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The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest federation of 

 business companies and associations and is the principal spokesman 

 for the American business community. It represents nearly 180,000 

 businesses and organizations, such as local/state chambers of 

 commerce and trade/professional associations. 



More than 93 percent of the Chamber's members are small business 

 firms with fever than 100 employees, 45 percent with fever than 10 

 employees. Yet, virtually all of the nation's largest companies are 

 also active members. We are particularly cognizant of the problems 

 of smaller businesses, as veil as issues facing the business 

 community at large. 



Besides representing a cross section of the American business 

 community in terms of number of employees, the Chamber represents a 

 vide management spectrum by type of business and location. Each 

 major classification of American business — manufacturing, retailing, 

 services, construction, wholesaling, and finance — numbers more than 

 10,000 members. Yet no one group constitute* as much as 32 percent 

 of the total membership. Further, the Chamber has substantial 

 membership in all 50 states. 



The Chamber's international reach is substantial as veil. It 

 believes that global interdependence provides an opportunity, not a- 

 threat. In addition to the 59 American Chambers of Commerce Abroad, 

 an increasing number of members are engaged in the export and import 

 of both goods and services and have ongoing investment activities. 

 The Chamber favors strengthened international competitiveness and 

 opposes artificial U.S. and foreign barriers to international 

 business. 



Positions on national issues are developed by a cross section of its 

 members serving on committees, subcommittees and task forces. 

 Currently, some 1,800 business people participate in this process. 



