[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 110 (Tuesday, July 15, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H6225]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EXPORT-IMPORT BANK REAUTHORIZATION
(Mr. COURTNEY asked and was given permission to address the House for
1 minute.)
Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, unless Congress acts, on September 30
the Export-Import Bank will go out of existence. This is a government
program that has been around for 80 years--since Franklin Roosevelt--
helping businesses export products and create jobs in America.
Last week, Congressman John Larson and I joined the largest Chamber
of Commerce in the State of Connecticut, along with three small
exporting businesses, pleading with Speaker Boehner to please bring up
a bill to extend the life of the Export-Import Bank, which has happened
routinely on a bipartisan basis over the last 80 years.
Madam Speaker, I want to make two points. Number one, this program
does not cost the taxpayers money. Last year it returned $1 billion to
the Treasury. Secondly, our largest competition--China and Germany--are
doubling the sizes of their export-import programs because they
understand that that is a way to grow their economies and to take away
jobs and customers from our country, from America.
Please, Mr. Speaker, listen to the 850 business groups all across the
country, led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Bring up the Export-
Import Bank reauthorization for a vote, and let's get this economy
growing again.
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