[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 8, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2709-S2710]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                     Export-Import Bank Nominations

  Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, the Senate is finally holding long overdue 
votes on nominees to the Export-Import Bank of the United States. To 
me, this is about Ohio businesses; this is about American workers; and 
this is about the dignity of work. All three of these nominees are 
qualified.
  For nearly 4 years, the Export-Import Bank has been forced to stop 
most of the work supporting American jobs. A small group of opponents, 
supported by special interests in this town, tried to kill this bank 
altogether. Ex-Im has been paralyzed because of leadership in

[[Page S2710]]

this body and because of the President and the Vice President of the 
United States. The Bank is technically open but can't approve any 
transaction greater than $10 million.
  The Senate's inaction, the President's inaction, and the Vice 
President's inaction have hurt Ohio manufacturers. In the past, Ohio 
companies exported more than $400 million a year in products using 
Export-Import Bank credit assistance. That amount has been cut nearly 
in half. That means jobs. It means good-paying industrial jobs. If the 
President and Republicans in Congress were serious about helping 
American manufacturers after years and years of obstruction, which they 
have done, they would approve these nominees and work with us to 
authorize the Bank this summer.
  My colleagues have a choice: Do they care about these businesses; do 
they care about manufacturing; do they care about workers; do they care 
about the dignity of workers; or do they care more about their extreme 
special interest politics?
  I stand with our workers. I will vote to reopen the Export-Import 
Bank.
  Thank you.