[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 133 (Tuesday, September 30, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H8200-H8207]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
REAUTHORIZATION OF THE EXPORT-IMPORT BANK
The Committee resumed its sitting.
The CHAIRMAN. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 1 printed
in House Report 105-282.
Amendment No. 1 Offered by Mr. Evans
Mr. EVANS. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.
The CHAIRMAN. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Amendment No. 1 offered by Mr. Evans:
At the end of the bill, add the following:
SEC. 10. PREFERENCE IN EXPORT-IMPORT BANK ASSISTANCE FOR
EXPORTS TO CHINA TO BE PROVIDED TO COMPANIES
ADHERING TO CODE OF CONDUCT.
(a) In General.--Section 2 of the Export-Import Bank Act of
1945 (12 U.S.C. 635) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(f) Preference in Assistance for Exports to China To Be
Provided to Entities Adhering to Code of Conduct.--
``(1) Prohibitions.--
``(A) In general.--In determining, whether to guarantee,
insure, extend credit, or participate in the extension of
credit with respect to the export of goods or services
destined for the People's Republic of China, the Board of
Directors shall give preference to entities that the Board of
Directors determines have established and are adhering to the
code of conduct set forth in paragraph (2).
``(B) Penalty for violation.--The Bank shall withdraw any
guarantee, insurance, or credit that the Bank has provided,
and shall withdraw from any participation in an extension of
credit, to an entity with respect to the export of any good
or service destined for the People's Republic of China if the
Board of Directors determines that the entity is not adhering
to the code of conduct set forth in paragraph (2).
``(2) Code of conduct.--An entity shall do all of the
following in all of its operations:
``(A) Provide a safe and healthy workplace.
``(B) Ensure fair employment, including by--
``(i) avoiding child and forced labor, and discrimination
based upon race, gender, national origin, or religious
beliefs;
``(ii) respecting freedom of association and the right to
organize and bargain collectively;
``(iii) paying not less than the minimum wage required by
law or the prevailing industry wage, whichever is higher; and
``(iv) providing all legally mandated benefits.
``(C) Obey all applicable environmental laws.
``(D) Comply with United States and local laws promoting
good business practices, including laws prohibiting illicit
payments and ensuring fair competition.
``(E) Maintain, through leadership at all levels, a
corporate culture--
``(i) which respects free expression consistent with
legitimate business concerns, and does not condone political
coercion in the workplace;
``(ii) which encourages good corporate citizenship and
makes a positive contribution to the communities in which the
entity operates; and
``(iii) in which ethical conduct is recognized, valued, and
exemplified by all employees.
``(F) Require similar behavior by partners, suppliers, and
subcontractors under terms of contracts.
``(G) Implement and monitor compliance with the
subparagraphs (A) through (F) through a program that is
designed to prevent and detect noncompliance by any employee
or supplier of the entity and that includes--
``(i) standards for ethical conduct of employees of the
entity and of suppliers which refer to the subparagraphs;
``(ii) procedures for assignment of appropriately qualified
personnel at the management level to monitor and enforce
compliance;
``(iii) procedures for reporting noncompliance by employees
and suppliers;
``(iv) procedures for selecting qualified individuals who
are not employees of the entity or of suppliers to monitor
compliance, and for assessing the effectiveness of such
compliance monitoring;
``(v) procedures for disciplinary action in response to
noncompliance;
``(vi) procedures designed to ensure that, in cases in
which noncompliance is detected, reasonable steps are taken
to correct the noncompliance and prevent similar
noncompliance from occurring; and
``(vii) communication of all standards and procedures with
respect to the code of conduct to every employee and
supplier--
``(I) by requiring all management level employees and
suppliers to participate in a training program; or
``(II) by disseminating information orally and in writing,
through posting of an explanation of the standards and
procedures in prominent places sufficient to inform all
employees and suppliers, in the local languages spoken by
employees and managers.
``(3) Small business exception.--This subsection shall not
apply to an entity that is a small business (within the
meaning of the Small Business Act.''.
(b) Annual Report.--Section 2(b)(1)(A) of such Act (12
U.S.C. 635(b)(1)(A) is amended by adding at the end the
following: ``The Bank shall include in the annual report a
description of the actions the Bank has taken to comply with
subsection (f) during the period covered by the report.''.
(c) Receipts of Assistance From the Export-Import Bank To
Be Provided With Resources and Information To Further
Adherence to Global Codes of Corporate Conduct.--The Export-
Import Bank of the United States shall work with the
Clearinghouse on Corporate Responsibility that is being
developed by the Department of Commerce to ensure that
recipients of assistance from the Export-Import Bank are made
aware of, and have access to, resources and organizations
that can assist the recipients in developing, implementing,
and monitoring global codes of corporate conduct.
The CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to House Resolution 255, the gentleman from
Illinois [Mr. Evans] and a Member opposed each will control 5 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Evans].
Mr. EVANS. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Chairman, my amendment to the Export-Import Bank reauthorization
bill directs the Bank to provide a financial carrot for firms to adopt,
adhere, and comply with their own business standards while operating in
China. Under this proposal, priority for Export-Import Bank financing
would be granted to firms who have pledged to avoid the use of child or
prison labor, avoid discrimination based on religion, race, gender, and
national origin, respect freedom of association and the right to
organize, provide a safe and healthy workplace, obey applicable
environmental laws, comply with U.S. and local laws in promoting good
business practices, including laws prohibiting illicit payments, and
assure that their business partners in China adhere to those same
principles.
{time} 1515
In order to qualify for this preference, firms must demonstrate that
they are making a good faith effort to comply with these principles.
The board of directors would evaluate a firm's qualifications based on
guidelines outlined in this amendment.
Most companies are aware of these procedures because they are modeled
after chapter 8 of the U.S. Federal Sentencing Guidelines relating to
organizational defendants. Those guidelines were implemented in 1991 as
an incentive for U.S. corporations to prevent and detect violations of
U.S. laws within their organization. If a firm implements a compliance
system to prevent
[[Page H8201]]
corporate crimes such as bribery or fraud, the firm can mitigate any
fines incurred in court. As a result, these guidelines have been a
powerful incentive for firms to establish ethics codes as well as
compliance measures.
The amendment also directs the bank to work with the Commerce
Department's Clearinghouse on Corporate Responsibility to ensure that
the recipients of financing from the bank are aware of and have access
to resources and organizations, such as Businesses for Social
Responsibility, that assist businesses in developing, implementing and
monitoring codes of conduct.
Good corporate citizenship is being embraced by more and more
companies who are realizing that they do not have to sacrifice profits
for principles. In fact, an article in the January issue of
WorldBusiness notes that the conference board estimates that at least
95 percent of Fortune 500 companies now have such codes.
The time has come to strengthen our international trade and
investment policies by fostering and rewarding the private sector's
commitment to human and worker rights as well as environmental
concerns. In the case of China, it is time to search for new avenues
for promoting and fostering democracy and human rights. This amendment
ensures that the constructive engagement with China works.
While critics of this amendment claim that this is an administrative
burden on the bank, I believe placing priority on human rights and
workers' rights is worth the effort. Additionally, in an era of tight
budgets, should we not be very careful about spending taxpayers'
dollars?
My amendment employs economic incentives to reward good corporate
citizenship. No firms should be precluded from receiving financial
assistance from the bank for activities in China. Rather, this
amendment would ensure that the global corporate responsibility is a
part of the strategy for improving and expanding global partnerships
and opportunities. It is time that the U.S. invests in an international
trade and investment policy that is both a competitive and a positive
force abroad, not just a license to exploit workers and children.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from Delaware [Mr. Castle] is recognized
for 5 minutes
Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 2 minutes.
I do rise in reluctant opposition to this, because I have a great
deal of respect for the gentleman who has sponsored it, but I think we
really need to understand what we are dealing with here. This is not
just a labor vote per se or anything of that nature. We need to know
who is opposed to this.
First of all, the State Department of the administration is opposed
to this amendment and they state that we encourage companies to adopt
and implement voluntary codes of conduct for doing business around the
world. In adopting these voluntary codes of conduct, U.S. companies can
serve as models, encouraging similar behavior by their partners,
suppliers and contractors.
A mandatory, and that is what we are dealing with here, code of
conduct is impractical and unworkable. It would be virtually impossible
for Ex-Im Bank to monitor compliance. In China alone, there are more
than 20,000 United States-China joint ventures.
Mr. Chairman, we are talking about U.S. firms which might export to
other countries who have adopted and adhered to a code of conduct for
their international operations, as what would be in the amendment. That
code would include workplace safety, workers' union and collective
bargaining rights, environmental protection, no political coercion of
workers, community service, good ethical practices, et cetera. These
are standards which are not even public all through America, much less
in a lot of countries with which we deal. We basically eliminate a
substantial percentage of the present work which goes on in the Ex-Im
Bank.
At the same time, I think that we are the leaders through the Ex-Im
Bank in having a lot of these practices put in place in some of these
other countries for which we deserve credit, but on a voluntary basis,
not on a mandatory basis. It imposes extraterritorial enforcement of
U.S. labor and environmental laws, which is a substantive question that
needs to be raised from a legal point of view. It would impose
corporate enforcement requirements that would conflict with local laws.
It imposes standards on non-U.S. firms which supply and contract with
U.S. firms, and makes U.S. firms liable for contractor/supplier
conduct.
As I said, I respect what the gentleman is trying to do and I respect
the gentleman, but I believe this amendment is out of place. We are not
making foreign policy here.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. EVANS. Mr. Chairman, is it my understanding that I have the right
to close on this amendment.
The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from Delaware [Mr. Castle] has the right
to close.
Mr. EVANS. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the distinguished
gentleman from New York [Mr. Flake], the ranking member of the
Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy.
Mr. FLAKE. Mr. Chairman, I rise to oppose this particular amendment
because there is no guidance given as to the nature of the preference
that is required here. The amendment appears to reflect a fundamental
misconception of the bank's approval process. There is no ranking of
transactions within which preferences would be invoked.
This would force Ex-Im Bank to breach its obligations under the full
faith and credit of the United States, and would subject the United
States Government to lawsuits. Requiring foreign importers to follow
U.S. law in their employment practices and other corporate dealings
constitutes an inappropriate extraterritorial extension of U.S. law.
Requiring U.S. firms to act as if the U.S. laws applied in China, where
clearly they do not, both encroaches on the legislative prerogatives of
the foreign State and puts such U.S. companies at a severe
disadvantage.
The amendment places impossible administrative burdens on the bank,
as it is unable to monitor firms who adhere to such codes. This
provision would reduce exports to China, thereby worsening the United
States trade deficit with China overall.
This provision would result in a loss of trade-related jobs. I ask my
colleagues in the House to stand opposed to this amendment and defeat
it.
Mr. EVANS. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Oregon [Mr. DeFazio].
Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
The arguments are interesting. First off, this gives preference and
we are being told it would be too difficult for a U.S. agency, for the
Export-Import Bank, with our tax dollars, to determine preference.
Well, we do that in many other areas of Federal procurement. I do not
think that would be too tough to deal with.
It would put U.S. firms at a severe disadvantage, a severe
disadvantage if they avoided child-enforced labor. I do not believe
that for a moment. I do not believe that there are any responsible U.S.
firms sanctioning the use of child-enforced labor, or discrimination
based on religion, race, gender and national origin. So I do not
believe that should put our firms at a disadvantage.
These are big corporations. They are getting a very nice gift from
the taxpayers through the Export-Import Bank, and we are saying, in
return for that, here is a carrot. We will give preference to those
firms that comply with this code, and that have an audit done
independently and submit that audit to the Export-Import Bank. All the
Export-Import Bank staff has to do is look at and verify that the
independent audit was done. Yes, there will be a little expense in
doing the audit, but nowhere near the subsidy that is being given to
those firms by the U.S. taxpayers. It is just to ask some consideration
for the use of our dollars by these huge corporations, that they follow
some standards of basic international decency.
I heard it would worsen the trade deficit. It is not going to worsen
the trade deficit. The trade deficit with China is going through the
roof. The goods that are being produced in China that are driving the
trade deficit through the
[[Page H8202]]
roof are in good part being produced by United States firms in China.
It is not going to worsen the deficit in any manner.
There are other problems with our trade policy. The fact that there
is no reciprocity, the fact that the Chinese levy a 40-percent tariff
on our goods, when we add in the VAT, and we levy 4 percent on goods
coming from China, those are the causes of the trade deficit. This
would not worsen the trade deficit.
The United States needs to stand for something, and when these
corporations are getting U.S. taxpayer dollars, we should stand for
something. We are against child enforced labor. We do not want
discrimination based on religion, race, gender, and national origin,
particularly not promoted by United States firms getting subsidies to
operate in China.
Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Chairman, we have one speaker remaining and we have
the right to close, so I would yield to the gentleman from Illinois.
The CHAIRMAN. All time for the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Evans]
has expired.
Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of our time to the
gentleman from Iowa [Mr. Leach], chairman of the Committee on Banking
and Financial Services.
Mr. LEACH. Mr. Chairman, first let me say I think the gentleman from
Illinois has a very thoughtful series of concerns which are thoroughly
valid. However, it would appear, based on administration judgment and
those of an awful lot of other people on the trade front that the
results of his approach will be counter-productive.
What we will have established if this amendment passes is a carrot-
and-stick approach in which the carrots will be given to competitors of
U.S. businesses and the stick will be given to the U.S. worker. The
fact of the matter is, as we isolate problems in foreign societies, and
they are in many countries on many different continents, if our firms
cannot deal with imperfect buyers, foreign competitors will be happy to
step in and deal with them themselves. Who then gets the carrot? The
foreign companies. Who gets the stick? It is the American worker who
will not have a job to export a given kind of good.
So I would simply say this is a good, thoughtful, decent perspective
that the gentleman from Illinois has brought us, but by the same token,
the end result is probably counter-productive.
The CHAIRMAN. All time has expired.
The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from
Illinois [Mr. Evans].
The question was taken; and the Chairman announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Mr. EVANS. Mr. Chairman, I object to the vote on the ground that a
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not
present.
The CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to House Resolution 255, further proceedings
on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Evans]
will be postponed.
The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.
It is now in order to consider amendment No. 2 printed in House
Report 105-282.
Amendment No. 2 Offered by Mr. Frank of Massachusetts.
Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment as
provided for in the rule.
The CHAIRMAN. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Amendment No. 2 offered by Mr. Frank of Massachusetts:
At the end of the bill, add the following:
SEC. 10. COMMUNITY WORK REQUIREMENT FOR MEMBERS OF BOARDS OF
DIRECTORS OF FIRMS RECEIVING ASSISTANCE FROM
THE EXPORT-IMPORT BANK.
Section 2 of the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 (12 U.S.C.
635) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(f) Community Work Requirement for Members of Boards of
Directors of Firms Receiving Assistance From the Bank.--
``(1) Prohibition.--The Bank shall not provide assistance
to a firm during a fiscal year unless each member of the
board of directors of the firm agrees to perform not less
than 8 hours of work (other than political activities) during
each month of the immediately succeeding fiscal year in the
community in which the member resides.
``(2) Exceptions.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to an
individual who is--
``(A) at least 62 years of age;
``(B) a person with disabilities;
``(C) working full time, attending school or vocational
training, or otherwise complying with work requirements
applicable under public assistance programs (as determined by
the agencies or organizations responsible for administering
such programs);
``(D) otherwise physically impaired, to the extent that the
individual is unable to comply with paragraph (1), as
certified by a doctor; or
``(E) the primary caregiver to a disabled individual or to
a child who has not attained 6 years of age.
``(3) Person with disabilities defined.--
As used in paragraph (2)(B), the term `person with
disabilities' means a person who--
``(A) has a disability as defined in section 223 of the
Social Security Act;
``(B) is determined, pursuant to regulations issued by the
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, to have a
physical, mental, or emotional impairment which--
``(i) is expected to be of long-continued and indefinite
duration;
``(ii) substantially impedes the ability of the person to
live independently; and
``(iii) is of such a nature that such ability could be
improved by more suitable housing conditions; or
``(C) has a developmental disability as defined in section
102 of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of
Rights Act.
Such term shall not exclude persons who have the disease of
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or any conditions arising
from the etiologic agent for acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome.''.
The CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to House Resolution 255, the gentleman from
Massachusetts [Mr. Frank] and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Frank].
Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as
I may consume.
I rise out of my respect for this institution to give it the
opportunity to rebut an unfair accusation. There have people who argue
that a double standard obtains, that when it comes to showing
compassion for people who have not fared well in life for one reason or
another, we have tended to be hard-hearted, but that when wealthy and
powerful people come to our door, we are much more generous.
Recently this House voted to say that if one lives in public housing,
if one is simply taking advantage of public housing because one cannot
live anywhere else, one is paying what the law requires one to pay in
rent, but because of the subsidy inherent in the rent one pays in
public housing, if one does not have a job, we will require one to do 8
hours of community service. Even if one has to be taking care of
someone who is ill or a child, one will still do 8 hours of community
service per month.
Well, I did not agree with that principle, but I believe majority
should rule and that is the principle the House has adopted. If one is
getting the benefit of living in public housing and one is not
otherwise employed, one has to do 8 hours of community service. And to
show how conciliatory I am, I think the majority's principle ought to
be applied generally.
Now, Mr. Chairman, let me ask, if we had to choose between getting
the guarantee of one's business from the Export-Import Bank to make a
$100 million sale, or the right to live in Cabrini Green, Chicago,
which would one pick? My guess is most people would pick exporting with
a guarantee.
I disregard that, however. I am willing to treat them equally. My
amendment takes literally, word for word, the language from the bill
imposing a community service requirement on people in public housing,
and it applies that to members of boards of directors who are similarly
situated if their corporation is getting something from the Export-
Import Bank.
{time} 1530
As I said, because of my respect for this institution, I would not
want Members to be laboring under the view that when it comes to the
poor we are hard-hearted and tough, but when it comes to the wealthy we
roll over and say, here, what do you want? Therefore, I offer this
amendment to make that no longer the case.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment. I will also be
brief. I
[[Page H8203]]
have tried to point out throughout this discussion today that the
Export-Import Bank has a very positive financial benefit, not just to
members of board of directors or officers of corporations, but to many
employees throughout the country, and even the revenues of the United
States of America, due to the exports which we have.
The amendment, if it is to be treated seriously, in my judgment may
be misplaced. If we are going to have the members of the board of
directors do community work, why do we not have the stockholders do
community work? They are the true beneficiaries of whatever this
particular program may be, or even the workers, it may be argued, if we
are going to extend it to this group.
Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. CASTLE. I yield to the gentleman from Massachusetts.
Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Chairman, I would ask unanimous
consent to amend the amendment, if the gentleman would be supportive.
Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Chairman, I do not translate that as support.
Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. I apologize for taking the gentleman
seriously.
Mr. CASTLE. Reclaiming my time, Mr. Chairman, extending it even more,
we could talk about farmers who receive agricultural subsidies,
Medicare recipients. There are a whole group of people who for various
reasons we have elected in Congress to be able to help in some way or
another, all of which programs are judged on their merits.
For that reason, I would hope that this is an amendment which could
be withdrawn. I think the gentleman does make a valid point. I would
hope that the Eximbank is doing a better job of managing how its
various loans are handled.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as
I may consume.
As I said, I would be prepared to go in to the stockholders as well,
but obviously, what we have here is a view that when wealthy people are
involved, we ought not to do anything but simply say, is that enough?
Yes, it is true that people who are engaged in exporting are decent
people doing a good thing, and so are people who live in public
housing. It does not mean that we think these are bad people when we
impose this requirement. People who live in public housing are decent,
hard-working people, on the whole, who are taking advantage of this
program. Public housing, the construction of public housing, the
payment of these funds, that has a positive effect on the community. So
it is not a badge of dishonor, I hope, to live in public housing.
Similarly, the fact that people who are exporting are doing something
good for the country does not take away the fact that they are
receiving a significant benefit. The ability to have your exports
guaranteed to some extent by the Export-Import Bank is important.
I support the Export-Import Bank. I worked hard in terms of the
Raytheon Corporation to help them get guarantees that helped them to
win a $1 billion contract. I was very glad. If in return some members
of the board of directors would do 8 hours of public service, I think
it would be a good thing.
Let me put it this way, we are simply asking people to give back who
are able-bodied, younger or middle-aged, who have the capacity to give
something back to the community. How this strikes anybody as
unreasonable is beyond me. Now, of course, I am quoting the gentleman
from New York [Mr. Lazio] with regard to public housing tenants.
I guess the question is, why is it good for the public housing goose
and not for the export-import gander? Why do we say if you are poor, if
you are down on your luck and you take advantage of a Federal program
that we think is overall a good thing, we are going to make you give us
8 hours of community service, but if you are wealthy enough, respected
in the community, and you are a member of the board of directors, you
will be the beneficiary of this for nothing, with no competition?
Let us have one rule. If the House votes this down, when we get the
bill back, and let me say this is very relevant, because the other body
has rejected that 8 hours of community service in that public housing
bill. Let me say to the Members, I hope people are prepared to have a
certain degree of consistency. If we are going to reject this for
people in the Export-Import Bank, let us not impose it on the people in
public housing.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
Texas [Mr. Brady].
Mr. BRADY. Mr. Chairman, what a silly amendment. People who live in
public housing often complain they do so because they do not have a
job, or the job that they have does not pay enough to live in housing
like many others have the privilege to do. To punish them who are
trying to get off of welfare and out of public housing by discouraging
the very jobs that they need is silly.
Exports now and imports are creating about 40 percent of all new jobs
in this country. In our area, in the Houston region, and where we have
a lot of people in public housing, one out of every three new jobs is
related to export-import, and they may more than domestic jobs. The
Eximbank levels the playing field for American companies and American
workers so people in every type of housing have an opportunity to go to
work.
Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as
I may consume.
Mr. Chairman, the failed premise of that last comment is that if we
ask members of board of directors to do 8 hours of community service,
they will reject the loan. I reject that. People who serve on the board
of directors have a responsibility to the stockholders whom they
represent, they have a fiduciary responsibility.
I reject the notion that they would be so mean-spirited and so
unwilling to contribute that if they were told they had to do 8 hours
of community service, they would refuse the loan.
I was disappointed, I must say to the gentleman. When he began,
people who live in public housing, I thought he was going to say people
who live in public housing should not throw stones. If he had, I think
it would have been a better argument than the one he made.
Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time.
The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from Delaware [Mr. Castle] is recognized
for 2\1/2\ minutes.
Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Chairman, I would say that the amendment should be
defeated. I think it makes a point, but my judgment is that if we carry
it out to its nth degree, as I pointed out when I first spoke, we would
have a serious problem with how to deal with this, and to add in all
the various people who might have to do community work would go too
far.
I do not want to denigrate in any way those people who may be in
public housing or on welfare who have some work requirements placed on
them, which I have always hoped to be a constructive program in terms
of helping them develop so they can enter into the workplace. I do not
treat that as punitive, perhaps as the sponsor of this amendment would.
I would encourage all of us to take the position that this is not
something that should be attached to the Exim authorization, and I
encourage its defeat.
The CHAIRMAN. All time has expired.
The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from
Massachusetts [Mr. Frank].
The amendment was rejected.
Privileged Motion Offered by Ms. De Lauro
Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, I offer a privileged motion.
The CHAIRMAN. The Clerk will report the motion.
The Clerk read as follows:
Ms. DeLauro moves that the Committee do now rise.
The CHAIRMAN. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from Connecticut [Ms. DeLauro].
The question was taken; and the Chairman announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Recorded Vote
Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 162,
noes 257, not voting 14, as follows:
[[Page H8204]]
[Roll No. 471]
AYES--162
Abercrombie
Ackerman
Allen
Andrews
Baldacci
Barrett (WI)
Becerra
Berry
Bishop
Blumenauer
Bonior
Borski
Boucher
Boyd
Brown (CA)
Brown (OH)
Capps
Cardin
Carson
Clayton
Clement
Clyburn
Condit
Conyers
Coyne
Cramer
Cummings
Danner
Davis (FL)
Davis (IL)
DeFazio
DeGette
DeLauro
Dellums
Deutsch
Dicks
Dingell
Dixon
Doggett
Edwards
Engel
Ensign
Eshoo
Etheridge
Evans
Farr
Fattah
Fazio
Filner
Ford
Frank (MA)
Frost
Furse
Gejdenson
Gephardt
Gordon
Green
Gutierrez
Hall (OH)
Harman
Hastings (FL)
Hefner
Hilleary
Hilliard
Hinchey
Hinojosa
Hooley
Hoyer
Jackson (IL)
Jackson-Lee (TX)
Jefferson
John
Johnson (WI)
Johnson, E. B.
Kanjorski
Kaptur
Kennedy (RI)
Kennelly
Kilpatrick
Kind (WI)
LaFalce
Lampson
Lantos
Levin
Lewis (GA)
Lowey
Luther
Maloney (CT)
Maloney (NY)
Markey
Martinez
Matsui
McCarthy (MO)
McCarthy (NY)
McDermott
McGovern
McHale
McKinney
McNulty
Meehan
Menendez
Millender-McDonald
Miller (CA)
Mink
Moakley
Mollohan
Moran (VA)
Murtha
Neal
Obey
Olver
Owens
Pascrell
Pastor
Payne
Pelosi
Peterson (MN)
Pomeroy
Poshard
Price (NC)
Rangel
Reyes
Rivers
Rodriguez
Rothman
Roybal-Allard
Rush
Sanchez
Sanders
Sawyer
Schumer
Serrano
Shadegg
Sherman
Skaggs
Slaughter
Smith, Adam
Snyder
Spratt
Stabenow
Stark
Stenholm
Strickland
Stupak
Tanner
Tauscher
Thompson
Thurman
Tierney
Torres
Towns
Turner
Velazquez
Vento
Watt (NC)
Waxman
Wexler
Weygand
Wise
Woolsey
Wynn
Yates
NOES--257
Aderholt
Archer
Armey
Bachus
Baesler
Baker
Ballenger
Barcia
Barr
Barrett (NE)
Bartlett
Barton
Bass
Bateman
Bentsen
Bereuter
Bilbray
Bilirakis
Blagojevich
Bliley
Blunt
Boehlert
Boehner
Bonilla
Bono
Boswell
Brady
Brown (FL)
Bryant
Bunning
Burton
Buyer
Callahan
Calvert
Camp
Campbell
Canady
Cannon
Castle
Chabot
Chambliss
Chenoweth
Christensen
Clay
Coble
Collins
Combest
Cook
Cooksey
Costello
Cox
Crane
Crapo
Cubin
Cunningham
Davis (VA)
Deal
DeLay
Diaz-Balart
Dickey
Dooley
Doolittle
Doyle
Dreier
Duncan
Dunn
Ehlers
Ehrlich
Emerson
English
Everett
Ewing
Fawell
Flake
Foley
Forbes
Fowler
Fox
Franks (NJ)
Frelinghuysen
Gallegly
Ganske
Gekas
Gibbons
Gilchrest
Gillmor
Gilman
Goode
Goodlatte
Goodling
Goss
Graham
Granger
Greenwood
Gutknecht
Hall (TX)
Hamilton
Hansen
Hastert
Hastings (WA)
Hayworth
Hefley
Herger
Hill
Hobson
Hoekstra
Holden
Horn
Hostettler
Houghton
Hulshof
Hunter
Hutchinson
Hyde
Inglis
Istook
Jenkins
Johnson (CT)
Johnson, Sam
Jones
Kasich
Kelly
Kennedy (MA)
Kildee
Kim
King (NY)
Kingston
Kleczka
Klink
Klug
Knollenberg
Kolbe
Kucinich
LaHood
Largent
Latham
Lazio
Leach
Lewis (CA)
Lewis (KY)
Linder
Lipinski
Livingston
LoBiondo
Lofgren
Lucas
Manton
Manzullo
Mascara
McCollum
McCrery
McDade
McHugh
McInnis
McIntosh
McIntyre
McKeon
Meek
Metcalf
Mica
Miller (FL)
Minge
Moran (KS)
Morella
Myrick
Nethercutt
Neumann
Ney
Northup
Norwood
Nussle
Oberstar
Ortiz
Packard
Pappas
Parker
Paul
Paxon
Pease
Peterson (PA)
Petri
Pickering
Pickett
Pitts
Pombo
Porter
Portman
Pryce (OH)
Quinn
Radanovich
Rahall
Ramstad
Redmond
Regula
Riggs
Riley
Roemer
Rogan
Rogers
Rohrabacher
Ros-Lehtinen
Roukema
Royce
Ryun
Sabo
Salmon
Sandlin
Sanford
Saxton
Scarborough
Schaefer, Dan
Schaffer, Bob
Scott
Sensenbrenner
Shaw
Shays
Shimkus
Shuster
Sisisky
Skeen
Skelton
Smith (MI)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (OR)
Smith (TX)
Smith, Linda
Snowbarger
Solomon
Souder
Spence
Stearns
Stokes
Stump
Sununu
Talent
Tauzin
Taylor (MS)
Taylor (NC)
Thomas
Thornberry
Thune
Tiahrt
Traficant
Upton
Visclosky
Walsh
Wamp
Waters
Watkins
Watts (OK)
Weldon (FL)
Weldon (PA)
Weller
White
Whitfield
Wolf
Young (AK)
NOT VOTING--14
Berman
Burr
Coburn
Delahunt
Foglietta
Gonzalez
LaTourette
Nadler
Oxley
Pallone
Schiff
Sessions
Wicker
Young (FL)
{time} 1556
Mr. SKAGGS changed his vote from ``no'' to ``aye.''
So the motion was rejected.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Amendment No. 1 Offered by Mr. Evans
The CHAIRMAN. The pending business is the demand for a recorded vote
on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Evans] on
which further proceedings were postponed and on which the noes
prevailed by voice vote.
The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
The Clerk redesignated the amendment.
Recorded Vote
The CHAIRMAN. A recorded vote has been demanded.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 241,
noes 182, not voting 10, as follows:
[Roll No. 472]
AYES--241
Abercrombie
Ackerman
Aderholt
Allen
Andrews
Baesler
Baldacci
Barcia
Barrett (WI)
Becerra
Berman
Bishop
Blagojevich
Blumenauer
Bonior
Bono
Borski
Boswell
Boucher
Brown (FL)
Brown (OH)
Bryant
Bunning
Burr
Burton
Capps
Cardin
Carson
Clay
Clayton
Clement
Clyburn
Coburn
Condit
Conyers
Costello
Cox
Coyne
Cramer
Cummings
Danner
Davis (IL)
DeFazio
DeGette
Delahunt
DeLauro
Dellums
Deutsch
Diaz-Balart
Dingell
Dixon
Doggett
Doyle
Duncan
Edwards
Ehlers
Engel
Ensign
Eshoo
Etheridge
Evans
Farr
Fattah
Fazio
Filner
Forbes
Ford
Frank (MA)
Franks (NJ)
Frost
Furse
Ganske
Gejdenson
Gephardt
Gibbons
Gilchrest
Gilman
Goode
Goodling
Green
Gutierrez
Hall (OH)
Harman
Hastings (FL)
Hayworth
Hefley
Hefner
Hilliard
Hinchey
Hinojosa
Holden
Hooley
Horn
Hoyer
Hunter
Inglis
Jackson (IL)
Jackson-Lee (TX)
Jefferson
Jenkins
Johnson (WI)
Johnson, E. B.
Jones
Kanjorski
Kaptur
Kennedy (MA)
Kennedy (RI)
Kennelly
Kildee
Kilpatrick
Kind (WI)
King (NY)
Kingston
Kleczka
Klink
Kucinich
LaFalce
Lampson
Lantos
Largent
LaTourette
Levin
Lewis (GA)
Lipinski
LoBiondo
Lofgren
Lowey
Luther
Maloney (CT)
Maloney (NY)
Manton
Markey
Martinez
Mascara
Matsui
McCarthy (MO)
McCarthy (NY)
McDade
McGovern
McHale
McHugh
McInnis
McIntosh
McIntyre
McKinney
McNulty
Meehan
Meek
Menendez
Millender-McDonald
Miller (CA)
Minge
Mink
Moakley
Mollohan
Moran (VA)
Murtha
Neal
Ney
Oberstar
Obey
Olver
Ortiz
Owens
Pappas
Pascrell
Pastor
Paul
Payne
Pelosi
Petri
Pitts
Pomeroy
Poshard
Price (NC)
Quinn
Rahall
Rangel
Reyes
Rivers
Rodriguez
Rohrabacher
Ros-Lehtinen
Rothman
Roybal-Allard
Royce
Rush
Sabo
Sanchez
Sanders
Sandlin
Sanford
Sawyer
Scarborough
Schumer
Scott
Serrano
Sherman
Shimkus
Shuster
Sisisky
Skaggs
Skelton
Slaughter
Smith (MI)
Smith (NJ)
Smith, Linda
Souder
Spratt
Stabenow
Stark
Stearns
Strickland
Stupak
Talent
Tauscher
Taylor (MS)
Thompson
Thune
Thurman
Tierney
Torres
Towns
Traficant
Turner
Upton
Velazquez
Vento
Visclosky
Wamp
Waters
Watt (NC)
Waxman
Weller
Wexler
Weygand
Wise
Wolf
Woolsey
Wynn
Yates
NOES--182
Archer
Armey
Bachus
Baker
Ballenger
Barr
Barrett (NE)
Bartlett
Barton
Bass
Bateman
Bentsen
Bereuter
Berry
Bilbray
Bilirakis
Bliley
Blunt
Boehlert
Boehner
Bonilla
Boyd
Brady
Buyer
Callahan
Calvert
Camp
Campbell
Canady
Cannon
Castle
Chabot
Chambliss
Chenoweth
Christensen
Coble
Collins
Combest
Cook
Cooksey
Crane
Crapo
Cubin
Cunningham
Davis (FL)
Davis (VA)
Deal
DeLay
Dickey
Dicks
Dooley
Doolittle
Dreier
Dunn
Ehrlich
Emerson
English
Everett
Ewing
Fawell
Flake
Foley
Fowler
Fox
Frelinghuysen
Gallegly
Gekas
Gillmor
Goodlatte
Gordon
Goss
Graham
[[Page H8205]]
Granger
Greenwood
Gutknecht
Hall (TX)
Hamilton
Hansen
Hastert
Hastings (WA)
Herger
Hill
Hilleary
Hobson
Hoekstra
Hostettler
Houghton
Hulshof
Hutchinson
Hyde
Istook
John
Johnson (CT)
Johnson, Sam
Kasich
Kelly
Kim
Klug
Knollenberg
Kolbe
LaHood
Latham
Lazio
Leach
Lewis (KY)
Linder
Livingston
Lucas
Manzullo
McCollum
McCrery
McDermott
McKeon
Metcalf
Mica
Miller (FL)
Moran (KS)
Morella
Myrick
Nethercutt
Neumann
Northup
Norwood
Nussle
Oxley
Packard
Parker
Paxon
Pease
Peterson (MN)
Peterson (PA)
Pickering
Pickett
Pombo
Porter
Portman
Pryce (OH)
Radanovich
Ramstad
Redmond
Regula
Riggs
Riley
Roemer
Rogan
Rogers
Roukema
Ryun
Salmon
Saxton
Schaefer, Dan
Schaffer, Bob
Sensenbrenner
Shadegg
Shaw
Shays
Skeen
Smith (OR)
Smith (TX)
Smith, Adam
Snowbarger
Snyder
Solomon
Spence
Stenholm
Stump
Sununu
Tanner
Tauzin
Taylor (NC)
Thomas
Thornberry
Tiahrt
Walsh
Watkins
Watts (OK)
Weldon (FL)
Weldon (PA)
White
Whitfield
Wicker
Young (AK)
NOT VOTING--10
Brown (CA)
Foglietta
Gonzalez
Lewis (CA)
Nadler
Pallone
Schiff
Sessions
Stokes
Young (FL)
{time} 1613
Mr. GRAHAM changed his vote from ``aye'' to ``no''.
Messrs. GILCHREST, QUINN, DAVIS of Illinois, and BONO changed their
vote from ``no'' to ``aye''.
So the amendment was agreed to.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
The CHAIRMAN. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 3 printed
in House Report 105-282.
Amendment No. 3 Offered by Mr. LaFalce
Mr. LaFALCE. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.
The CHAIRMAN. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Amendment No. 3 offered by Mr. LaFalce:
At the end of the bill, add the following:
SEC. 10. RENAMING OF BANK AS THE UNITED STATES EXPORT BANK.
(a) Amendments to the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945.--
(1) The first section of the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945
(12 U.S.C. 635 note) is amended to read as follows:
``SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
``This Act may be cited as the `United States Export Bank
Act of 1945'.''.
(2) The following provisions of such Act are amended by
striking ``Export-Import Bank of the United States'' and
inserting ``United States Export Bank'':
(A) Section 2(a)(1) (12 U.S.C. 635(a)(1)).
(B) Section 3(a) (12 U.S.C. 635a(a)).
(C) Section 3(b) (12 U.S.C. 635a(b)).
(D) Section 3(c)(1) (12 U.S.C. 635a(c)(1)).
(E) Section 4 (12 U.S.C. 635b).
(F) Section 5 (12 U.S.C. 635d).
(G) Section 6(a) (12 U.S.C. 635e(a)).
(H) Section 7 (12 U.S.C. 635f).
(I) Section 8(a) (12 U.S.C. 635g(a)).
(J) Section 9 (12 U.S.C. 635h).
(3) The following provisions of such Act are amended by
striking ``Export-Import Bank'' any place its appears and
inserting ``United States Export Bank'':
(A) Section 2(b)(1)(A) (12 U.S.C. 635(b)(1)(A)).
(B) Section 3(c)(3) (12 U.S.C. 635a(c)(3)).
(b) Deeming Rules.--Any reference in any law, map,
regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United
States to the Export-Import Bank of the United States is
deemed to be a reference to the United States Export Bank,
and any reference in any law, map, regulation, document,
paper, or other record of the United States to the Export-
Import Bank Act of 1945 is deemed to be a reference to the
United States Export Bank Act of 1945.
The CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to House Resolution 255, the gentleman from
New York [Mr. LaFalce] and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York [Mr. LaFalce].
Mr. LaFALCE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Chairman, the purpose of my amendment is very simple. It is to
change the name of the bank so that we could help clarify the function
and purpose of the bank.
The amendment would change the name of the bank to the United States
Export Bank. It would eliminate the confusion that exists as to what
the bank does. In fact, the bank imports nothing. In fact, the bank
does not assist in the importation of anything. The bank has not
imported anything or supported any imports since its very earliest
days.
When it was named Eximbank at the time of its chartering, the bank
sought to support trade with Russia, which at that time did not have
hard currency. The bank then sought to arrange barter trade with
Russia, and hence the name Export-Import Bank. That function, though,
lasted only a few years. For approximately 60 years, since those early
years, the only function of the Export-Import Bank of the United States
has been to assist exporting by U.S. businesses.
My amendment would simply change the name to the United States Export
Bank, a simple change that Eximbank supports and I believe the chairman
of the subcommittee and the chairman of the full committee will
support, also. This name change will clearly indicate that the Bank's
purpose is to support U.S. exporters and workers whose jobs depend on
exports.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment offered by the
gentleman from New York [Mr. LaFalce].
Mr. Chairman, I could not disagree with my colleague, the gentleman
from New York [Mr. LaFalce], who stated that this would be a better
name because it would more clarify what the Export-Import Bank does.
In fact, I would think that if we want to clarify what the Export-
Import Bank does, it would be better to call it the American Import
Bank or Subsidy of Foreign Imports into the United States Bank.
These businesses that are getting subsidized by our tax dollars, they
are not saying, please subsidize my company so I can go over there and
sell socks or refrigerators or some type of consumer items. That is a
total myth that has been perpetuated in this argument, especially in
arguments concerning trade with China.
What is happening instead are corporations, by and large, who want to
set up manufacturing units overseas, especially in dictatorships, I
might add, like Communist China and Vietnam and elsewhere, go to the
Export-Import Bank and are receiving guaranteed loans and subsidies in
order to set up a manufacturing unit, which will take advantage of
people who have no right to set up unions, no right to protect their
own interests, standards that are way below those of the United States.
So we subsidize them, creating a manufacturing unit by using taxpayer
dollars. And then what happens? Those manufacturing units produce goods
and services that are imported into the United States.
Yes, we should clarify that. We should clarify this so that American
people know their tax dollars are being used to subsidize the
competition for their own jobs in dictatorships overseas. And, yes,
there are several companies that, yes, do indeed have their exports
subsidized. That is in the aerospace industry. There are some
situations where that exists. I acknowledge that. But that is not the
majority of what is going on here.
Even with those loans to the aerospace industry, quite often demands
are made in those other countries that we set up manufacturing units so
that part of the airplanes that are being sold in those countries are
produced in China and elsewhere. So what we end up doing is subsidizing
the development of industries overseas with our tax dollars.
This has got to stop. If we want to clarify anything here, it should
be the U.S. Government should not be subsidizing anybody who is setting
up a manufacturing unit overseas, especially in dictatorships.
So let us clarify it, yes, and change the name to not the Export-
Import Bank, but to the bank that subsidizes imports into the United
States.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LaFALCE. Mr. Chairman, how much time do I have remaining?
The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from New York [Mr. LaFalce] has 3 minutes
remaining.
Mr. LaFALCE. Mr. Chairman, I would merely make the comment that I
think the gentleman from California [Mr. Rohrabacher] is confused
between the functions and activities of this Bank and the OPIC, the
Overseas Private Investment Corp.
[[Page H8206]]
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Chairman, I am not confused. And the fact is OPIC does offer
private insurance for investment overseas. The Export-Import Bank is
involved with these things as well.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LaFALCE. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Iowa [Mr. Leach], chairman of the Committee on Banking
and Financial Services.
Mr. LEACH. Mr. Chairman, let me just say on behalf of the Committee
on Banking and Financial Services that I consider this to be a very
constructive amendment. The new name well-defines the institution that
we are talking about that is the subject of legislation on the floor
today.
I have some pains that the current name, which has such a fine
general reputation, may go by the boards. But I think this is a very
constructive and helpful amendment.
Finally, let me stress as carefully as I can that the currently named
Export-Import Bank only subsidizes the sales of U.S. goods and services
abroad. There is no mandate of the bank to construct any kind of
American company on anybody else's shores. It is simply to support
goods and services produced in the United States to be sold abroad.
Mr. LaFALCE. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from California [Mr. Rohrabacher] has
2\1/4\ minutes remaining.
Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
Florida [Mr. Stearns].
(Mr. STEARNS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
Mr. LaFALCE. Mr. Chairman, how much timed do I have remaining?
The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from New York [Mr. LaFalce] has 2 minutes
remaining.
Mr. LaFALCE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
Oklahoma [Mr. Watkins].
(Mr. WATKINS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. WATKINS. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the LaFalce
amendment.
I rise for two reasons. I am from a rural area of the heartland of
America, and we have not utilized the Export-Import Bank very much. I
think one of the major things is the confusing name. I think the
gentleman from New York [Mr. LaFalce] has a change here that might
improve it.
I have talked to them at the Export-Import Bank on numerous occasions
about trying to involve more of the smaller towns, smaller businesses
and industries across this country. I think a name change would help. I
think named the United States Export Bank would better describe the
purpose and activities of the bank.
Second, I am in support of it because the United States economic
future is going to depend a great deal on our involvement in exporting.
In fact, some economists have said that 90 percent of our future
economic growth has got to come from export trade.
I think we need to do everything within our power to try to help our
businesses and industries and agriculture be able to export more, and I
think this would clarify and encourage economic enterprises to seek
assistance. By changing the name, it would be less confusing to a lot
of people out there in the business and agriculture world that want to
participate in the global economy.
Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Chairman, how much time do I have remaining?
The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from California [Mr. Rohrabacher] has 2
minutes remaining.
Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Chairman, do I have the right to close?
The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman is not on the committee. The gentleman
from New York [Mr. LaFalce] has the right to close.
Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Chairman, I, of course, philosophically would believe that the
Federal Government should not be involved in taking our taxpayers'
dollars and using it for selected companies who are planning to do
business overseas.
It is particularly repugnant, Mr. Chairman, for us to be loaning any
money for people who want to invest in manufacturing units overseas who
are receiving benefits from not the Export-Import Bank, but from OPIC
and other government institutions.
I have two amendments that are coming up on Export-Import Bank, one
which would prevent the Export-Import Bank from subsidizing the
People's Liberation Army in China or any other government-owned
entities and would not permit us to, basically, subsidize business in
dictatorships.
But this idea that American business needs to have subsidies in big
companies in order to sell their products overseas is a misnomer, and
certainly we need to clarify that. In many, many cases, what we really
are talking about is instead of subsidizing our exports, trying to make
it possible facilitating exports. We are actually facilitating the
building of manufacturing units which uses low-cost labor to ship
things back into the United States.
That is why we have such a heinous situation with China. Because our
people will go over to China, they will build a manufacturing unit
there with subsidization from the Federal Government, the manufacturing
unit will then use this basically slave labor over there and import
these goods at a 3- or 4-percent tariff. The goods over there, however,
when we want to sell our goods directly in China, there is about a 30-
or 40-percent tariff when we want to sell our goods over there.
The most important thing that we could be doing is not subsidizing
big corporations to the Export-Import Bank, or OPIC, or whatever.
Instead, what we should be doing is knocking down impediments to our
people doing business, like, for example, trying to eliminate their
tariffs.
So I would oppose this measure. I do believe it does not clarify
anything.
Mr. LaFALCE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 45 seconds to the gentleman from
Florida [Mr. Mica].
Mr. MICA. Mr. Chairman, I just want to clarify for the House and my
colleagues that what we heard about Eximbank is not the case. It is not
subsidizing any foreign manufacturing.
What it is doing is allowing U.S. companies, the working men and
women of this country, to be employed to assist in financing the sale
of U.S. goods overseas. Most of the Exim funds for United States goods
that go into China are to assist with financing Boeing aircraft, who
must compete with Airbus and other international competitors. Boeing
employs thousands of U.S. workers in the United States with the aid of
this Exim Program.
I think there is great confusion about what this program does. But in
fact, Exim does not do the things that are alleged. It allows American
men and women to get high paying jobs and to compete in the
international market where we find the opportunities for tomorrow, and
those are the facts. We can not relegate our next generation to minimum
wage jobs--we must not back away from supporting U.S. small and large
business in selling their goods in a tough international marketplace.
Mr. LaFALCE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Chairman, I remind all my colleagues that my amendment to change
the name of the Bank to comport with reality; that is, the United
States Export Bank, is supported by the Bank and is supported by the
gentleman from Iowa [Mr. Leach], the chairman of the full committee,
the gentleman from Delaware [Mr. Castle], chairman of the subcommittee,
and I hope virtually by all the Members of this body.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
The CHAIRMAN. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from New York [Mr. LaFalce].
The question was taken; and the Chairman announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Recorded Vote
Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 362,
noes 56, not voting 15, as follows:
[[Page H8207]]
[Roll No. 473]
AYES--362
Abercrombie
Ackerman
Allen
Archer
Bachus
Baesler
Baker
Baldacci
Ballenger
Barcia
Barrett (NE)
Barrett (WI)
Bartlett
Barton
Bass
Bateman
Becerra
Bentsen
Bereuter
Berman
Bilbray
Bilirakis
Bishop
Blagojevich
Bliley
Blumenauer
Blunt
Boehlert
Boehner
Bonilla
Bonior
Borski
Boswell
Boucher
Boyd
Brady
Brown (CA)
Brown (FL)
Brown (OH)
Bryant
Bunning
Buyer
Calvert
Camp
Campbell
Canady
Capps
Cardin
Carson
Castle
Chambliss
Christensen
Clay
Clayton
Clement
Clyburn
Coburn
Collins
Combest
Condit
Conyers
Cook
Cooksey
Costello
Coyne
Cramer
Crane
Crapo
Cubin
Cummings
Danner
Davis (FL)
Davis (IL)
Deal
DeGette
Delahunt
DeLauro
Dellums
Deutsch
Diaz-Balart
Dickey
Dicks
Dingell
Dixon
Doggett
Dooley
Doyle
Dreier
Dunn
Edwards
Ehlers
Ehrlich
Emerson
Engel
English
Ensign
Eshoo
Etheridge
Evans
Everett
Ewing
Farr
Fattah
Fawell
Fazio
Filner
Flake
Foglietta
Foley
Forbes
Ford
Fowler
Fox
Frank (MA)
Franks (NJ)
Frelinghuysen
Frost
Furse
Gallegly
Gejdenson
Gekas
Gephardt
Gibbons
Gillmor
Gilman
Goodlatte
Goodling
Goss
Graham
Granger
Green
Greenwood
Gutierrez
Gutknecht
Hall (OH)
Hamilton
Hansen
Harman
Hastings (FL)
Hastings (WA)
Hayworth
Hefley
Hefner
Herger
Hill
Hilliard
Hinchey
Hinojosa
Hobson
Hoekstra
Hooley
Horn
Hostettler
Hoyer
Hulshof
Hunter
Hutchinson
Hyde
Inglis
Istook
Jackson (IL)
Jackson-Lee (TX)
Jefferson
John
Johnson (CT)
Johnson (WI)
Johnson, E. B.
Jones
Kaptur
Kasich
Kelly
Kennedy (MA)
Kennedy (RI)
Kennelly
Kildee
Kilpatrick
Kim
Kind (WI)
King (NY)
Kleczka
Klink
Klug
Knollenberg
Kolbe
Kucinich
LaFalce
LaHood
Lampson
Lantos
Latham
LaTourette
Lazio
Leach
Levin
Lewis (CA)
Lewis (GA)
Lewis (KY)
Linder
Lipinski
Livingston
LoBiondo
Lofgren
Lowey
Luther
Maloney (CT)
Maloney (NY)
Manton
Manzullo
Markey
Martinez
Mascara
Matsui
McCarthy (MO)
McCarthy (NY)
McCollum
McCrery
McDade
McDermott
McGovern
McHale
McHugh
McIntyre
McKeon
McNulty
Meehan
Meek
Menendez
Metcalf
Mica
Millender-McDonald
Miller (CA)
Miller (FL)
Minge
Mollohan
Moran (KS)
Moran (VA)
Morella
Murtha
Myrick
Neal
Ney
Northup
Norwood
Nussle
Oberstar
Obey
Olver
Ortiz
Owens
Oxley
Pappas
Parker
Pascrell
Pastor
Payne
Pease
Peterson (MN)
Peterson (PA)
Petri
Pickering
Pickett
Pitts
Pomeroy
Porter
Portman
Poshard
Price (NC)
Pryce (OH)
Quinn
Rahall
Ramstad
Redmond
Regula
Reyes
Riggs
Riley
Rivers
Rodriguez
Roemer
Rogers
Ros-Lehtinen
Rothman
Roukema
Roybal-Allard
Rush
Ryun
Sabo
Salmon
Sanchez
Sanders
Sandlin
Sanford
Sawyer
Saxton
Schumer
Scott
Sensenbrenner
Serrano
Sessions
Shaw
Shays
Sherman
Shimkus
Shuster
Sisisky
Skaggs
Skeen
Skelton
Slaughter
Smith (MI)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (OR)
Smith (TX)
Smith, Adam
Snowbarger
Souder
Spence
Spratt
Stabenow
Stark
Stenholm
Stokes
Strickland
Stupak
Sununu
Talent
Tanner
Tauscher
Tauzin
Taylor (MS)
Taylor (NC)
Thomas
Thompson
Thornberry
Thurman
Tiahrt
Tierney
Torres
Towns
Turner
Upton
Velazquez
Visclosky
Walsh
Waters
Watkins
Watt (NC)
Watts (OK)
Waxman
Weldon (FL)
Weldon (PA)
Weller
Wexler
Weygand
White
Wicker
Wise
Wolf
Woolsey
Wynn
Yates
Young (AK)
NOES--56
Aderholt
Andrews
Armey
Barr
Berry
Bono
Burr
Burton
Callahan
Cannon
Chabot
Coble
Cox
Davis (VA)
DeFazio
DeLay
Doolittle
Duncan
Ganske
Goode
Hall (TX)
Hastert
Hilleary
Houghton
Jenkins
Johnson, Sam
Kanjorski
Kingston
Largent
McInnis
McIntosh
McKinney
Mink
Nethercutt
Neumann
Packard
Paul
Paxon
Pombo
Radanovich
Rogan
Rohrabacher
Royce
Scarborough
Schaefer, Dan
Schaffer, Bob
Shadegg
Snyder
Solomon
Stearns
Stump
Thune
Traficant
Vento
Wamp
Whitfield
NOT VOTING--15
Chenoweth
Cunningham
Gilchrest
Gonzalez
Gordon
Holden
Lucas
Moakley
Nadler
Pallone
Pelosi
Rangel
Schiff
Smith, Linda
Young (FL)
{time} 1649
Mr. PAXON changed his vote from ``aye'' to ``no.''
Mr. NUSSLE and Mr. RILEY changed their vote from ``no'' to ``aye.''
So the amendment was agreed to.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
____________________