United States Chamber of Commerce
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| United States Chamber of Commerce | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Location: | Washington, D.C. |
| Type: | 501(c)(6) |
| Year founded: | 1912 |
| Website: | Official website |
The United States Chamber of Commerce is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit membership organization that aims to advocate for pro-business policies at the federal level. The organization is based in Washington, D.C., and has seven regional offices across the country. Members include businesses, local chambers of commerce, trade and professional associations and organizations representing American business interests abroad.[1][2]
Mission[edit]
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce
| “ | ...serves its members and the nation's business community by analyzing national economic and social issues and by helping legislators and national leaders to shape policies and proposals to foster the development of American business.[3] | ” |
History[edit]
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce was established in 1912, when President William Howard Taft asked for a group of business community representatives to work with the government on business affairs. The organization's initial work concerned infrastructure and transportation, with the group supporting the creation of the Federal Trade Commission in April 1914. During the Great Depression, the organization supported the Revenue Act of 1938. After World War II, they supported further infrastructure development, advocating the creation of the U.S. Department of Transportation in 1966.[2]
In 1994, the organization supported the signing and implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). According to the Chamber of Commerce's website, the group began lobbying the federal government in 1997. Their website notes that the group's "primary mission is to win legislative victories for business on Capitol Hill."[2]
Work[edit]
The Chamber has advocated for public policy initiatives in the following issue areas, according to its website:[5]
- Agriculture and food safety
- Climate change and environment
- Debt and deficit
- Education
- Energy
- Environment
- Financial regulation
- Free speech
- Federal contracting
- Health care
- Immigration
- Infrastructure
- Intellectual property
- International trade and investment
- Labor
- Legal reform
- National and cyber security
- Regulatory reform
- Retirement
- Taxes
- Technology
- Transportation
- Travel and tourism
The Chamber's 2015 priorities focused on the organization's Jobs, Growth and Opportunity Agenda. These priorities include "expanding trade, producing more domestic energy, improving infrastructure, modernizing the regulatory process, making essential changes to entitlements, fixing the flaws in Obamacare, curbing lawsuit abuse, and advancing American innovation by protecting intellectual property." The agenda also focuses on revitalizing capital markets, passing immigration reform and improving education and training, which will expand opportunity, address inequality, and create jobs."[6]
In 2016, the Chamber continued to support the Jobs, Growth, and Opportunity Agenda.[7]
In 2020, the Chamber focused on 17 policy areas including energy, immigration, intellectual property, and legal reform.[8] The Chamber also responded to the coronavirus pandemic, saying, "No business or family should go bankrupt because of this crisis. The U.S. Chamber is committed to providing every business and worker the help they need."[9]
Political activity[edit]
2018 elections[edit]
Endorsement of Mary Glassman (D) in CT-5[edit]
The day before the August 14 Democratic primary for Connecticut's 5th Congressional District, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce endorsed Mary Glassman over Jahana Hayes. The group said Glassman "has a clear vision to champion free trade, develop a sound immigration policy, fix America’s crumbling infrastructure, and support students from classroom to career.” Hayes, by contrast, was endorsed by progressive groups like Democracy for America and Our Revolution and, unlike Glassman, supported single-payer healthcare.[10] Hayes defeated Glassman in the primary.
According to the Daily Kos, this was the first time the U.S. Chamber had endorsed a candidate in a Democratic primary since it backed U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) in 2010.[11]
2016 elections[edit]
Donald Trump trade speech[edit]
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce took to Twitter to criticize Donald Trump's policy positions on international trade deals during his June, 28, 2016, speech in Pennsylvania. "Under Trump's trade plans, we would see higher prices, fewer jobs, and a weaker economy," the Chamber claimed among a series of tweets highlighting the positive aspects of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the potential benefits of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).[12]
Trump responded to the Chamber's criticism by reasserting his opposition to NAFTA and the TPP while claiming that the Chamber is controlled by special interests. "They’re a special interest that wants to have the deals that they want to have,” said Trump at a rally in Maine the following day. "They want to have TPP, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, one of the worst deals, and it’ll be the worst deal since NAFTA.”[13]
Save the Senate initiative[edit]
The Chamber introduced the Save the Senate initiative in May 2016 in order to boost fundraising for Republican candidates and maintain a Republican majority in the United States Senate. The initiative aimed to bring together Republican activists, regardless of their support for 2016 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, in an effort to bolster Republican candidates at the congressional level. The Wall Street Journal identified the following Republican leaders in the Save the Senate movement:[14][15]
- Former Governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney
- Former Governor of Florida Jeb Bush
- Former Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina
- Former Governor of Mississippi Haley Barbour
- Former U.S. Senator Bob Dole
- Former Republican National Committee chairman Mel Martinez
- Former U.S. Senator Norm Coleman
Candidate endorsements[edit]
The Chamber endorsed the following candidates during the 2016 election cycle:
- Senator Pat Toomey (R), United States Senate, Pennsylvania[16]
- Senator Kelly Ayotte (R), United States Senate, New Hampshire[17]
- Senator John McCain (R), United States Senate, Arizona[18]
- Senator Chuck Grassley (R), United States Senate, Iowa[19]
- Congressman Joe Heck (R), United States Senate, Nevada[20]
- Congressman Brad Ashford (D), Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District[21]
Amicus brief activity[edit]
The U.S. Chamber Litigation Center, a nonprofit affiliated entity of the United States Chamber of Commerce, files amicus curiae briefs in courts throughout the country. The group files amicus briefs "that present unique and compelling legal arguments, and that educate courts on the practical implications of legal decisions to the broader business community."[22]
According to the organization's website, the Chamber filed amicus briefs in the following U.S. Supreme Court cases from 2013 to 2016:
| Amicus briefs filed by the U.S. Chamber Litigation Center in the U.S. Supreme Court, 2013-2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2013[23] | ||
| ||
| 2014[24] | ||
| ||
| 2015[25] | ||
| ||
| 2016[26] | ||
| ||
Leadership[edit]
The following were listed as the Chamber of Commerce's board of directors, as of May 2020:[27]
- Thomas Donohue, CEO
- Suzanne Clark, President
- Maura Donahue, Chairman
- Christopher B. Lofgren, Vice chairman
- Gerald L. Shaheen, Treasurer and regional vice chairman, West
- Mark Ordan, Regional vice chairman, East
- William G. Little, Regional vice chairman, Great Lakes
- John Ruan III, Regional vice chairman, Midwest
- Frank VanderSloot, Regional vice chairman, Northwest
- Ken W. Cole, Regional vice chairman, Southeast
- Paula Johnson, Regional vice chairman, Southwest
For a full list of members of the Board of Directors as of May 2020, click here.
Finances[edit]
As a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization, the Chamber receives the majority of its funding through contributions and grants. The organization also generates revenue through program services and investment income.[28]
| Annual revenue and expenses for U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 2011-2014[28] | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tax Year | Total Revenue | Total Expenses |
| 2014 | $206,005,860 | $203,820,959 |
| 2013 | $164,930,174 | $161,972,221 |
| 2012 | $188,374,764 | $207,327,194 |
| 2011 | $147,372,355 | $145,695,316 |
| Lobbying expenditures for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 1998-2014[29] | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Total Expenditures | |
| 2014 | $124,080,000 | |
| 2013 | $74,470,000 | |
| 2012 | $136,300,000 | |
| 2011 | $66,370,000 | |
| 2010 | $132,067,500 | |
| 2009 | $144,606,000 | |
| 2008 | $91,955,000 | |
| 2007 | $53,082,500 | |
| 2006 | $72,995,000 | |
| 2005 | $39,805,000 | |
| 2004 | $53,380,000 | |
| 2003 | $34,602,640 | |
| 2002 | $41,560,000 | |
| 2001 | $20,662,880 | |
| 2000 | $18,689,160 | |
| 1999 | $18,760,000 | |
| 1998 | $17,000,000 | |
Recent news[edit]
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms United States Chamber Commerce. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also[edit]
External links[edit]
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce homepage
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Facebook
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Twitter
- FreeEnterprise.com homepage
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation homepage
Footnotes[edit]
- ↑ U.S. Chamber of Commerce, "Frequently Asked Questions," accessed August 20, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 U.S. Chamber of Commerce, "USCC Timeline," accessed August 20, 2015
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ GuideStar, "Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America," accessed August 20, 2015
- ↑ U.S. Chamber of Commerce, "Issues," accessed August 20, 2015
- ↑ U.S. Chamber of Commerce, "U.S. Chamber Policy Priorities for 2015," accessed August 20, 2015
- ↑ United States Chamber of Commerce, "U.S. Chamber policy priorities for 2016," accessed June 24, 2016
- ↑ United States Chamber of Commerce, "The State of American Business 2020," accessed May 7, 2020
- ↑ United States Chamber of Commerce, "Home," accessed May 7, 2020
- ↑ Politico, "Chamber weighs in on Democratic primary, backing Glassman in Connecticut," August 13, 2018
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Morning Digest: The surest way for indicted GOP congressman to get off the ballot? Plead guilty," August 14, 2018
- ↑ Politico, "Chamber of Commerce rips Trump's trade speech in real time," June 28, 2016
- ↑ The New York Times, "Donald Trump Assails U.S. Chamber of Commerce Over Trade," June 29, 2016
- ↑ Market Watch, "U.S. Chamber of Commerce launches ‘Save the Senate’ bid," May 31, 2016
- ↑ Newsmax, "US Chamber of Commerce to raise money for Senate races," May 31, 2016
- ↑ Politics PA, "PA-Sen: Chamber of Commerce Launches Anti-McGinty TV Ads (VIDEOS)," accessed June 24, 2016
- ↑ WMUR 9, "US Chamber of Commerce hits Hassan on spending in new TV ad," June 2, 2016
- ↑ The Arizona Republic, "U.S. Chamber launches 'Obamacare' TV attack on Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick," May 25, 2016
- ↑ Radio Iowa, "U.S. Chamber of Commerce endorses Senator Grassley," June 17, 2016
- ↑ Las Vegas Review-Journal, "US Chamber of Commerce all in for Joe Heck," June 7, 2016
- ↑ Omaha.com, "U.S. Chamber of Commerce endorses Brad Ashford over Don Bacon in 2nd District House race," June 20, 2016
- ↑ U.S. Chamber Litigation Center, "About," accessed September 26, 2016
- ↑ U.S. Chamber Litigation Center, "2013 term petitions of interest to business," accessed September 26, 2016
- ↑ U.S. Chamber Litigation Center, "2014 term petitions of interest to business," accessed September 26, 2016
- ↑ U.S. Chamber Litigation Center, "2015 term petitions of interest to business," accessed September 26, 2016
- ↑ U.S. Chamber Litigation Center, "2016 term petitions of interest to business," accessed September 26, 2016
- ↑ U.S. Chamber of Commerce, "Executive Leadership," accessed May 7, 2020
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 GuideStar, "Forms 990 and Docs U.S. Chamber of Commerce," accessed August 20, 2015
- ↑ OpenSecrets,org, "U.S. Chamber of Commerce," accessed August 20, 2015
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