The CEO of the largest business advocacy group in America, the United States Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ of Commerce, outlined a plan to help the nation’s economy fully recover from the pandemic during his 2021 annual Address in Washington, D.C. 

First and foremost, businesses and the U.S. Congress must work to heal a divided nation and get the public vaccinated, said Thomas Donohue, the CEO of the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­, who made the virtual address this month to about 10,000 attendees worldwide. 

“It’s true that, at home and abroad, we are operating at a time when people don’t always have a lot of faith in institutions. There’s mistrust in government, questions about the credibility of our democratic systems, contempt for capitalism. For different reasons, these factors have helped drive rising support for nationalism or socialism and other divisions,� Donohue said. “Some even ask if these are signals of national decline.

“Well, to that I say: no one has ever bet against America and won. We have it within us to make this a pivot point in our history.�

Call on nation to “rally for recovery� 

In his speech, Donohue urged both industry and national policymakers to “rally for recoveryâ€� through infrastructure, immigration reform, workforce reskilling, and global competitiveness. 

With 10 million American jobs lost in the last year, and small business disproportionately impacted – particularly minority – and women-owned businesses, many of which have closed – the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ is calling on policymakers to focus on a “broad-basedâ€� economic recovery. 

“Some industries, businesses, and segments of the workforce have thrived,â€� he said. “But it’s a very different story for those who have been negatively impacted by the pandemic. Entire industries have been decimated because people aren’t traveling, gathering, shopping, or going out like they used to.â€� 

To help achieve that, Donohue laid out the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­â€™s priorities this year:   

Continued economic relief for those hardest hit 

Donohue said the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ will work with the incoming Congress and President Joe Biden’s administration to ensure industries, businesses and workers make it through the end of the pandemic-induced economic crisis. With continued stimulus relief from Congress, growth could return to pre-pandemic levels by the third quarter of this year, he said. 

Long-overdue infrastructure package 

In what has become an annual tradition, Donohue called for national lawmakers to finally pass a “fiscally and environmentally responsibleâ€� infrastructure package. 

One way to raise productivity, create jobs, and drive up incomes in a hurry is through a package to modernize infrastructure including roads and bridges and critical networks and to upgrade and expand technology like broadband to deal with the new digital economy where millions of Americans are now working remotely, he said. 

“Even in a 50-50 Senate and a House divided by 5 votes, this can be done—and it might build some goodwill for bipartisan progress on other priorities,� Donohue said. “We’ve been working on this for more than 20 years. Let’s find a way to pay for it, and let’s get moving. This year, there can be no excuses for failure.�

Reskilling an “inclusiveâ€� American workforce to meet job demand 

Reskilling workers with an emphasis on women and people of color will foster economic growth, Donohue said. The chamber will be pressing Congress for rapid training programs to connect the unemployed with jobs in new sectors. Employer-led initiatives should lead the way to align industry needs and in-demand skills.

“Some of the best-paying sectors—such as health care or financial and professional services—have more job openings than available workers. If we do this right and do it quickly, we will improve the living standard for millions of Americans and get our economy growing even faster,� he said.

Tackle racial inequality and advance immigration reform  

In addition to job reskilling, Donohue stressed that policymakers need to tackle race-based systemic inequality in education, entrepreneurship, and the criminal justice system – as outlined in the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­â€™s – and immigration reforms to ensure the American workforce is highly skilled. 

Pro-business policies 

As a new government prepares to take the reins, it must not return to excessive regulation or anti-competitive taxes, Donohue warned, citing the positive effects of regulatory relief and pro-business policies on the economy before the pandemic. 

“Now is exactly the wrong time to further test the resiliency of businesses by hiking taxes or heaping on new regulations that do more harm than good,â€� he said.  

Global engagement to reach 95 percent of consumers 

Finally, Donohue spoke of the need for America to “reengage with the worldâ€� through a trade agenda that is focused on selling products to the 95 percent of consumers who live beyond U.S. borders. 

In recent years, the nation’s resilience has been tested through trade wars and tariffs, he said. 

“Yes, let’s make more products in America, but let’s also sell them to the rest of the world. We must extend our reach to the 95 percent of the world’s customers who live beyond our borders. We must catch up to the countries that are inking new trade deals left and right. And we must lift the tariffs that have hurt American manufacturers and farmers and have been paid by American companies and their customers.�

Donohue also called for the U.S. to reaffirm American leadership in multilateral organizations like the and the .

Engage strategically with fastest growing market: China 

China is the biggest global challenge the nation faces, Donohue said. It’s also the biggest market. 

“We must work to stabilize the relationship through strength and cooperation. At the same time we also have to confront the unfair trade and industrial policies that China uses against U.S. companies,� he said. “We must work with our allies to stand up to China, while also pursuing new negotiations with Beijing to protect our intellectual property.�

Growth is fastest path to shrink “extraordinaryâ€� expenditures of 2020 

The pandemic is far from over, but if Congress sufficiently supports the economy with the relief it needs, the nation should recover more quickly and be better able to pay down the nation’s $27 trillion debt.

Arizona Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ voices optimism as new president enters office 

As President Biden entered office Wednesday, the Arizona Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ of Commerce and Industry voiced its optimism in working toward common . Many of its priorities align directly with the U.S. Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­â€™s include tariff-free trade, an infrastructure package that includes water infrastructure and updated ports of entry, and immigration reform to help employers and workers including providing a path to citizenship for recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival Program (DACA). 

“We’re encouraged that President Biden is going to make immigration reform a top priority of the early days of his administration,â€� said Glenn Hamer, president and CEO at the Arizona Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ of Commerce & Industry. “We will strongly support a plan that puts DACA recipients and Dreamers on a path to citizenship, which we are confident will receive broad, bipartisan support.â€� 

The business community also looks forward to working with the Biden administration in reforming the country’s “byzantine visa system,â€� Hamer said. 

“Too many jobs across the economy are going unfulfilled, but a better visa policy can help. We can also build on the promise of the TN visa class and make it easier for professionals in our USMCA partner countries Canada and Mexico to bring their talents here. We also want to work with the new administration on a plan to safely and responsibly ease pandemic-related border travel restrictions.�

To read a complete list of the U.S. Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­â€™s goals for this year, go to .

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Arizona, like the nation as a whole, is experiencing an uneven recovery from the initial economic impacts of the pandemic. What that means is that some sectors of the economy have rebounded sharply, while others remain in freefall.

At this critical moment, pro-growth policies can help businesses recover and help get the unemployed back to work, but bad policy risks further decimating businesses and jobs. Arizona’s Proposition 208 is perhaps the most misguided policy on the ballot—in any state—this November.  

Small businesses are a critical source of jobs and a vital part of our economic ecosystem, serving as both suppliers and customers to larger organizations. In Arizona, small businesses employ  of Arizonans in the private sector. In certain sectors, small businesses have an even larger footprint. For example, small firms employ 82 percent of all Arizonans in the construction industry and 62 percent in real estate. They also employ 56 percent of those in food services and accommodation and over 50 percent in professional and business services.  

Some of those , particularly those that rely on customers gathering in-person, have yet to rebound from the pandemic-induced recession. One in five jobs in the accommodation and food services sector that existed in February, for example, are gone today. Moreover, nearly 30,000 professional and business services jobs have disappeared. For Arizona to recover, these small businesses must recover. 

At the same time, we need the small business employers that are doing well to continue growing. Earlier this year, Arizona was  fifth in the U.S. for small business employment growth. It is easy to see why when you consider that sectors like construction increased their employment by nearly 40 percent over the last five years.  

But Arizona’s pro-business environment, and the ability of these small businesses to recover and continue to grow, would be fundamentally threatened if Proposition 208 is passed.   

Proposition 208 would increase tax rates on small business that pay taxes through the personal income tax by an astonishing 78 percent. Proponents  that this will generate nearly $1 billion a year in new taxes to fund schools. But that money has to come from somewhere, and it is most likely going to mean less business investment and fewer new jobs. One conservative  places the job loss at 124,000. And let’s not forget, fewer Arizonans working means fewer paying normal income and sales taxes,  the state and local governments an estimated nearly $2.5 billion over the next decade. 

Even these stark estimates may not tell the full story. Over the past decade, Arizona’s strong economy and quality of life has  more than 2 million Americans who moved so that they could call Arizona home. Many came from states that punished small business owners with high tax rates. If Proposition 208 passes, Arizona will move from being a low-tax state to having one of the top-ten-highest tax rates in the nation, alongside the likes of California and New York. Passing Proposition 208 would be the equivalent of rolling up the proverbial welcome mat and closing the door on small business owners.

Proponents of Proposition 208 claim that these tax increases are necessary to ensure a quality education for Arizona students. But that is not true either. Since 2015, Arizona has invested an additional  in K-12 education. Teachers’ salaries have increased by an .  

Since 2000, Arizona has made considerable progress in  the number of students who are at or above proficiency in math and reading. There is more work to be done, but it will take smart targeted investments that help improve our school system and our economy.  

Proposition 208 isn’t smart or targeted, it will hurt Arizona’s economy and cost the state jobs when we need new job creation the most. It deserves to be defeated.  

Suzanne P. Clark is the president of the U.S. Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ of Commerce. Glenn Hamer is president and CEO of the Arizona Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ of Commerce and Industry. 

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Arizona’s U.S. Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Martha McSally are among the top scoring lawmakers to receive awards this week from the U.S. Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ of Commerce for their bipartisan leadership to support small businesses and entrepreneurs.

They and other national lawmakers received the awards at the chamber’s First Annual Governing with Distinction Ceremony. Recognizing those who are not afraid to stand up to partisan pressure is the main point behind the new awards, U.S. Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ President Suzanne Clark said during the virtual awards Tuesday. 

“If you want effective legislation, you need the right leaders, not political posturing,â€� 

said Clark, who leads the world’s largest organization representing business. 

The awards are intended to herald lawmakers’ accomplishments and encourage them to continue their bipartisan efforts, Clark said. Now more than ever, the country needs them.  

“This event is taking place at a time when our country is being tested by three significant challenges: a public health crisis, a devastated economy that’s showing some signs of life but is still in a very precarious place, and long overdue efforts to address inequality in our society,â€� Clark said. 

“The decisions that our elected officials make now will have significant bearing on how quickly and how effectively we rebuild our economy and how businesses bounce back, help restore jobs and opportunities, and create hope for all Americans during this really challenging time.�

To determine the winners, the chamber analyzed members’ voting records to measure bipartisan leadership in the two award categories: 

-The Abraham Lincoln Leadership for America Award recognizes members of Congress who demonstrate the leadership required to advance policies that support free enterprise.

-The Jefferson-Hamilton Award for Bipartisanship recognizes members who demonstrate a willingness to work across the aisle and find common ground, even with those with whom they disagree.

Part of U.S. Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­â€™s move to “middle groundâ€�

The ceremony comes as the U.S. Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ is making a concerted effort to foster a governing coalition of the political center for the sake of industry. 

Political gridlock in Washington has hurt progress on some major issues important to industry, said Neil Bradley, executive vice president and chief policy officer at the chamber. 

Arizona senators both natural leaders 

Sen. Sinema, who was elected in 2018, received both the Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson-Hamilton awards.

She also was the only honoree to score 100 percent in both categories, earning a 100 percent rating for her legislative record on jobs and the economy and for the number of bills introduced by a member of the opposite party. 

Among her accomplishments, Sinema led the charge to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank that  is important to Arizona’s manufacturing sector. This helps Arizona businesses reach new customers around the globe. In the last six years the bank has financed $2 billion in exports with 80 percent from small businesses.  

“Working across the aisle is how I get things done and deliver for Arizona, and I remain committed to working with anyone to fuel innovation, cut red tape, and create jobs in Arizona,â€� Sinema said. 

Sen. McSally, who was the first female pilot to fly in combat and the first to command a fighter squadron, received the Abraham Lincoln Leadership award for her bipartisan leadership in promoting a strong economy. 

McSally led bipartisan efforts last year to ensure Arizona has the water resources needed to support the state’s population growth and economic development. She successfully shepherded the seven-state Drought Contingency Plan through Congress to avert a water crisis in the Southwest.   

After receiving the award, McSally said she was honored to receive recognition for her bipartisan record of “pro-job, pro-free enterprise� work in Congress.

“Now more than ever, we need to work together to revitalize the economy, get people back to work, and create more jobs for Americans and Arizonans,� McSally said. “I will keep fighting for common sense pro-growth policies including low taxes, deregulation, and incentives to bring manufacturing home from China.�

Arizona industry benefits from their leadership

Arizona and the nation have benefited from the senators’ ability to lead, said Glenn Hamer, president and CEO of the Arizona Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ of Commerce and Industry. 

Both helped pass some of the most important bipartisan legislation coming out of Congress, including the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement and the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act to help small businesses harmed by COVID-19. 

“Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Martha McSally may be freshmen, but they are quickly distinguishing themselves for their hard work and leadership. And though they hail from different parties, they are following in the footsteps of the late Sen. John McCain, who put Arizona’s and the country’s interests above partisan politics,â€� Hamer said. 

Other lawmakers who received top scores include: 

Abraham Lincoln Leadership for America Award

Rep. Donald Bacon (R-Nebraska) 

Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota) 

Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas)

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina)

Jefferson-Hamilton Award for Bipartisan Leadership

Sen. Susan M. Collins (R-Maine) 

Rep. Brian K. Fitzpatrick (R-Pennsylvania) 

Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-New Jersey)

Rep. Joe Cunningham (D-South Carolina)For a complete list of winners or to view the ceremony, go to:.

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With the challenges of an enduring pandemic and an economy just starting to recover, America needs strong leadership more than ever.

Last week, we saw that leadership in action when the U.S. Senate approved the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act. This bipartisan legislation will expand loan forgiveness and adds much-needed flexibility for the small businesses that have been hard hit by the economic shutdown.

Thankfully, Arizona is blessed to have two effective and principled leaders in the U.S. Senate who helped make this happen.

Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Martha McSally may be freshmen, but they are quickly distinguishing themselves for their hard work and leadership. And though they hail from different parties, they are following in the footsteps of the late Sen. John McCain, who put Arizona’s and the country’s interests above partisan politics.

These accomplished women have a few things in common. Both have worked hard on COVID-19 relief legislation and implementation. Both support the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which is critical for Arizona’s economy. Both are deeply concerned about what job creators care about and work in close partnership with the business community.

Here is another commonality: Both were honored with  that seek to elevate the work of members of Congress who are committed to growing the economy and to working in a bipartisan manner.

The Abraham Lincoln Leadership for America Award recognizes those members of Congress who have demonstrated leadership critical to advancing policies that support American enterprise, while the Jefferson-Hamilton Award for Bipartisanship recognizes those members of Congress who have demonstrated a willingness to work across the aisle in support of common objectives.

Senator Sinema, elected in 2018, earned both awards. In fact, she was the only honoree to score 100% in both categories. She earned a 100% rating for her legislative record on jobs and the economy, as well as a perfect rating based on the number of bills — except those formally opposed by the U.S. Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ — that are introduced by a member of the opposite party.

For instance, Senator Sinema led the charge to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank, which is critically important to Arizona’s manufacturing sector. This has helped Arizona businesses reach new customers around the globe. In the last six years, the Export-Import Bank has financed $2 billion in exports, 80% of them small businesses.

Senator McSally, whose leadership as the first female pilot to fly in combat and the first to command a fighter squadron has been well documented, was also awarded the Abraham Lincoln Leadership for America Award. Her support for a strong national and Arizona economy has been unwavering.

She has led efforts to ensure Arizona has the water resources needed to support the state’s population growth and economic development. Last year, Senator McSally successfully shepherded the Drought Contingency Plan through Congress to keep water flowing to Arizona. After two years of negotiations among the seven Colorado River Basin states, it took only six days for Congress to pass it. Much of this was due to Senator McSally’s leadership.

The public service excellence of Senator McSally and Senator Sinema goes beyond legislation. They both have dedicated, thoughtful, and resourceful staff who listen to constituents’ issues and help them find solutions. No problem is too big or too small – a posture that is especially important in helping the people and businesses of Arizona deal with the pandemic and economic crisis. That nitty-gritty, day-to-day effort doesn’t make newspaper headlines, but it means a lot to Arizonans.

The bipartisanship we’ve seen from Senators Sinema and McSally will be needed as our nation  through education, employment, entrepreneurship, and criminal justice reform.

These well-earned awards demonstrate the importance of leadership and hard work right now. At a time when American desperately needs a governing center, Arizona is fortunate that both of our senators are part of it.

Glenn Hamer is president and CEO of the Arizona Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ of Commerce and Industry. Thomas J. Donohue is the CEO of the U.S. Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ of Commerce.

This article was originally published in the Arizona Capitol Times.

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Glenn Hamer, president and CEO of the Arizona Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ of Commerce & Industry, has been named to serve on a national steering committee for a U.S. Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ of Commerce initiative to improve economic equity and opportunity for people of color. 

The goal is to engage hundreds, if not thousands, of businesses, chambers and trade associations to help make it happen. 

With Minneapolis police officers now charged with the murder of George Floyd, America needs to use this as the turning point, he said. 

“We all have much to learn from the senseless killing of George Floyd and this moment in the nation’s history—I know I do,� Hamer said. “I welcome this appointment as someone who doesn’t have all the answers, but who has a real desire to ensure that all Americans have access to an even playing field and a future defined by hope and opportunity.�

The U.S. Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ unveiled the last week in the midst of national outrage as a video went viral showing Floyd’s murder at the hands of four police officers on Memorial Day.

Call to the business community to take action 

The goal of the initiative is to engage hundreds, if not thousands, of chambers, trade associations and companies to participate and improve racial equity in their communities, Hamer said. 

He said, as a Jewish ‘kid’ from the Bronx, he was honored and humbled to be chosen for the committee. 

“The opportunities offered by this country should be open and available to all Americans, not just some,� he said.

Employment rates tell the story 

As part of the effort, the U.S. Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­, representing more than 3 million businesses, will also promote policy at all levels of government to help effect change. 

The initiative will focus on four areas: education, employment, entrepreneurship, and criminal justice reform. 

The numbers show the need for a renewed effort, said Suzanne Clark, president and CEO of the U.S. Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ in a statement announcing the initiative last week. 

The unemployment rate is historically about twice as high for black Americans as for white.

“The combined impacts of the pandemic and economic crises have disproportionately hit disadvantaged communities, making this problem worse,� Clark said. “The chamber believes that the moral case for greater diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace is indisputable, and there’s overwhelming evidence that greater diversity benefits the American economy, businesses, communities and employees.�

Other programs to improve racial opportunity

The national initiative builds on other programs that U.S. Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ has initiated or supports including:

-The U.S. Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ Foundation’s that works to move students of color into high demand careers. 

-Partnering with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation on the that emphasizes the positive economic aspects of racial justice and higher employment,  like meaningful increases in consumer spending; federal, state, and local tax revenues; and decreases in social services spending and health-related costs.

-The , a collaboration with black colleges and universities to develop diverse business leaders by exposing students to new career opportunities and entrepreneurship, and encourage knowledge sharing among academics, business leaders, and trade associations.

Steering committee members from different industries, regions

In Hamer’s appointment to the steering committee, he joins five other business and chamber executives from different industries and geographies: 

-John Harmon, founder, president, and CEO of the African American Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ of Commerce of New Jersey

-Susan Neely, president and CEO of the American Council of Life Insurers

-Vincent B. Orange, Sr., president and CEO of the DC Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ of Commerce

-Carlos Phillips, president and CEO of the Greenville (South Carolina) Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ of Commerce

-Matt Shay, president and CEO of the National Retail Federation

Hamer also chairs the U.S. Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­â€™s Commerce Committee of 100, a group of chamber executives that represent the perspectives and needs of chambers and their members to the national body.

As the president of the Arizona Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­, Hamer has taken an international role in promoting Arizona to have strong relationships with trade and intellectual partner countries like Canada, China, Israel, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. 

For more information about the Arizona Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­, go to: .For more information about the U.S. Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­, go to: .

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The economic and commercial connection between Arizona and Israel will increase with the recent signing of an MOU between the Arizona Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ of Commerce and Industry and the U.S. Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ of Commerce’s U.S.-Israel Business Initiative. The two entities have pledged to work together to support ongoing economic initiatives and activities.

The two organizations will target four sectors for collaboration between Arizona and Israel: water, fintech, technology and startups, and defense and aerospace.

“Israel is the startup nation, and Arizona is the startup state,â€� said Glenn Hamer, President and CEO of the Arizona Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ of Commerce and Industry.  He indicated that Arizona and Israel are innovators “committed to solving 21st century challenges faced by both regions.â€�

Khush Choksy, senior vice president for Middle East & Turkey Affairs at the U.S. Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ of Commerce hope the collaboration will help “attract new business investment from Israel to the U.S., promote innovation, and strengthen the ties between our two nations.â€�

Recently, a delegation of business leaders and representatives from the Arizona Commerce Authority traveled to Israel to explore new opportunities for cross-border collaboration, trade and investment. As a result of the MOU, both organizations committed to:

• Organize an Arizona-Israel water summit for later this year;
• Develop new joint R&D programs promoting research exchanges and information sharing between Arizona and Israel in water technology;
• Secure a memorandum of understanding between Arizona and the State of Israel focused on expanding trade and building new commercial partnerships; and
• Host conferences, delegations, and visits to Arizona and Israel that facilitate relationships between government, business, and universities.

The purpose of the partnership is to share best practices to successfully attract new business investment and to establish the proper regulatory environment to foster growth and development.

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