Chamber Applauds Outgoing Chairman

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Chamber of Commerce today thanked Larry A. Liebenow, president and CEO of Quaker Fabric, for his outstanding service as Chamber chairman for 2002-2003.

"Larry was an ambassador for the U.S. business community to the rest of the world," said Chamber President and CEO Thomas Donohue. "At a time when 'globalization' is being called into question around the world, Larry made the case that international trade and investment is a vehicle for prosperity and a better way of life."

During his tenure, which ends this week, Liebenow met with business executives, state, local and international chambers of commerce, and with foreign leaders to promote a pro-business and pro-growth agenda. He also was nominated to serve on President Bush's Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations, which has proven instrumental in the swift movement of both the Singapore and the Chile free trade agreements.

The Chamber scored several victories during Liebenow's chairmanship, including critical legislative votes for Trade Promotion Authority for the President, elimination of the death tax, progress on class action reform to protect employers from frivolous lawsuits, and passage of the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003.

"Larry has been critical to the Chamber's efforts on immigration reform," said Donohue. "As Chairman, Larry has supported the expansion of temporary visa programs for essential workers, creating paths to permanent residence for these workers when appropriate, and providing a way to earn legal status for the millions of undocumented workers already in the United States."

Liebenow will serve as chairman of the Chamber's Executive Committee next year in addition to his duties with Quaker Fabric. Headquartered in Fall River, Mass., Quaker Fabric is one of the largest producers of upholstered fabrics in the world and sells its products in more than 45 countries.

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

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