RE: 150 State Chambers of Commerce Unite to Urge Congress to Protect Intellectual Property
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
