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Coalition Urges Prompt Debt Ceiling Increase, Entitlement Reform

SEP. 30, 2013

Coalition Urges Prompt Debt Ceiling Increase, Entitlement Reform

DATED SEP. 30, 2013
DOCUMENT ATTRIBUTES

 

Monday, September 30, 2013

 

 

TO THE MEMBERS OF THE U.S. CONGRESS:

The undersigned 251 organizations urge the House of Representatives and the United States Senate to pass a Continuing Resolution to ensure the uninterrupted funding of the federal government into the next fiscal year and to act expeditiously to raise the nation's debt limit.

We appreciate fully the importance of restraining federal spending, both discretionary spending and mandatory spending, to reduce federal budget deficits, contain the growth of federal debt, and thereby re-establish fiscal discipline in the near-term and for the long haul. However, with the U.S. economy continuing to underperform, the federal government needs to maintain its normal operations pending a successful outcome of broader budgetary reforms. It is not in the best interest of the employers, employees or the American people to risk a government shutdown that will be economically disruptive and create even more uncertainties for the U.S. economy.

Likewise, we respectfully urge the Congress to raise the debt ceiling in a timely manner and remove any threat to the full faith and credit of the United States government.

However, entitlement spending remains the main driver of these deficits and high debt levels and must be addressed. Today we spend $1.6 trillion on just three of the nation's entitlement programs -- Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. In 10 years, the total price for these programs will soar to $3 trillion.

Spending on entitlement programs and interest on the debt currently represent 65% of total government outlays and already exceed all federal income tax revenues collected. In 10 short years these payments are projected to reach 76% of government spending. During this decade and the next without reform, entitlement spending will rise more rapidly as the number of Americans 65 and older will jump by 70% while those of working age will increase by less than 7%. The biggest threat imaginable to our entitlement programs is to do nothing at all.

As the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) just reported (September 12):

  • "Historical and projected growth of federal spending relative to the size of the economy can be attributed almost entirely to growth in spending for a few large programs -- namely, Social Security and the major health care programs."

  • "The fundamental federal budgetary challenge has hardly been addressed."

  • "The largest federal programs are becoming much more expensive because of the retirement of the baby boomers and the rising costs of health care."

 

Congress cannot continue "kicking the can down the road;" it's time to take corrective action to address the unaffordable path of entitlement spending, to stabilize federal finances and to undertake fundamental tax reform to strengthen the American economy.

We urge the Congress to act promptly to pass a Continuing Resolution to fund the government and to raise the debt ceiling, and then to return to work on these other vital issues.

Aeronautical Repair Station

 

Association

 

 

Agricultural Retailers Association

 

 

Air Conditioning Contractors of

 

America

 

 

Air-Conditioning, Heating, and

 

Refrigeration Institute

 

 

Airlines for America

 

 

Airports Council International --

 

North America

 

 

American Apparel & Footwear

 

Association

 

 

American Beverage Association

 

 

American Coatings Association

 

 

American Concrete Pressure Pipe

 

Association

 

 

American Council of Engineering

 

Companies

 

 

American Farm Bureau Federation

 

 

American Forest & Paper

 

Association

 

 

American Gas Association

 

 

American Hotel & Lodging

 

Association

 

 

American Insurance Association

 

 

American International Automobile

 

Dealers Association

 

 

American Iron and Steel Institute

 

 

American Land Title Association

 

 

American Rental Association

 

 

American Road & Transportation

 

Builders Association

 

 

American Supply Association

 

 

American Trucking Associations

 

 

AMT -- The Association For

 

Manufacturing Technology

 

 

Arizona Chamber of Commerce and

 

Industry

 

 

Arizona Small Business Association

 

 

Arkansas State Chamber of

 

Commerce/Associated Industries of

 

Arkansas

 

 

Arlington Chamber of Commerce --

 

TX

 

 

Associated Equipment Distributors

 

 

Associated General Contractors of

 

America

 

 

Associated Oregon Industries

 

 

Association Forum of Chicagoland

 

-- IL

 

 

Association of Equipment

 

Manufacturers

 

 

Association of Home Appliance

 

Manufacturers

 

 

Association of Washington Business

 

 

Aurora Regional Chamber of

 

Commerce -- IL

 

 

Austin Area Chamber of Commerce

 

-- TX

 

 

Austin Chamber of Commerce -- TX

 

 

Automotive Aftermarket Industry

 

Association

 

 

Baltimore Washington Corridor

 

Chamber -- MD

 

 

Barrow County Chamber of Commerce

 

-- GA

 

 

Batavia Chamber of Commerce -- IL

 

 

Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of

 

Commerce -- ND

 

 

Brainerd Lakes Chamber -- MN

 

 

Buckeye Valley Chamber of Commerce

 

-- AZ

 

 

Buffalo Niagara Partnership -- NY

 

 

Building Owners and Managers

 

Association (BOMA) International

 

 

Business Council of Alabama

 

 

Business Roundtable

 

 

Cabarrus Regional Chamber of

 

Commerce -- NC

 

 

California Chamber of Commerce

 

 

California Manufacturers &

 

Technology Association

 

 

Carolinas Food Industry Council

 

 

Carpinteria Valley Chamber of

 

Commerce -- CA

 

 

Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce

 

-- NV

 

 

Central LA Chamber of Commerce

 

-- LA

 

 

Chamber of Commerce of

 

Huntsville/Madison County -- AL

 

 

Chamber of Commerce of the

 

Mid-Ohio Valley -- WV

 

 

Chamber Southwest Louisiana

 

 

Chambers of Commerce Alliance of

 

Ventura & Santa Barbara Counties

 

-- CA

 

 

Charleston Metro Chamber of

 

Commerce -- SC

 

 

Chicago Southland Chamber of

 

Commerce -- IL

 

 

Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce

 

-- IL

 

 

Connecticut Business & Industry

 

Association

 

 

Construction Financial Management

 

Association (CFMA)

 

 

Construction Industry Round Table

 

 

Consumer Bankers Association

 

 

Corn Refiners Association

 

 

Cushing Chamber of Commerce &

 

Industry -- OK

 

 

Dakota County Regional Chamber of

 

Commerce -- MN

 

 

Dallas Regional Chamber -- TX

 

 

Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce

 

-- OH

 

 

DC Chamber of Commerce

 

 

Delaware State Chamber of Commerce

 

 

Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce

 

-- CO

 

 

Destination Marketing Association

 

International

 

 

Edison Electric Institute

 

 

Electronics Representatives

 

Association

 

 

Erie Regional Chamber & Growth

 

Partnership -- PA

 

 

Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce

 

-- VA

 

 

Fairmont Area Chamber of Commerce

 

-- MN

 

 

Fall River Area Chamber of

 

Commerce and Industry, Inc. -- MA

 

 

Fashion Accessories Shippers

 

Association

 

 

Financial Services Forum

 

 

Florida Chamber of Commerce

 

 

Fort Madison Partners -- IA

 

 

Fremont Chamber of Commerce -- CA

 

 

Fullerton Chamber of Commerce

 

-- CA

 

 

Gateway Regional Chamber of

 

Commerce -- NJ

 

 

Georgia Chamber of Commerce

 

 

Greater Albuquerque Chamber of

 

Commerce -- NM

 

 

Greater Bakersfield Chamber of

 

Commerce -- CA

 

 

Greater Beaumont Chamber of

 

Commerce -- TX

 

 

Greater Boca Raton Chamber of

 

Commerce -- FL

 

 

Greater Des Moines Partnership

 

-- IA

 

 

Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce

 

-- NC

 

 

Greater El Paso Chamber of

 

Commerce -- TX

 

 

Greater Homestead/Florida City

 

Chamber of Commerce -- FL

 

 

Greater Iowa City Area Home

 

Builders Association -- IA

 

 

Greater Irving--Las Colinas

 

Chamber of Commerce -- TX

 

 

Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of

 

Commerce -- PA & NJ

 

 

Greater North Dakota Chamber

 

 

Greater Oak Brook Chamber of

 

Commerce -- IL

 

 

Greater Oro Valley Chamber of

 

Commerce -- AZ

 

 

Greater Phoenix Chamber of

 

Commerce -- AZ

 

 

Greater Raleigh Chamber of

 

Commerce -- NC

 

 

Greater Reading Chamber of

 

Commerce & Industry -- PA

 

 

Greater Shreveport Chamber of

 

Commerce -- LA

 

 

Greater Spokane Incorporated -- WA

 

 

Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce

 

-- KS

 

 

Guitar & Accessories Marketing

 

Association (GAMA)

 

 

Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce

 

-- PA

 

 

Harrisburg Regional Chamber &

 

CREDC -- PA

 

 

Hilton Head Island-Bluffton

 

Chamber of Commerce -- SC

 

 

Hudson County Chamber of Commerce

 

-- NJ

 

 

Illinois Manufacturers'

 

Association

 

 

Independent Electrical Contractors

 

(IEC)

 

 

Industrial Packaging Alliance of

 

North America

 

 

Industrial Supply Association

 

 

International Dairy Foods

 

Association

 

 

International Foodservice

 

Distributors Association

 

 

International Franchise

 

Association

 

 

International Housewares

 

Association

 

 

International Warehouse Logistics

 

Association

 

 

Investment Company Institute

 

 

Iowa Association of Business and

 

Industry

 

 

Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce

 

& Industry -- IL

 

 

Junction City Area Chamber of

 

Commerce -- KS

 

 

Kalispell Chamber of Commerce

 

-- MT

 

 

Kansas Grain and Feed Association

 

 

Kentucky Chamber of Commerce

 

 

Kingsport Area Chamber of Commerce

 

-- TN

 

 

Lincoln Chamber of Commerce -- NE

 

 

Little Rock Regional Chamber of

 

Commerce -- AR

 

 

Longview Chamber of Commerce -- TX

 

 

Los Angeles Area Chamber of

 

Commerce -- CA

 

 

Lubbock Chamber of Commerce -- TX

 

 

Management Association for Private

 

Photogrammetric Surveyors (MAPPS)

 

 

Manhattan Chamber of Commerce --

 

NY

 

 

Manufacturers Alliance for

 

Productivity and Innovation

 

 

Marana Chamber of Commerce -- AZ

 

 

Marshalltown Area Chamber of

 

Commerce -- IA

 

 

Maryland Chamber of Commerce

 

 

Maui Chamber of Commerce -- HI

 

 

Metal Powder Industries Federation

 

 

Metro South Chamber of Commerce --

 

MA

 

 

MetroHartford Alliance -- CT

 

 

Metro West Chamber of Commerce --

 

MA

 

 

Minneapolis Regional Chamber of

 

Commerce -- MN

 

 

Missouri Association of

 

Manufacturers

 

 

Missouri Chamber of Commerce and

 

Industry

 

 

Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce

 

-- AL

 

 

Montana Chamber of Commerce

 

 

Monterey Peninsula Chamber of

 

Commerce -- CA

 

 

Monticello Chamber of Commerce &

 

Industry -- MN

 

 

Motor & Equipment Manufacturers

 

Association

 

 

Naperville Area Chamber of

 

Commerce -- IL

 

 

National Asphalt Pavement

 

Association

 

 

National Association of Chemical

 

Distributors

 

 

National Association of Government

 

Guaranteed Lenders

 

 

National Association of

 

Manufacturers

 

 

National Association of Real

 

Estate Investment Trusts

 

 

National Association of Trailer

 

Manufacturers

 

 

National Association of

 

Wholesaler-Distributors

 

 

National Beer Wholesalers

 

Association (NBWA)

 

 

National Black Chamber of

 

Commerce®

 

 

National Electrical Contractors

 

Association (NECA)

 

 

National Electrical Manufacturers

 

Association

 

 

National Federation of Independent

 

Business

 

 

National Grocers Association

 

 

National Marine Distributors

 

Association (NMDA)

 

 

National Marine Manufacturers

 

Association

 

 

National Parking Association

 

 

National Restaurant Association

 

 

National Retail Federation

 

 

National Roofing Contractors

 

Association

 

 

National Society of Professional

 

Surveyors

 

 

National Stone, Sand & Gravel

 

Association

 

 

National Utility Contractors

 

Association

 

 

Nebraska Chamber of Commerce &

 

Industry

 

 

New Jersey State Chamber of

 

Commerce

 

 

New Orleans Chamber of Commerce

 

-- LA

 

 

Non-Ferrous Founders' Society

 

 

North American Equipment Dealers

 

Association

 

 

North Carolina Chamber

 

 

North Carolina Retail Merchants

 

Association

 

 

North Star Consulting Group

 

 

Northeast Pennsylvania

 

Manufacturers and Employers

 

Association

 

 

Northern Kentucky Chamber of

 

Commerce

 

 

Northern Rhode Island Chamber of

 

Commerce

 

 

Northumberland County Chamber of

 

Commerce -- VA

 

 

Northwest Food Processors

 

Association

 

 

Nuclear Energy Institute

 

 

Ohio Chamber of Commerce

 

 

Orange County Business Council

 

-- CA

 

 

Orlando, Inc. (Orlando Regional

 

Chamber of Commerce) -- FL

 

 

Outdoor Power Equipment and Engine

 

Service Association (OPEESA)

 

 

Outdoor Power Equipment Institute

 

 

Overland Park Chamber of Commerce

 

-- KS

 

 

Oxnard Chamber of Commerce -- CA

 

 

Palm Desert Area Chamber of

 

Commerce -- CA

 

 

Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and

 

Civic Association -- CA

 

 

Pennsylvania Chamber of Business

 

and Industry

 

 

Petroleum Marketers Association of

 

America

 

 

Port Hueneme Chamber of Commerce

 

-- CA

 

 

Portland Cement Association

 

 

Prince William Chamber of Commerce

 

-- VA

 

 

Retail Industry Leaders

 

Association

 

 

Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce

 

-- MN

 

 

Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of

 

Commerce -- AR

 

 

Salt Lake Chamber -- UT

 

 

San Antonio Chamber of Commerce

 

-- TX

 

 

Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of

 

Commerce -- CA

 

 

Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce

 

-- PA

 

 

Secondary Materials and Recycled

 

Textiles Association (SMART)

 

 

Securities Industry and Financial

 

Markets Association

 

 

Sierra Vista Area Chamber of

 

Commerce -- AZ

 

 

Smugglers' Notch Area Chamber of

 

Commerce -- VT

 

 

Society of Chemical Manufacturers

 

& Affiliates (SOCMA)

 

 

South Bay Association of Chambers

 

of Commerce -- CA

 

 

South Carolina Retail Association

 

 

Springfield Area Chamber of

 

Commerce -- MO

 

 

St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce

 

-- MN

 

 

St. TammanyWest Chamber of

 

Commerce -- LA

 

 

Summit Chamber of Commerce -- CO

 

 

Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber

 

-- WA

 

 

Tennessee Chamber of Commerce &

 

Industry

 

 

The Aluminum Association

 

 

The Association for Hose &

 

Accessories Distribution

 

 

The Business Council of New York

 

State, Inc.

 

 

The Chamber of Commerce serving

 

Johnson City-Jonesborough-

 

Washington County (TN)

 

 

The Council of Industry of

 

Southeastern New York

 

 

The Ohio Manufacturers'

 

Association

 

 

The Real Estate Roundtable

 

 

Tompkins County Chamber of

 

Commerce -- NY

 

 

Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce

 

-- CA

 

 

Travel Goods Association

 

 

Tucson Metro Chamber -- AZ

 

 

Tulsa Regional Chamber -- OK

 

 

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

 

 

U.S. Travel Association

 

 

United States Telecom Association

 

 

Valley Industry & Commerce

 

Association (VICA) -- CA

 

 

Van Buren Chamber of Commerce

 

-- AR

 

 

Virginia Chamber of Commerce

 

 

Washington Retail Association

 

 

West Virginia Manufacturers

 

Association

 

 

Window and Door Manufacturers

 

Association

 

 

Wisconsin Grocers Association

 

 

Woodworking Machinery Industry

 

Association

 

 

Yuma County Chamber of Commerce

 

-- AZ
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