The fastest, surest way to alleviate the pressures and frustrations people are feeling today and to raise living standards for all Americans is to reach and sustain 3% growth, U.S. Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Suzanne P. Clark said. And to do that, she added, American business must be “growth-oriented, market-driven, future-focused—but above all, fearless.” 

“Raising living standards for Americansis a goal we all share,” said Clark. “Making pro-growth policy choices will begin to alleviate the pressures and frustrations people are feeling today and ensure future generations of Americans enjoy security, mobility, and opportunity.

“If we sustain 3% annual GDP growth" over the next 50 years, "living standards will triple. GDP per capita would rise from just over $69,000 to nearly $250,000, and the average household’s annual income would increase from nearly $150,000 to $528,000.”   

Clark noted that embracing free enterprise stands in marked contrast to the alternatives—decisions that she said are based on fear.

“Free enterprise is the system that enables businesses to respond to people and to respond to problems,” she said. “We need it to solve the great challenges of our time—future generations will need it to solve the great challenges of their time. But what could hold us back? You might guess politics or public opinion. But it’s much more essential than that—it's fear. she said, adding:

"Choosing redistribution over growth is a fear-based choice—it’s a zero-sum mentality that leads to scarcity, not abundance. Government control over free-market forces is a fear-based choice—it’s a bet on bureaucracy, and a bet against people. We have to be fearless.”  

Clark compared today’s moment to that of our nation’s last major milestone, the bicentennial in 1976—a time when Americans were feeling fear because the economy was languishing in large part due to too much government intervention. 

“Fifty years ago, the people had to make a choice between the two dominant worldviews of the era—an economy determined by the markets or an economy directed by the government,” Clark said. “They chose free enterprise … usher[ing] in a new era of growth, innovation, and investment fueled by low taxes, stable regulations, and robust trade.” 

Clark asked the audience to envision the next fifty years and the possibilities that exist for Americans driven by the free enterprise system, with a focus on sustained 3% GDP growth and investments in education, R&D, and infrastructure.   

“These pro-growth policy choices begin to alleviate the pressures and frustrations people are feeling right now, today—and mean the girl born today will enjoy the security, mobility, and opportunity Americans dream of when she’s an adult,” Clark said.  

Clark ended with a note of optimism.

“At our essence, at our core, we are not a fearful nation,” she said. “It’s not in our DNA, but it has occurred in our history. And in those moments, we have demonstrated a remarkable capacity for renewal: Going back to our intrepid origins, reflecting on our remarkable innovations, and remembering who and what we are made of.  And I believe this can be a moment when we all decide it’s time to renew that spirit of daring, striving, growing, and improving.” 

Clark made her remarks during the U.S. Chamber's annual State of American Business program.

Chamber's Policy Goals for 2026

Following Clark's address, Jill Wyant, vice chairman of the Chamber and president/CEO, Madison Air, said the Chamber's major policy goals this year include advocating for 3% growth, permitting reform, another round of infrastructure investment, regulation of artificial intelligence, legal reform to eliminate frivolous lawsuits, and leading programming to build the next generation of leaders and citizens, both at the high school level and in business.