Tax Reform Is ‘Critical to US Competitiveness’
OFII issued the following statement in response to the Unified Framework for Fixing Our Broken Tax Code.
WASHINGTON – Nancy McLernon, president and CEO of the Organization for International Investment (OFII), announced today that Clinton Blair will head the organization’s government affairs efforts as Vice President, Public Policy and Government Affairs.
“I am pleased to announce that Clinton Blair has joined OFII and will lead our government affairs team at the federal and state level,” Ms. McLernon said. “His wealth of experience – from working for senior Members of Congress to representing global auto companies – will be invaluable as we continue to advocate on behalf of the 6.4 million Americans who work for global companies that have chosen to invest and create jobs here in the United States.”
Mr. Blair joins OFII from one of its member companies, Jaguar Land Rover – a subsidiary of India-based Tata Sons.
“As the only business association exclusively representing foreign-based employers with significant operations in the United States, OFII has earned its reputation as the voice of foreign direct investment in the United States,” Mr. Blair said. “These companies – such as Siemens, Honda, Nestlé and Zurich Insurance – have invested in every state and support millions of high-paying jobs in diverse industries. I look forward to advancing policies that will make the United States even more attractive for global investment and the quality jobs it provides.”
Mr. Blair had served as Vice President, Government Affairs at Jaguar Land Rover North America (JLR) since 2009. Prior to joining JLR, Mr. Blair spent 10 years working for senior Members of Congress on the House Appropriations Committee before joining the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers in 2005. Mr. Blair earned a MBA focused on international business from the Kogod School of Business at American University and holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration from Harding University.
Across the nation, 6.4 million U.S. workers are employed by global investment, including more than two million in the manufacturing sector. U.S. workers at foreign-based companies earn 30 percent higher compensation than the economy-wide average - making an average of $80,041 annually. In addition to the 6.4 million direct U.S. jobs global investment provides, 8.5 million U.S. jobs are supported through domestically sourced supply chains. Despite representing less than one-percent of all U.S. businesses, foreign-based companies support 17 percent of all U.S. private-sector research and development, produce 26 percent of all U.S. exports and pay 17 percent of all U.S. corporate taxes.
About OFII
Created more than 25 years ago, the Organization for International Investment (OFII) is a non-profit business association in Washington, D.C. representing the U.S. operations of many of the world's leading global companies, which insource millions of American jobs. OFII works to ensure the United States remains the top location for global investment. As such, OFII advocates for fair, non-discriminatory treatment of foreign-based companies and promotes policies that will encourage them to establish U.S. operations, increase American employment, and boost U.S. economic growth. For more information, please visit www.OFII.org.
