U.S. Chamber Joins Arizona Chamber in Calling for End to Arizona Boycott

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Chamber of Commerce joined the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry today in raising concerns with the various calls to boycott travel to the state of Arizona.

"It is very bad policy to boycott the businesses and harm the workers of Arizona based on the actions of the state legislature," said R. Bruce Josten, executive vice president of Government Affairs for the U.S. Chamber. "The travel and tourism industry is essential to growth and job creation throughout this country. The last thing we should do is punish those who are working hard to create the jobs that our nation's economy desperately need."

"It's the workers who will suffer most from the harm of these boycotts," continued Josten. "These events further underscore the need for comprehensive immigration reform at the federal level, and the Chamber will continue to work to achieve this goal."

Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry President and CEO Glenn Hamer said such boycotts set a bad precedent for expressing disagreements over public policy.

"Economic boycotts are not the way to affect legislation or public policy," Hamer said. "Instead of harming workers in Arizona, we would encourage those who have called for boycotts to instead direct their energy toward calling on Congress to address the urgent need for improved border security and immigration 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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