U.S. Chamber Applauds Senate’s Overwhelming Support of Tax Bill

Surpasses 200,000 Grassroots Letters Urging Full Extension of Current Rates

WASHINGTON, D.C.—As the Senate overwhelmingly passed the bipartisan tax bill today, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce announced that its grassroots network generated more than 200,000 letters to Capitol Hill supporting the extension of current tax rates for all Americans, including small businesses.

“By overwhelmingly supporting the bipartisan tax bill, the Senate sent an unmistakable message to the House today,” said Bruce Josten, executive vice president for Government Affairs at the U.S. Chamber. “The House must swiftly pass this critical legislation, in its current form, to place the economy on a road to recovery. Failure to act could plunge the nation back into a recession and put even more Americans out of work.”

Though the Chamber weighs in on a wide range of legislative issues, the impending tax hikes have spurred the most grassroots outreach since the health care debate. In comparison to 40,000 Congressional contacts generated in 2008, the U.S. Chamber network has sent more than 2 million letters in the 111th Congress including more than one million in 2010, with the majority focused on the impending tax increases, health care, and financial regulatory reform.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.

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