Breaking News: AmFree’s Center For Legal Action Files Amicus Brief Against Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition
The Center for Legal Action (CLA) for the American Free Enterprise Chamber of Commerce (AmFree) today filed an amicus brief in the ongoing lawsuit against the Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act (IFPA). Labelling the IFPA an “economic threat,” CLA’s brief details the “devastating damage” posed to the debit and credit payment system in the United States – a key facilitator for trillions of dollars in transactions driving the economy every year – and the ensuing consumer harm in the form of increased costs and higher fees. Read more here.
Meet the Leadership Team
Capitalism matters and we need a stronger voice for small business.
Ambassador Terry Branstad, Honorary Chairman
Ambassador Terry Branstad is America’s longest serving governor, having served as Iowa governor from 1983-1999 and 2011-2017. He served as the 12th United States Ambassador to China from 2017-2020.
William Canfield
General Counsel
Canfield is a nationally recognized expert in federal and state campaign finance issues and six-time presidential campaign general counsel. Canfield was twice chair of the American Bar Association's Standing Committee on Election Law and has extensive experience in tax-exempt 501c3, 501c4 and 501c6 committees.
Somsak Chivavibul
Governance and Accountability Committee Chairman
Chivavibul is a seasoned financial executive, having served as Chief Decision Management Officer and Chief Financial Officer at Navient, and as Senior VP for Financial Planning and Analysis at Sallie Mae. Chivavibul chairs AmFree Chamber’s Governance and Accountability Committee.
Gentry Collins
Chief Executive Officer
Collins has run large-scale advocacy and brand management efforts across multiple industries. He is the former National Political Director at both the Republican Governors Association and the Republican National Committee.
Jim Kurtenbach
Treasurer
Kurtenbach has extensive public and private sector experience, working with start-up and public companies. Kurtenbach holds a Ph.D. in accounting and has served in various leadership capacities for government and private entities. Kurtenbach is a former member of the Iowa Legislature.
Rob Engstrom
President
Engstrom served as Chief Political Strategist at the American Bankers Association (2017-2022) and remains as a senior advisor. He served at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (2002-2022), as a Sr. advisor, Sr. VP, Sr. VP of Political and State Affairs for the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, national political director, and the chief liaison to over 2,000 state and local chambers and trade associations. Earlier, he worked as Director of Political Education at the Republican National Committee and on Speaker Gingrich's campaign.
Jill Rulli
Board Member
Rulli is an entrepreneur, small businesswoman, and founder of The Thought. She sits on the Board of Visitors at the University of Georgia. Rulli formerly served in leadership roles on multiple presidential, senatorial, and independent expenditure campaigns around the country.
Free, fair, open markets have created more progress and prosperity than all other economic systems combined.
The American Free Enterprise Chamber of Commerce is built to nurture and grow these ideas.
We represent hard working entrepreneurs, innovators, and creators. We fight for jobs, growth, and freedom. We fight for equal economic opportunity for every American. We fight against burdensome regulations, job-killing tax policies, and the corporate cronyism and backroom DC deal making that threaten our economic future.
And we fight to ensure global competitors like China are held accountable for anti-free market behavior and theft of intellectual property that deny a level playing field to businesses of all sizes.
The American Free Enterprise Chamber of Commerce is policy and research focused, and will use these products to drive the economic growth debate in American public discourse.
We will hold elected officials in both parties accountable. The American Free Enterprise Chamber of Commerce provides access to a national grassroots network of business owners, operators and allies.
BEcome A member
Members of the American Free Enterprise Chamber of Commerce will receive a variety of benefits. These benefits include:
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Reliable, principled advocacy for American free enterprise, free markets, and limited government.
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Tools for American businesses to maintain access to the marketplace.
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Access to key polling, market research, and insights about the political, policy, and regulatory landscape in America.
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Participation in and access to quarterly State of American Free Enterprise surveys.
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Access to a robust grassroots advocacy network to make member voices heard in Washington, D.C. and state capitols on issues affecting business.
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Quarterly policy briefings, status reports, and action plans.
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Member networking opportunities.