Cantwell Calls for Unanimous Consent on Export-Import Bank

Statement

Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) took to the Senate Floor to call for unanimous consent on the Export-Import Bank Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2015 (H.R. 597), which, if not objected to, would eliminate the need for a formal vote on the bill and send it straight to the president's desk to become law.

Joined by Senators Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Patty Murray (D-WA) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Cantwell stressed that American businesses and workers cannot wait and that the Export-Import Bank must be reauthorized immediately to give businesses the tools they need to compete in the global marketplace.

"I know this, my constituents expect me to get up every day and fight for things that will improve the economic opportunity of America. And that's what we're here doing," said Senator Cantwell in her remarks. "The Export-Import Bank is a great tool to help U.S. manufacturers grow their economic opportunities outside the United States."

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) blocked the unanimous consent measure despite 67 senators having supported the previously passed Ex-Im bill.

Source