Business Roundtable Calls on Policymakers to Secure America’s Future Prosperity Ahead of the State of the Union

Washington - Business Roundtable CEO Joshua Bolten released the following statement ahead of President Trump’s State of the Union (SOTU) address:

“As the President delivers the State of the Union in this milestone year marking America’s 250th anniversary, Business Roundtable looks forward to working with the Administration and Members of Congress on policies to secure America’s future prosperity by strengthening our free enterprise system and promoting long-term growth. Central among the policies that can help achieve that goal are modernizing permitting, bolstering North American trade and striking the right balance on AI regulation.  

“Reforming the federal permitting process would unlock investment, accelerate infrastructure and energy projects, and create good-paying American jobs. A more efficient, predictable and durable permitting system is essential to strengthening U.S. competitiveness, delivering affordable and reliable energy, and winning the global race for AI leadership.

“The United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) was a major achievement of the first Trump Administration. Trade with Canada and Mexico supports 13 million American jobs, and together they represent the top export markets for U.S. manufactured and agricultural goods. Extending USMCA and fully restoring duty-free North American trade are critical to boosting domestic manufacturing, supporting American farmers and workers, and keeping costs down for families.

“Adopting a clear federal framework for AI regulation is vital to ensuring America remains at the forefront of the technologies that will define the 21st century. A federal framework that avoids a patchwork of state rules will provide businesses with the certainty they need to invest, innovate and deploy AI responsibly, while ensuring safeguards against fraud, impersonation and other risks. Alongside private sector investments in workforce development, Congress and the Administration also have an important role in preparing workers to succeed in an AI-driven economy by better aligning the public workforce system with employer needs, expanding work-based learning opportunities, and supporting employer-led partnerships with education and training providers.”