Ahead of White House Summit, U.S. Chamber Expands Call for Creating Jobs through Free Enterprise

Open Letter and New Ad Offer Recommendations for Creating 20 Million Jobs in America

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue sent an open letter to the president outlining the business community's support for the administration's upcoming jobs initiative and offering recommendations for creating 20 million American jobs over the next decade.

"No issue is more important to the American people right now than renewing our country's economic prosperity," Donohue said in the letter to the president. "We must have a laser focus on creating the jobs Americans want and need."

In the open letter and a corresponding print advertisement campaign inside the Beltway, Donohue points out that over the next decade our economy must create more than 20 million new jobs to replace those lost in this recession and keep up with our growing population. To help outline a path to creating these jobs, the U.S. Chamber recently launch the American Free Enterprise. Dream Big. campaign.

One of the key elements of this campaign is a series of regional dialogues with business owners, policymakers, and citizens to discuss how free enterprise policies will drive long-term job growth. The Chamber recently released state jobs challenges at events in Illinois, Oregon, Kansas, and Missouri, and will continue hosting discussions on how best to foster an environment for economic growth. This includes a speech by Donohue to more than 125 business leaders in Alabama on Friday, as the state's leading business associations endorse the campaign.

"The members of the U.S. Chamber stand ready to help," Donohue said. "We believe the American people will outwork, outthink, outdream anyone, anywhere in the world and the best way to grow this economy is bottom up, by investing in their hopes and dreams."

Donohue's letter to the president outlines seven specific policies that are crucial to job creation, including:

• Double U.S. Exports in Five Years
• Unleash Private and Public Infrastructure Investment
• Promote Healthy Credit Markets
• Restore Fiscal Responsibility
• Advance Pro-Growth Tax and Regulatory Policies
• Reduce Excessive Litigation
• Better Educate and Train Americans for 21st Century Jobs

"We approach this jobs challenge with our sleeves rolled up, not our hands held out," said Donohue. "We are suggesting what American business can and must do to meet its responsibilities to the American people—to create good jobs and responsibly grow our economy."

The complete letter that expands on these policies is available here.

American Free Enterprise. Dream Big. is the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's comprehensive, multiyear campaign to support free enterprise through national advertising; grassroots advocacy; citizen, community, and youth engagement; and research and ideas leadership.

The U.S. Chamber is the world's largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.

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