In her March 11 speech to the United States Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors, new U.S. Chamber President and CEO Suzanne Clark laid out her vision to advance the Chamber’s mission to create jobs and stimulate economic growth.
“We are in a period of accelerated transformation and face major challenges, changes, and disruptions that will reshape our lives, businesses, and country,” said Clark. “But change is not a threat; it’s an opportunity. We will lead with bold ideas, take on the big fights, and win the future for our members and our nation.”
A bold agenda
“We will lead on issues that matter to our members,” Clark noted. “We will use our seat at the table to put forward fresh ideas, to reframe old debates, and to drive productive solutions.”
- Launching a National Workforce Initiative. 10 million Americans are out of work, yet seven million jobs remain unfilled. This effort will leverage the Chamber’s extensive, cross-organizational work and years of experience leading education, training, and talent solutions. “We can and must build a modern, nimble workforce that meets the needs of business leaders and provides pathways to advancement for all people, today and into the future,” said Clark.
- Fighting threats to growth and job creation. For example, the Chamber strongly opposes the PRO Act, which passed the House of Representatives. The Chamber will be running this ad, explaining why the bill is harmful to employees and employers. “We will fight anyone who seeks to target, hamstring, or penalize job creators and private industry in pursuit of an anti-business agenda,” Clark explained.
- Expanding work in the states and growing grassroots support. Companies face new policy challenges in the states. The Chamber is launching a new State Policy Center to work with its members and the federation of state and local chambers to address issues that are increasingly under consideration in state legislatures. “Through this effort we can improve coordination with state and local partners on issues of national significance being considered on the state or local level,” said Clark.
Big picture: “I believe this can be the start of the Next American Century—a century of progress, prosperity, equity, and innovation,” Clark said. “I believe in the mission of this institution. We exist to serve, support, champion, and fight for the businesses that will drive our nation forward into its most promising chapter yet.”