Hearing of the House Financial Services Committee and Oversight and Government Reform Committees - Oversight of Efforts to Reform the Export-Import Bank of the United States

Hearing

"Thank you Mr. Chairman,

I'm sure the irony of today's hearing to discuss the implementation of the 2012 reauthorization of the Ex-Im Bank is not lost on anyone. Today, not one, but two Committees are holding this hearing on the progress of a three year old law -- just as we are only 32 legislative days away from the expiration of the Bank's charter.

Despite this imminent threat to our economic recovery and American workers, the Financial Services Committee has yet to hold a single legislative hearing to reauthorize the Bank.

Over the course of its 80-year history, the Bank's charter has been renewed 16 times, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs and leveling the playing field for American businesses, large and small, so that they can compete for business in the global marketplace.

Earlier this year, my colleagues Gwen Moore, Denny Heck, Minority Whip Steny Hoyer and I introduced legislation to reform and reauthorize the Bank. The proposal has the support of 190 House Democrats. Another proposal also introduced this year to reauthorize the Bank has garnered the support of 61 House GOP members.

With a majority of House lawmakers officially on record in support of the Bank, it's clear that this Congress could pass an extension of the Bank's charter today.

This begs the question: what exactly are we doing here? Unfortunately, the answer is evident. We're wasting time while the anti-government, anti-American-worker wing of the Republican party works desperately to let the clock run out -- on the Ex-Im Bank, on U.S. businesses, and on the many American taxpayers whose jobs and families count on its support. Over the past few years, the Bank has become more transparent, more efficient and more accountable to the American public, while at the same time, the Republican party, by every one of these measures, has become increasing less so.

Thank you, I yield back. "

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