Providing for Consideration of H.R. 1029, EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2015, And Providing for Consideration of H.R. 1030, Secret Science Reform Act of 2015

Floor Speech

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Ms. MAXINE WATERS of California. I would like to thank the gentleman
from Florida for his leadership on this important issue. I applaud him,
Leader Pelosi, and Whip Hoyer for their efforts to ensure we support
policies that create American jobs and keep U.S. businesses
competitive.

I find the contrast with the bills we consider this week particularly
striking as the out-of-touch Republican leadership wastes our time with
measures that deny science and strip workers of critical rights.

Mr. Speaker, I am in disbelief that we are still debating the future
of the Export-Import Bank, which we know supports hundreds of thousands
of jobs and levels the playing field so that American businesses, large
and small, can compete globally. The facts underscore what is at stake.

In fiscal year 2014, Ex-Im Bank approved more than 3,400 transactions
with a total estimated export value of $27.5 billion. This support is
estimated to have sustained 164,000 export-related U.S. jobs. Over the
past 5 years, it is estimated that the Bank has created or sustained
more than 1.2 million private sector jobs. Moreover, all this was
accomplished as the Bank returned over $674 million back to the
American taxpayers just last year.

Over the past two decades, the Bank has generated a surplus of $6.9
billion for U.S. taxpayers, but for months a handful of extremists in
this Chamber have refused to accept the numerous and widespread
benefits provided by the Export-Import Bank to our economy. They have
ignored these numbers as well as the diverse array of interests who
support the Bank, such as the United States Chamber of Commerce; the
National Small Business Association; the National Association of
Manufacturers; labor unions, such as the AFL-CIO; and many others.

Instead, they have decided to follow the talking points of extremist
groups like Heritage Action and the Club for Growth. I find it ironic
that Republicans are actively working to ensure this important engine
of job creation closes its doors while also waging war with President
Obama over the Keystone XL pipeline, which even the most inflated
estimates say would create far fewer jobs than Ex-Im.

However, I have been heartened to see a number of frustrated
Republicans, some of them even Tea Partiers themselves, say enough is
enough and have chosen to stand up for real workers and businesses
rather than a handful of ideologues dictating policy from a Washington
think tank. I applaud the 58 Republicans who courageously have come out
against their leadership in favor of renewing the Export-Import Bank's
charter.

As we take an important vote that will bring Export-Import Bank
legislation to the floor today, I ask those Republicans to once again
show their courage, show their leadership, and show your constituents
who rely on the Export-Import Bank for jobs and economic growth that
you are willing to do what is best for them and not what is politically
expedient.

Democrats want to provide certainty for the businesses and workers
who rely on the Bank, and that is why I, along with Mr. Heck of
Washington, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, and Whip Hoyer of Maryland,
recently introduced legislation to reauthorize, reform, and reenergize
the Export-Import Bank. The measure takes a sensible approach to
renewing the Bank, extending its charter for 7 years, increasing its
lending authority to meet the needs of U.S. exporters, and modernizing
the Bank's programs to better serve small- and medium-sized businesses.

I couldn't be prouder of my democratic colleagues, 189 of whom joined
as cosponsors just a few days after being introduced. Such widespread
support sends a strong message to America's manufacturers, businesses,
and workers that Democrats are united in preserving an institution that
for decades has helped this Nation create jobs and grow the economy;
and it makes clear that if those supportive Republicans were to join
us, this Congress could pass an extension of the Export-Import Bank's
charter today.

Mr. Speaker and Members, this is the right thing to do for our
workers and for our businesses and for our Nation. Let's stand up for
what is right.

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