See the pdf version of this letter here: 161020_coalition_defenseofintellectualpropertyrights_congress

October 20, 2016

Members of the United States Congress U.S. Capitol
Washington, DC
RE: 150 State Chambers of Commerce Unite to Urge Congress to Protect Intellectual Property

Dear Members of Congress:

On behalf of the business community, we write to urge you to support our Nation’s entrepreneurs, businesses, and jobs through ensuring the effective protection of intellectual property (IP) rights. America’s IP – our patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets – has been an engine of economic growth for our Nation, offering innovators and creators the promise of a return on their investments of time and resources. In fact, IP-intensive industries employ over 45 million Americans.

Our Nation’s founders clearly understood the role that IP rights play in driving economic growth and human progress – a fact evidenced by their inclusion of IP protections in Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution. Since then, IP rights have spurred the innovations that have made our Nation the largest and most dynamic economy in the world. Today more than ever, in a time of great technological advancement, IP rights are the cornerstone of diverse industries and businesses of every kind, large and small.

The importance of IP rights is clear – and so too is the need for their protection. Unfortunately, American businesses and innovators are seeing their IP stolen in staggering numbers – billions of dollars per year – through counterfeiting and piracy, much of it stemming from abroad.

As a lawmaker, Americans are counting on you to stand up for the IP rights that are so critical to millions of businesses, consumers, and jobs in every corner of our Nation. As you approach the many issues facing the Congress, we urge you to make the protection of America’s IP a key priority.

Respectfully,

Addison Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Albertville Chamber of Commerce

Ames Chamber of Commerce

Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Association of Washington Business

Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce

Austin Chamber of Commerce

Avon Chamber of Commerce

Baltimore/Washington Corridor Chamber of Commerce

Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce

Barrow County, Chamber of Commerce

Baton Rouge Area Chamber of Commerce

Blairsville, Chamber of Commerce

Boca Chamber of Commerce

Bossier, Chamber of Commerce

Brea Chamber of Commerce

Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce

Business Council of Alabama

Business Council of New York State

Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire

Cache Chamber of Commerce

California Chamber of Commerce

California Life Sciences Association

Campbell County Chamber of Commerce

Capital Region, NY Chamber of Commerce

Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce

Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce

Cedar City Chamber of Commerce

Cerritos Regional Chamber of Commerce

Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii

Chamber of Medford/Jackson County

Chamber360

Chandler Chamber

Charlotte Chamber of Commerce

Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry

Chicago Southland Chamber

Colorado Association of Commerce & Industry

Columbus Chamber of Commerce

Connecticut Business & Industry Association

Covington County Chamber of Commerce

Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce

Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce

Dearborn Chamber of Commerce

Decatur Chamber of Commerce

Delaware County Chamber of Commerce

Delaware State Chamber of Commerce

Dublin-Laurens Chamber of Commerce

Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce

Eatonton Chamber of Commerce

Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce

Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce

Electronic Components Industry Association

Fayette County Chamber of Commerce

Ferndale Chamber of Commerce

Florida Chamber of Commerce

Fostoria Area Chamber of Commerce

Gateway Chambers Alliance

Goleta Valley Chamber of Commerce

Grand Forks/East Grand Forks Chamber

Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce

Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce

Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce

Greater Green Bay Chamber

Greater Lexington Chamber of Commerce

Greater Lexington Chamber of Commerce

Greater Oak Brook Chamber of Commerce

Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce

Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce

Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce

Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce

Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce

Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce

Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce

Greater Williamsburg Chamber & Tourism Alliance

Greater Yakima, Chamber of Commerce

Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce

Hollywood Chamber of Commerce

Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association

Indiana Chamber of Commerce

Indianapolis Chamber

Iowa Association of Business and Industry

Jackson Chamber

Johnson City Chamber of Commerce

Johnson City/Jonesborough/Washington County Chamber

Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Kalispell Chamber of Commerce

Kentucky Chamber of Commerce

Kingsport, Chamber of Commerce

Klamath County Chamber of Commerce

Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce

Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce

Lima Allen County Chamber of Commerce

Little Rock Chamber of Commerce

Lodi Area Chamber of Commerce

Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce

Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce

Manhattan Chamber of Commerce

Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce

McLean County Chamber

Mesa Chamber of Commerce

Montana Chamber of Commerce

Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce

Nappanee Area Chamber of Commerce

National Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce

New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce

New Orleans Chamber

North Carolina Chamber of Commerce

North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce

North Orange County Chamber

Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce

Ohio Chamber of Commerce

Opelika Chamber of Commerce

Pasadena Chamber of Commerce

Pittsburgh Airport Area Chamber of Commerce

Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce

Port Hueneme Chamber of Commerce

Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce

Rancho Cordova Chamber of Commerce

Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce

Regional Chamber of Commerce-San Gabriel Valley

Sacramento Chamber of Commerce

Salem Area Chamber of Commerce

Salt Lake Chamber

San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce

San Francisco Chamber of Commerce

San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership

San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber

Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce

Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce

Security Industry Association

South Bay Association of Chambers of Commerce

South Carolina Chamber of Commerce

St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce

St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce

St. Joseph County Chamber of Commerce

State Chamber of Oklahoma

Texas Association of Business

The Chamber of Reno, Sparks, and Northern Nevada

The Chamber Grand Forks/East Grand Forks

Valley Industry & Commerce Association

Vernal Area Chamber of Commerce

Virginia Chamber of Commerce

Walton Area Chamber of Commerce

Washington Retail Association

Wayland Area Chamber of Commerce

West Virginia Chamber of Commerce

Western DuPage Chamber of Commerce

White Pine Chamber of Commerce

Yuma County Chamber of Commerce