The Wall Street Journal published a story claiming there is a split between the U.S. Chamber and state and local chambers. It notes some state chambers hired lobbyists to meet with House GOP leaders and this is more evidence of friction between House Republican Leadership and the Chamber.
Usually, the Journal diligently covers and references the Chamber’s advocacy and our fight for American business. In the last 12 months, they published 46 articles and 9 editorials with positive—and fair—coverage of the Chamber’s work, including our role in the debt limit negotiations, our work to advance legal reform, the success of our litigation and many FOIA requests to defend free enterprise, and how we battle government overreach getting in the way of business. Unfortunately, even the Journal can fall prey to the kind of slanted narratives that have become all too common in journalism today. The Journal chose not to include all the facts, because it was dead set on advancing its false premise.
The truth is the Chamber has been and continues to be an effective pro-business voice in national debates.
Claim: State and local chambers hire lobbyists to make up for an “ineffective” U.S. Chamber.
Fact: The number of state and local chambers that hired federal lobbyists in 2019 (19) is exactly the same as it is today (19). And we encourage everyone to get in the fight for free enterprise.
2023
- Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Columbus Chamber of Commerce
- Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce
- Indiana Chamber of Commerce
- Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce
- Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce
- Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce
- Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce
- Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce
- Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce
- Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce
- Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce
- Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce
- Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce
- Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce
- Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce
- Ohio Chamber of Commerce
- Queens Chamber of Commerce
- South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce
2019
- Abilene Chamber of Commerce
- Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce
- Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce
- Chamber of Commerce Hawaii
- Columbus Chamber of Commerce
- Georgia Chamber of Commerce
- Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce
- Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce
- Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce
- Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce
- Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce
- Indiana Chamber of Commerce
- Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce
- Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce
- River Region Chamber of Commerce
- Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce
- Springdale Chamber of Commerce
- Topeka Kansas Chamber of Commerce
- USVI Chambers of Commerce
Fact: The Chamber is an effective and successful voice on the issues that matter most to America’s companies. Look at the debt limit debate.
During the debt limit debate, we engaged early and often by noting the risks of default. In January, we were the first to dismiss the White House's theory that a clean debt limit bill could pass Congress, and we called for bipartisan negotiations. We also outlined several options that could be included in a compromise bill – repeal unspent COVID funds, implement spending caps, and include permitting reform. These ended up in the final deal.
We also knew that any solution would have to be bipartisan. Both parties had to compromise and put the interests of the American economy and people first. And to be clear, the agreement struck between Speaker McCarthy and the President, which we supported and “key voted,” would have failed in the House and failed in the Senate without bipartisan support. The Chamber’s efforts helped avoid an economic catastrophe.
Claim: “The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is not investing its time advancing policies that are in the best interest of its members and prioritized by House Republicans.”
Fact: Our agenda is driven by our members. Most of the time that aligns with the agenda of the majority of elected officials, sometimes it does not.
So far this year, the Chamber has key voted five pieces of legislation. On all five, the Chamber’s position was allied with the House GOP leadership. We have also gone to court against the SEC, the FTC, the CFPB, the EPA, and now HHS to hold the administrative state accountable.
Claim: The state and local chambers have to circumvent the U.S. Chamber to drive their priorities.
Fact: The Chamber works closely with state and local chambers, day in and day out.
The Chamber hosts fly-ins. Representatives from Main Street coming to Washington to meet with their Congressional representatives is powerful. In the last 18 months, the Chamber has hosted 121 fly-ins, 57 in 2023. We also conduct local and virtual briefings for state and local chamber partners. In the last 18 months, we held 60 of these, with 20 of them in 2023.
We also work with state and local chambers to help amplify businesses’ voices on key issues. In April, we launched the LIBERTY Campaign, a coalition of 430 local, state, and national business organizations, urging Congress to secure the border and increase legal immigration this year.
Bottom line: Every day the U.S. Chamber works closely with our state and local chambers to fight for free enterprise. These strong partnerships offer American businesses a powerful, effective, and united voice in Washington.
