Providing for Consideration of H.R. 160, Protect Medical Innovation Act of 2015, and Providing for Consideration of H.R. 1190, Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act of 2015

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. MAXINE WATERS of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Colorado, as well as Leader Pelosi and Whip Hoyer, for their unyielding support for thousands of American jobs and businesses.

I rise to urge my colleagues to defeat the previous question in order to force a vote on legislation sponsored by myself, Mr. Heck, Ms. Moore, Mr. Hoyer, and 186 other Democrats that will renew and reform the Export-Import Bank's charter for the long term.

Mr. Speaker, Congress has just 5 days to act before the Export-Import Bank shuts down. We are in the eleventh hour, and despite a recent bipartisan vote in the Senate and broad support across the aisle in this House, we are still fighting to keep this engine of job creation and economic growth alive.

It is interesting to note that, contrary to most of the disagreements that take place in this Chamber, in the debate over the Export-Import Bank, the facts remain undisputed.

Over the past 5 years, it is estimated that the Bank has created or sustained more than 1.3 million private sector jobs, 164,000 in the past year alone. In 2014, the Bank returned more than $674 million back to the American taxpayers, an amount totaling $6.9 billion over the past two decades.

Democrats, Republicans, business, and labor all understand the important role that the Export-Import Bank plays in our economy. Presidents, ranging from Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush to Bill Clinton, have been outspoken in their support for the Bank's ability to create and sustain American jobs and keep our businesses competitive.

Ex-Im levels the playing field with countries like China, Russia, and countless others, all of which have their own version of the Bank supporting American competitors.

Mr. Speaker, Democrats are coming to the floor today to implore our numerous Republican colleagues who support the Export-Import Bank, starting with Speaker Boehner, to stand up for jobs, businesses, and American competitiveness by standing up to the extremists who want to close the Bank.

Let's send a strong message to America's manufacturers, businesses, and workers, that we are committed to preserving an institution that, for decades, has helped this Nation create jobs and grow the economy.

I would urge a ``no'' vote on the previous question.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source