Sharp designated national chair of American-German State Legislative Caucus
Frankfort, Kentucky (August 10, 2026) – Representative Scott Sharp, R-Ashland, has been designated the national chair of the American – German State Legislative Caucus (AGSLC), a bipartisan, multi-state organization dedicated to strengthening economic, educational, and cultural ties between the United States and Germany.
A founding member of the caucus, Sharp is leading efforts to foster stronger partnerships between state governments and German federal and state leaders, recognizing many of the most meaningful international relationships are built through collaboration at the state and local levels.
“International partnerships are about much more than diplomacy,” Sharp said. “They create opportunities for businesses, open doors for students, strengthen our workforce, and help states learn from one another. I am honored to serve as national chairman and look forward to continuing to build relationships which create lasting benefits for Kentucky, our country and Germany.”
During the annual meeting of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), members adopted a model policy encouraging greater cooperation between American states and Germany. Sharp championed the proposal, which provides states with a framework for strengthening strategic partnerships in areas such as economic development, workforce training, higher education, innovation, and infrastructure resilience.
At a meeting of the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) held last month, the German government sponsored a reception initiating the beginning of the AGSLC with Sharp serving as the first chairman. Participants included state lawmakers from across the United States, as well as the German Consulate General, embassy staff, about 30 legislators from various German states, and American and German business executives.
“This initiative is about opportunity, and I’d like to see that opportunity become reality in places like my own district in northeastern Kentucky,” Sharp said. “Germany remains one of Kentucky’s most important international economic partners, with German-owned companies employing thousands of Kentuckians and contributing significantly to the Commonwealth’s manufacturing, automotive, logistics, and technology sectors.”
Sharp added that continued engagement between state leaders will help ensure those relationships remain strong while creating new opportunities for investment and innovation. As national chairman, Sharp will help guide the caucus’s efforts to promote stronger state-to-state partnerships, encourage legislative collaboration, and advance policies to reinforce the longstanding friendship between the United States and Germany.
German multinational companies led all countries in outbound expansion into the United States, increasing their direct investment position by $49 billion to reach a total cumulative position of $706.2 billion. German-owned companies employ roughly 870,000 to 938,000 people in the United States. They operate through more than 5,000 to 6,000 subsidiaries and business locations across the country, making Germany one of the largest foreign investors and job creators in the U.S. market.
