Congressman Bishop Hails Passage of Highway Funding & Ex-Im Bank Reauthorization

Press Release

Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) joined with 359 Democratic and Republican colleagues in the House of Representatives to adopt the conference agreement on H.R. 22, Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act -- a measure that reauthorizes $281 billion in guaranteed funding for highway, bridge, transportation safety, and public transit projects for the next five years.

"While the bill significantly increases funding needed to repair and rebuild our aging system of roads and bridges, it only puts the effort in gear and on the road," said Congressman Bishop. "Future transportation legislation must take our crumbling infrastructure seriously and find a long-term, sustainable source of funding for highways, bridges, and transit to fully address this challenge while strengthening our economy in the process."

The measure also reauthorizes the critically important Export-Import Bank for four years, which helps American workers and businesses compete in the global economy. In the Second Congressional District from 2014 to 2015, the Export-Import Bank reported an authorization of $51 million to provide insurance policies, loan guarantees, or direct loans to facilitate exports. It further reported that $98 million has been disbursed in total insured shipments, guaranteed credit, or disbursed loan amounts supported by Ex-Im Bank. The total dollar value of exports related to Ex-Im Bank's authorized financing was $382 million. Ex-Im financing went to four exporters in the Second Congressional District, all of which are small businesses. Recipients include; Swift Spinning in Columbus, Thrush Aircraft in Albany; Grid Power Products in Macon; and Easterlin Pecan Company in Montezuma.

"Here in the Second District alone, some 4,000 jobs are directly related to the financing provided by the Ex-Im Bank," said Congressman Bishop. "It is vital that the U.S. companies and workers are competitive in a global economy, so today's win is a boon for all American jobs, small businesses, and our rural communities."

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