U.S. Chamber President Rings NASDAQ Opening Bell In Honor of Free Enterprise

U.S. Chamber President Rings NASDAQ Opening Bell In Honor of Free Enterprise
Donohue Cites Need to Promote Capital Markets, Free Enterprise

NEW YORK, NY—U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue rang the opening bell of the NASDAQ MarketSite this morning in honor of free enterprise, highlighting the Chamber's Campaign for Free Enterprise.

"The tradition of ringing the opening bell at NASDAQ is a wonderful reminder of the importance of our capital markets and free enterprise system," Donohue said in remarks at the MarketSite alongside business leaders and executives from state and local chambers of commerce. "The growth and success of America's technology companies that trade on the NASDAQ is because of innovators, inventors, and risk-takers."

"But our capital markets and free enterprise system are being challenged like never before," he said. "They are being challenged by some of the private sector's own mistakes and excesses, and we are working to correct these problems. They are also being challenged by business adversaries and some in government who don't understand, or who don't believe in, the principles of free enterprise."

The U.S. Chamber's Campaign for Free Enterprise is a multi-year national advocacy campaign encompassing advertising, education, political activities, new media, and grassroots organizing to defend and advance America's free enterprise values in the face of rapid government growth and attacks by anti-business activists. The campaign was initially announced at the Chamber's board meeting in Washington on June 10, 2009.

"Critics have become more skeptical of capital markets in particular," Donohue said. "It's our job to remind Americans and their leaders of the critical role capital markets play in creating jobs, funding new ideas, starting new businesses, and providing economic security for workers and families."

Today's event also highlighted the partnership of the U.S. Chamber's Center for Capital Markets Competitiveness (CCMC), the National Chamber Foundation (NCF), and the NASDAQ OMX Educational Foundation, Inc. on educational and research programs. These groups will work to support the common goals of ensuring our capital markets remain the most fair, efficient, transparent, and attractive in the world.

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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