[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 90 (Thursday, June 30, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1398]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT FINANCING, AND RELATED PROGRAMS 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2006

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                               speech of

                          HON. JOSEPH CROWLEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 28, 2005

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3057) making 
     appropriations for foreign operations, export financing, and 
     related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
     2006, and for other purposes:

  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the Sanders-
Rohrabacher Amendment which cuts funding for the Export-Import Bank. 
While one may argue that this amendment will simply prohibit the 
Export-Import Bank from approving federal loans or loan guarantees for 
the construction of nuclear power plants in China, this amendment sends 
a bad message. This amendment is one more step in the attempts of some 
in the House to shut down Ex-Im completely.
  Now I respect the sponsors of this amendment who are true opponents 
of Ex-Im, but we cannot be fooled by thinking that one can vote for 
this language and still be a supporter of the Export-Import bank or 
free trade.
  The Export-Import Bank was created to help U.S. exporters match 
competition from foreign export credit agencies in Japan, Germany, 
France, Canada, and other countries. Ex-Im is also required by law to 
work toward securing international agreements to reduce government-
subsidized export financing, thereby promoting a level playing field 
for U.S. exporters--which means jobs for Americans in America.
  Ex-Im finances approximately two percent of U.S. exports annually. 
Among Ex-Im financed exports were U.S. civilian aircraft, electronics, 
energy-related products, engineering services, medical equipment, 
vehicles, and agricultural equipment.
  Even the sponsors of this amendment acknowledge that the funds for 
this project will go towards creating jobs in the U.S. They can claim 
that Westinghouse is a British owned company, and thereby something 
that does not deserve U.S. support, but using that same argument, 
Chrysler Motors is now a German owned company--should we not have any 
dealings with Chrysler and the thousands of American workers and UAW 
employees employed there. Nonsense--oppose this amendment and support 
U.S. jobs and free and fair trade.

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