[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 34 (Thursday, March 21, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2257-S2258]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       JOHN E. ROBSON, PRESIDENT AND CHAIRMAN, EXPORT-IMPORT BANK

 Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, I rise in tribute to John Robson, 
the President and Chairman of the Export-Import Bank of the United 
States, who passed away yesterday morning.
  John had a truly remarkable career in both the public and private 
sectors. Prior to becoming President and Chairman of the Export-Import 
Bank last year, he most recently had been a senior adviser with the San 
Francisco investment banking firm of Robertson Stephens. He served as 
Deputy Secretary of the Treasury under former President Bush from 1989-
1992, and was Dean of the Emory School of Business from 1986-88. From 
1978-85 he was President and Chief Executive Officer of the 
pharmaceutical company G.D. Searle. He served as Chairman of the U.S. 
Civil Aeronautics Board from 1975-77, and was Under Secretary of 
Transportation from 1967-69. He was a graduate of Yale College and 
Harvard Law School.
  I first worked with John during the crisis in the savings and loan 
industry in the 1980's. As Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, he served 
as the Administration's point person in dealing with one of the most 
serious financial crises since the Great Depression. During that 
experience, I came to know John as a very tough and determined leader

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who helped restore stability to an important segment of the U.S. 
financial system.
  Most recently, I worked closely with John in his role as President 
and Chairman of the Export-Import Bank. In my view, the Bank and the 
Administration were very fortunate to get an individual of John's 
experience and stature for that challenging job.
  The Export-Import Bank has a crucial role to play in helping U.S. 
exporters to compete in international markets against foreign companies 
who receive export subsidies from their governments. However, the 
Eximbank is often criticized from both the left and the right as 
providing unnecessary subsidies to U.S. exporters. In addition, the 
Eximbank also often receives internal challenges within the 
Administration from the Treasury Department and OMB, who try to assert 
control over the Bank. John was extraordinarily well suited to provide 
the leadership to defend the important role the Export-Import Bank 
plays in U.S. trade policy within the Administration, and to explain 
that role to the Congress and the public.
  I was privileged to work closely with John in crafting S. 1372, the 
Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act, which was just passed by the 
Senate last week. I am hopeful that the Congress will soon complete 
action on that legislation and send it to the White House for the 
President's signature. It would be a fitting tribute to John's 
leadership of the Eximbank.
  I would like to extend my condolences of John's wife, Margaret, and 
his son, Douglas. Our country will miss John's outstanding leadership 
and dedicated service.

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