factor apportionment system. ⁷ It asserts that foreign governments use free trade agreements to put American manufacturing companies at a competitive disadvantage. ⁸

Advocacy Efforts

In 2019, a research paper from Coalition for a Prosperous America proposed that implementing a 25 percent tariff on all imports from China could lead to an increase in the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP). ⁹

The nonprofit voiced its support for the proposed Protecting Advanced American Manufacturing Act. This legislation aimed to prevent companies from China and other U.S. foreign adversaries from obtaining taxpayer credits under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). ¹⁰

In February 2023, CPA released an article commending Georgia and Florida for prohibiting the use of Chinese technology brands in government offices, citing potential national security risks linked to the utilization of technology products from Chinese companies. ¹¹

The organization has urged the U.S. to revoke China’s most-favored-nation (MFN) status, ¹² reduce its reliance on China for pharmaceuticals, ¹³ and undervalue the U.S. dollar to reduce the U.S. trade deficit. ¹⁴

In March 2023, CPA provided testimony in Congress, expressing endorsement for the passage of the Country of Origin Labeling Online Act (COOL Online Act), which mandates online vendors to disclose their country of origin. ¹⁵

In 2023, the Coalition for a Prosperous America lobbied on 26 bills ¹⁶ and spent $460,000 on lobbying efforts. ¹⁷

People

Michael Stumo has wored as the chief executive officer of the Coalition for a Prosperous America since its founding in 2007. Michael previously was general counsel for the Organization for Competitive Markets. ¹⁸

Jon Toomey is the senior vice president of Government Relations for CPA. He previously served as Legislative Counsel for a senior Member of Congress on the House Ways and Means Committee. ¹⁹

Nick Iacovella is the senior vice president, Public Affairs and Communications for the Coalition for a Prosperous America (CPA). He previously served as the deputy director of Communications for U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL). ²⁰

Peter Rothfeld holds the position of director of operations at the nonprofit. Before joining CPA, he served as the deputy administrative director and operations manager for Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM). ²¹

The advisory board of CPA comprises policy staff and chief executive officers from multiple companies, including Gregg S. Fisher, ²² the founder and portfolio manager of Quent Capital; Daniel Albert, ²³ the founding managing partner of Westwood Capital LLC; and Patrick Mulloy, a former Commissioner of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. ²⁴

Donors

From 2019 to 2021, Coalition for a Prosperous America obtained three grants amounting to $17,000. The Alvin Glick Foundation contributed $10,000, the Rutch C. Charles S. Sharp Foundation gave $5,000, and the Charles L. Shor Foundation for Epilepsy Research provided a donation of $2,000. ²⁵

1. “CPA History.” Coalition For A Prosperous America, July 6, 2023. https://prosperousamerica.org/history/.
2. Stumo, Michael, Kenneth Rapoza, and Jeff Ferry. “Trade and Tariffs.” Coalition For A Prosperous America, September 27, 2023. https://prosperousamerica.org/trade-and-tariffs/#:~:text=We%20support%20increasing%20tariffs%20to%20address%20trade,that%20increases%20our%20nation’s%20domestic%20industrial%20capacity.
3. “CPA History.” Coalition For A Prosperous America, July 6, 2023. https://prosperousamerica.org/history/.
4. “2023 Conference.” Coalition For A Prosperous America, October 20, 2023. https://prosperousamerica.org/2023-conference/.
5. “Advisory Board: Project 2025.” Project 2025 | Presidential Transition Project, December 14, 2023. https://www.project2025.org/about/advisory-board/.
6. “Coalition for a Prosperous America.” Coalition for A Prosperous America | Sheffield, MA | Cause IQ. Accessed December 20, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/coalition-for-a-prosperous-america,208992623/.
7. Newsroom, CPA. “G7 Announcement Is Positive Step towards Fairly Taxing Multinational Profits.” Coalition For A Prosperous America, June 10, 2021. https://prosperousamerica.org/g7-announcement-is-positive-step-towards-fairly-taxing-multinational-profits/#:~:text=CPA%20has%20long%20called%20for%20ending%20tax%20avoidance%20by%20implementing%20Sales%20Factor%20Apportionment.
8. “Advocacy.” Coalition For A Prosperous America, July 6, 2023. https://prosperousamerica.org/advocacy/.
9. Stumo, Michael. “Press Release: New CPA Study Shows across-the-Board China Tariff Would Boost US Economy, Create Thousands of Jobs.” Coalition For A Prosperous America, March 19, 2021. https://prosperousamerica.org/press-release-new-cpa-study-shows-across-the-board-china-tariff-would-boost-us-economy-create-thousands-of-jobs/.
10. Newsroom, CPA. “CPA Applauds Rubio-Miller Bill to Prohibit Chinese Companies from Receiving Inflation Reduction Act 45X Tax Credits.” Coalition For A Prosperous America, December 13, 2023. https://prosperousamerica.org/cpa-applauds-rubio-miller-bill-to-prohibit-chinese-companies-from-receiving-inflation-reduction-act-45x-tax-credits/.
11. Rapoza, Kenneth. “Why an Increasing Number of U.S. States Are Banning China Tech.” Coalition For A Prosperous America, February 24, 2023. https://prosperousamerica.org/why-an-increasing-number-of-u-s-states-are-banning-china-tech/.
12. Ferry, Jeff. “Economic View: Revoke China MFN Status Now.” Coalition For A Prosperous America, December 18, 2023. https://prosperousamerica.org/economic-view-revoke-china-mfn-status-now/.
13. Stumo, Michael. “Congress Can Fix the Dangerous Dependence on Imported Pharmaceuticals.” Coalition For A Prosperous America, November 7, 2023. https://prosperousamerica.org/congress-can-fix-the-dangerous-dependence-on-imported-pharmaceuticals/.
14. Rapoza, Kenneth, and Jeff Ferry. “Currency.” Coalition For A Prosperous America, July 6, 2023. https://prosperousamerica.org/currency/.
15. “Baldwin, Vance Lead Bipartisan Legislation to Increase Transparency Online and Support Made in USA Products: U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin.” U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, May 3, 2023. https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-vance-lead-bipartisan-legislation-to-increase-transparency-online-and-support-made-in-usa-products.
16. “Coalition for a Prosperous America Bills Lobbied.” OpenSecrets. Accessed December 20, 2023. https://www.opensecrets.org/federal-lobbying/clients/bills?cycle=2023&id=D000086517.
17. “Coalition for a Prosperous America Lobbyists.” OpenSecrets. Accessed December 20, 2023. https://www.opensecrets.org/federal-lobbying/clients/lobbyists?cycle=2023&id=D000086517.
18. Stumo, Michael. “Michael Stumo.” Coalition For A Prosperous America, December 4, 2023. https://prosperousamerica.org/staff/michael-stumo/.
19. Rapoza, Kenneth, Jeff Ferry, CPA Newsroom, and Michael Stumo. “Jon Toomey.” Coalition For A Prosperous America, July 18, 2023. https://prosperousamerica.org/staff/jon-toomey/.
20. Rapoza, Kenneth, Jeff Ferry, CPA Newsroom, and Michael Stumo. “Nick Iacovella.” Coalition For A Prosperous America, July 18, 2023. https://prosperousamerica.org/staff/nick-iacovella/.
21. Rapoza, Kenneth, Jeff Ferry, CPA Newsroom, and Michael Stumo. “Peter Rothfeld.” Coalition For A Prosperous America, July 18, 2023. https://prosperousamerica.org/staff/peter-rothfeld/.
22. Rapoza, Kenneth, Jeff Ferry, CPA Newsroom, and Michael Stumo. “Gregg Fisher.” Coalition For A Prosperous America, July 18, 2023. https://prosperousamerica.org/advisory-board/gregg-fisher/.
23. Rapoza, Kenneth, Jeff Ferry, CPA Newsroom, and Michael Stumo. “Daniel Alpert.” Coalition For A Prosperous America, July 18, 2023. https://prosperousamerica.org/advisory-board/daniel-alpert/.
24. Rapoza, Kenneth, Jeff Ferry, CPA Newsroom, and Michael Stumo. “Patrick Mulloy.” Coalition For A Prosperous America, July 18, 2023. https://prosperousamerica.org/advisory-board/patrick-mulloy/.
25. “Coalition for a Prosperous America.” Coalition for A Prosperous America | Sheffield, MA | Cause IQ. Accessed December 20, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/coalition-for-a-prosperous-america,208992623/.