Reform Exports and Expand the American Economy Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate that, and I
appreciate the leadership of my chair on this issue.

It seems to me, Mr. Speaker, we have two issues that we are dealing
with today:
First is the issue, itself, of the Export-Import Bank and the
entitlement mentality that has grown up here in the United States. It
is sad to me that some believe that this is the only, or the best, way
for the U.S. to compete on the world stage when, in fact, we know it is
not.

We are at a competitive disadvantage, not because we may or may not
have an Export-Import Bank, but because of our regulatory environment,
because of our tax environment, and because of all of the other
barriers that have been thrown up by this Congress, including health
care and a number of other things that have made our companies less
competitive.

The other issue is the way that we are dealing with this issue as it
is coming to the floor and how it has reached the House floor today.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to know which committee chair of another
committee would approve of having the process be short-circuited out of
their committee. Would it be the Energy and Commerce Committee? the
Ways and Means Committee? Because I can tell you I have not been real
happy, as a small business owner on some of the lack of progress that
we have made on that. Maybe it would be the Ag Committee. Why did it
take so long for things to reach the floor? How about any other
committee that we are all dealing with?

The simple fact is that my subcommittee, Monetary Policy and Trade,
where this jurisdiction lies, had three joint hearings with the
Oversight Committee on this particular issue. There was a sunset that
was put in. It was intentionally put in so that there would be a
review. The review happened, and the determination of my subcommittee
and this committee was that it did not warrant further action.

So, again, as we are looking at this tool that has been infrequently
used, it doesn't restore regular order, as has been claimed. No. In
fact, it upends the balance of power in the House. It skirts the
committee process and gives the minority the control over the House
floor.

A discharge petition was brought to the House floor under the guise
of job creation. In reality, it serves to revive and retrench a
dependency mentality.

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