By: Suzanne P. Clark, President and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
For a long time, the U.S. Chamber has said that “Business is the one thing that really works in this country.” We say it as a point of pride, and we’re not the only ones who feel that way. According to the latest Edelman Trust Barometer, 62% of respondents from 27 countries said they trust business above other institutions. When compared with nonprofits, government, and the media, business was the only institution seen as competent and ethical. Here in the U.S., there’s a 13-point trust gap between business and government.
People trust business to work because it has to, but we need a government that works too. A government that can partner with the private sector on our biggest challenges and engage globally to advance America’s interests and the world’s.
Unfortunately, there are far too many instances where government just isn’t working. Millions are allowed to illegally cross our country’s border, but we can’t get visas processed for desperately needed engineers and nurses. Congress passed the most significant infrastructure investment in a generation, but projects can’t get approved due to a broken permitting process. Regulations are driven by ideological agendas and imposed on business without transparency or accountability. Illinois ranks sixth in the nation for state exports, but the administration’s indifference on trade is limiting future economic potential.
To help address some of these challenges and seize opportunities for our country’s competitiveness and future, the U.S. Chamber recently unveiled an “Agenda for American Strength”—an agenda that our country can make progress on this year by focusing on building, people, energy, global leadership, and the rule of law.
Our plan calls for bipartisan action on permitting reform so we can finally build a 21st century infrastructure. To solve the worker shortage and build the workforce of the future, we must finally fix America’s broken immigration system, find new ways to incentivize work, and expand access and financing to training programs that lead to good jobs.
When it comes to energy, our agenda seeks to meet the needs of our economy today and transition to a low-carbon future. The single most important thing Washington can do this year is to send long-term signals to energy producers to give them the confidence they need to invest here in the U.S. Let’s also accelerate permitting for new exploration and production, quickly finalize a 5-year program for offshore leasing, and make it easier to build energy infrastructure.
We have to end our self-imposed trade blockade. That’s why our agenda calls for resuming negotiations with the UK, seeking a stronger foothold in Africa, and aiming higher on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. America must also set global standards and global policy on critical priorities like data privacy and artificial intelligence.
At home, we need to address the scourge of crime sweeping major American cities. Chicago set a record for business startups in 2021, but businesses won’t stay open or stay in communities where the threat is high. Our “Agenda for American Strength” calls on state and local governments to enact policies that help law enforcement and prosecutors go after criminals and keep their communities and businesses safe.
This agenda is aspirational and forward-looking, but it’s also practical and actionable. There are significant things government—even divided government—can do to support business, improve lives, and strengthen our country’s competitiveness this year.
We are a great nation capable of doing big things. That’s what our businesses and workers are trusted to do all day, every day, and we must accept nothing less from our leaders in Washington.
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