U.S. Chamber Members Arrive to Lobby Congress

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Chamber of Commerce welcomed officials from member companies and local chambers of commerce from 12 states to the nation's capital, for the kickoff for a major trade rally today. In meetings over the next few days, the group will urge members of Congress to pass the trade agreement with the Central American nations and Dominican Republic known as DR-CAFTA.

"This vote is about helping American workers," said Dan Christman, Chamber senior vice president for international affairs, speaking to the business and chamber leaders. "Congress must take its cue from the hundreds of businesses you represent, the thousands of jobs that depend on your companies' success, and the almost $20 billion dollars in economic activity on the table."

Representatives from businesses and chambers in California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Alabama arrived in Washington last night to join a nationwide business lobbying effort.

Business leaders representing large and small firms in the aerospace, textiles, telecommunications, manufacturing, agriculture and services industries will meet with members of Congress today to outline the enormous benefits from DR-CAFTA.

"A vote against trade is a vote against giving American businesses, workers and farmers access to 44 million Central American consumers," said Christman. "Unless Congress approves, we will not receive the benefits of our own trade agreement – but our foreign competitors will."

The Chamber's nationwide grassroots initiative, TradeRoots, has been working to educate local leaders and the public about the importance of international trade to local communities. TradeRoots currently is focusing on the DR-CAFTA vote by mobilizing community leaders, communicating with local officials, and serving as an information resource for members of Congress and other opinion leaders.

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.

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