U.S. Chamber Pulls Out All Stops For Trade Ad Campaign Starts Final Week Before Congress Votes

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Chamber of Commerce began the final countdown to a House vote on trade promotion authority with another round of radio ads targeting 65 members of Congress with a pro-trade message.

"America's prosperity depends on trade. More trade means good jobs and a better life for more Americans," according to the ads, the first of which began running in early November – in both English and Spanish – in about 30 congressional districts.

"TPA will get us back into the ballgame by helping to knock down foreign trade barriers to American exports. Lawmakers must hear that a vote against TPA is a vote against American small businesses and their workers," said Thomas Donohue, Chamber President and CEO.

The U.S. House of Representatives has scheduled a vote on TPA for next week. The Chamber has focused attention and built support for passage of TPA – which Congress has granted to every President since 1974 – through a variety of efforts primarily outside the beltway, including: trade education events and plant tours with state and local chambers, governors and small businesses, lobbying fly ins by Chamber members, internet lobbying kits and toll free patch through calls to Members of Congress, grassroots and grasstops activity, issue ads, and other communication efforts.

"The Chamber will continue to mobilize pro-business activists across the country to educate lawmakers, challenge the nay-sayers and tell the good story about trade," said Donohue. "We are sending a message to Congress – American companies and their workers are watching this vote. We can compete and win in the global economy, but we need trade promotion authority to do it. Congress has to step up and help American workers get back in the ball game by passing TPA."

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.

# # #

01-211