[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 182 (Thursday, November 14, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H8845-H8870]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            UNITED STATES EXPORT FINANCE AGENCY ACT OF 2019


                             General Leave

  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on H.R. 4863 and to insert extraneous materials thereon.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 695 and rule 
XVIII, the Chair declares the House in the Committee of the Whole House 
on the state of the Union for the consideration of the bill, H.R. 4863.
  The Chair appoints the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) to 
preside over the Committee of the Whole.

                              {time}  1409


                     In the Committee of the Whole

  Accordingly, the House resolved itself into the Committee of the 
Whole House on the state of the Union for the consideration of the bill 
(H.R. 4863) to promote the competitiveness of the United States, to 
reform and reauthorize the United States Export Finance Agency, and for 
other purposes, with Mr. Blumenauer in the chair.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The CHAIR. Pursuant to the rule, the bill is considered read the 
first time.
  General debate shall be confined to the bill and shall not exceed 1 
hour equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking member of 
the Committee on Financial Services.
  The gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters) and the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. McHenry) each will control 30 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4863, the United 
States Export Finance Agency Act of 2019.
  H.R. 4863 reauthorizes and makes key improvements to the job-creating 
Export-Import Bank. Let me begin by describing why the Ex-Im Bank is so 
important.
  The Ex-Im Bank was established 85 years ago and is the official 
export credit agency of the United States. Its mission is to promote 
the export of U.S. goods and services in order to help create and 
sustain jobs in the United States.
  Over the last 10 years, the Ex-Im Bank has supported more than 1.5 
million American jobs at no cost to the taxpayer, financed more than 
$255 billion in U.S. exports, and remitted more than $3.4 billion in 
deficit-reducing receipts to the Treasury.
  In my district, the Ex-Im Bank is currently financing $269 million 
worth of exports from 13 different exporters, including 10 small 
businesses.
  Ex-Im does not compete with the private sector but, instead, fills in 
gaps when the private sector lacks the capacity or willingness to 
provide the financing required by U.S. exporters.
  During the financial crisis, the Ex-Im Bank was an important source 
of financing when private capital was simply unavailable to many 
businesses. Ex-Im estimates that during fiscal year 2010, in the depths 
of the financial crisis, it supported 227,000 jobs at more than 3,300 
companies.
  The Bank also plays a key role in leveling the international playing 
field by offsetting the financing offered by foreign export credit 
agencies. The Ex-Im Bank is one of more than 100 export credit agencies 
around the world that help their home-country exporters compete in the 
global markets.
  If we fail to reauthorize the Bank, American businesses will be 
harmed, and thousands of jobs will be lost.
  Unfortunately, in 2015, the Republican leadership in the House 
allowed the Bank's charter to expire for the first time in the Bank's 
history. At that time, a number of countries, including China, 
celebrated the Bank's closure because of the competitive advantage it 
gave them over U.S. businesses and workers.
  Later, Republicans in the Senate hobbled Ex-Im for 4 years by 
refusing to confirm board directors, which prevented them from having a 
quorum. Ex-Im reported that it was unable to approve $40 billion worth 
of transactions during this period, which would

[[Page H8846]]

have supported an estimated 250,000 jobs.

                              {time}  1415

  H.R. 4863 is intended to renew the confidence of U.S. exporters in 
the Ex-Im Bank while also sending a message to the world that the U.S. 
is ready and is prepared to aggressively compete in overseas export 
markets.
  H.R. 4863 reauthorizes the Ex-Im Bank for 10 years and increases the 
Bank's lending authority from $135 billion to $175 billion. The bill 
strengthens support for small businesses, which are the engine of 
growth in our economy, and it creates an Office of Minority and Women 
Inclusion as well as an Office of Territorial Exporting to support 
exporters in Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and other U.S. 
territories.
  The bill also focuses the Bank's attention on protecting the 
environment by creating an office for renewable energy exports, 
strengthening the Bank's environmental policies and procedures, and 
encouraging greater accountability with respect to local communities 
that could be negatively affected by Bank-supported projects.
  Importantly, H.R. 4863 also includes procedures to avoid a lapse in 
the Board's quorum so that the Bank can maintain its full operational 
capacity even when the Senate is unable to confirm Board directors.
  The bill includes a number of provisions to ensure that Ex-Im 
financing does not inadvertently support bad actors. For example, the 
bill prohibits financing for the Chinese military, the Chinese 
intelligence services, and any other bad actors, including anyone who 
has criminally violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act or has 
violated U.S. intellectual property laws.
  Moreover, H.R. 4863 would require the parties to an Ex-Im transaction 
to certify that neither they nor any of their subsidiaries engage in 
activities in violation of U.S.-sanctioned laws.
  So, Mr. Chairman, it is imperative that we reauthorize the Ex-Im Bank 
so that our businesses, U.S. businesses large and small, will have the 
financing support they need to compete in the global markets while 
preserving and creating American jobs at home.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Today I rise in opposition to H.R. 4863. The bill we are debating 
today encapsulates so much of what is wrong in Congress today.
  This is a partisan bill to reauthorize what a bipartisan group 
supports, and it is a failure of legislating. That is why we have a 
partisan bill on the House floor to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank.
  This bill passed the House Financial Services Committee by three 
votes, with Republicans all in opposition and a few of my Democratic 
colleagues in opposition, as well. To say this is disappointing, 
though, is an understatement.
  Earlier this year, Chairwoman Waters and I joined together to 
introduce a bipartisan Ex-Im reauthorization bill, and it is here in 
the House known as H.R. 3407. It included sensible reforms for Ex-Im 
that both parties could support.
  The chairwoman and I spent hours negotiating this package, but, 
unfortunately, she didn't have the support from her fellow Democrats to 
bring that to markup, and that is a sad thing. It is a sad thing 
because, in that bill, we took on the generational challenge that is 
incumbent upon us as American policymakers to be sensible about, which 
is the threat and aggression of China, both the economic and military 
aggressiveness of that regime.
  The bill that we negotiated would have served as the most 
comprehensive and the longest extension to an authorization of the Ex-
Im Bank, and it had a chance to get the President's signature and 
actually be legislated in the Senate, as well.
  Sadly, the Democrats walked away from that agreement because it 
limited Ex-Im's subsidies to some businesses owned by the Chinese 
Communist Party. The Democratic majority stripped out all the reforms 
we had agreed to, and what we are left with in this bill text is a 
restatement of current law and current practice by the Export-Import 
Bank on this list of Chinese businesses that the Bank cannot do 
business with. They don't do business with them, and that creates 
another glaring hole for abuse.
  The President has a Statement of Administration Policy just issued 
from the White House, and it says the President would veto this bill, 
so it is not going to get signed into law.
  Moreover, the Senate majority leader said this morning: ``'We're not 
going to pass the House bill,' McConnell said.'' We do not want that 
bill. ``We do want to extend Ex-Im. A logical place to do that would be 
on the CR,'' on the continuing resolution, which will happen. That is 
what is going to happen.
  So those watching, those listening here, this is all a show; and at 
the end of the day, this won't make it into law. We are going to have a 
clean extension of this Bank, which is an important economic tool for 
us.
  In our bipartisan agreement, though, the most important compromise we 
had reached is that provision to limit Ex-Im's support for the Chinese 
Communist Party.
  As we all know, Beijing poses a strategic threat to our national 
interest through its economic and military aggression. We know about 
the Chinese Government's shocking abuse of human rights. We see this in 
Hong Kong and the suppression of freedom there.
  We know the Chinese Government's true motives for the Belt and Road 
Initiative and the Made in China 2025 initiative, and that is to extend 
China's global dominance.
  They are not a strategic ally; they are a threat. And if we are savvy 
to this, we will ensure that we don't take an important tool of our 
government and subsidize Beijing. If we want to counter Beijing's 
ambitions, we shouldn't use Ex-Im to provide cheap financing for the 
Chinese Communist Party.
  To compete with Beijing, we cannot subsidize Beijing. It is bad 
policy for Americans, and we should agree on that. And, in fact, we did 
in the bill that Chairwoman Waters and I filed.

  To be clear, Republicans support selling American goods and services 
around the globe and in China. That is why we support the reset of the 
trade arrangement with China that the President is negotiating. It is a 
very important thing.
  We also know that the Chinese Communist Party sits on $3 trillion of 
dollar-denominated reserves. This debate is not about commerce; it is 
about financial assistance. Why use a mechanism of our government to 
subsidize the Chinese economy? Why would we do that? That is not sound 
policy. That is not good policy.
  And when we marked up this bill, the Democrats raised two interesting 
counterarguments to this view. The first one was--amazingly and, I 
think, absurdly--that the Financial Services Committee should not weigh 
in on any international matter, even though at Ex-Im's creation, the 
focus was on Marxist-Leninist countries and Soviet aggression 
internationally. We wanted more trading partners to us in selling 
American goods. Well, I think, likewise, we have a similar challenge 
with China this day.
  Even though Ex-Im has been used as a tool of foreign policy from the 
very beginning, this argument was made in committee.
  We also have important work that we do with oversight of the World 
Bank, the International Monetary Fund, a number of global institutions 
coming out of the financial services arena. All of these things fall 
under the Financial Services Committee's purview, and Democrats on this 
committee shouldn't opine that Ex-Im can't get into this. Ex-Im, at its 
creation, got into it and continues to get into it; and that is the 
nature of Ex-Im financing: to have more allies with us in opposition to 
other regimes around the globe.
  The second argument the Democrats put forth is that their partisan 
bill has limits on China anyway because it bars Ex-Im from financing 
the People's Liberation Army, which current law prevents American 
companies from doing that directly. So it is a restatement of policy, 
existing law.
  It says that companies on the Department of Commerce's entity list 
are banned from financing. Well, the joke's on that argument because 
those people on the entity list, we can't do commerce with them--not 
even a question of who subsidizes it or not.

[[Page H8847]]

  So it is all a complete kabuki dance. And it is of no surprise to 
folks watching or listening to this debate that Ex-Im doesn't provide 
financial products to the submarine force of the Chinese Navy. Nice 
try, very cute, but we don't do that.
  However, Ex-Im does provide financing for companies that the Chinese 
military can control to achieve Beijing's strategic objectives. In the 
language of this bill, we will have a handy-dandy chart that no one at 
home can read. We have a massive chart. It doesn't matter. We have a 
long list of entities that Ex-Im could still subsidize that this bill 
doesn't affect, does not touch.
  So the Democrats put in this bill meaningless language for political 
cover rather than to do something right and real for the American 
economy. They don't have a response for the deep questions of Chinese 
aggression.
  Ex-Im does provide financing to companies like AsiaSat, which is 
controlled by the Chinese Government and has helped Chinese security 
forces crack down on protesters in western China. Again, the Democrats' 
bill would do nothing to stop any of that, as one example.
  And, of course, the Democrat bill does nothing to stop Ex-Im from 
financing government-controlled companies that are acting contrary to 
our national interests but which may not happen to be on this entity 
list of the Commerce Department.
  Take Huawei, for example, which Ex-Im had authorized transactions for 
before the company was put onto the entity list in May. This is a 
recent example.
  Under the Democrats' bill, Ex-Im subsidies for Huawei were perfectly 
fine in April, but in May were unacceptable. That is ridiculous. And it 
is bad policy for the American taxpayer to subsidize Chinese 
aggression.
  By the same token, under the Democrats' bill, Ex-Im would safely 
finance Chinese Government-controlled ZTE Corporation up until April 15 
of 2018, when it was put on the Commerce's Denied Persons List. At that 
point, Ex-Im would no longer be able to finance ZTE, except that it 
could finance ZTE just 3 months later when it was taken off the list.
  Is anyone confused? Yes, you should be confused. This is the type of 
incoherent nonsense that this partisan bill has in it. It is not good 
for our national security. It is not smart policy. It is not good 
policy.
  So, as a reminder, ZTE is China's second largest producer of 
telecommunications equipment, and it was involved in violations of our 
export control and sanctions laws with respect to Iran and North Korea. 
According to the Democrats' bill, taxpayer assistance should be flowing 
through Ex-Im Bank to ZTE. I don't think that is really what they want, 
but that is what their legislative text does.
  These are just a few of the many examples of companies controlled by 
the Chinese Communist Party that the Democrat majority wants the 
Export-Import Bank to cater to under this bill.
  Again, we can't let that happen. We should not let that happen. That 
is not good policy. It is not commensurate with where we are as a 
nation with this rising threat of China.
  I want to reiterate my support of an extension of the Ex-Im Bank's 
authorities to ensure that the Bank remains open to support U.S. jobs 
and exports and job creation around the globe, but with a caveat that 
we should not be doing it in China to fund their aggression.
  So I urge a ``no'' vote on this bill. We will have an extension of 
the Bank. It will happen. It will be a bipartisan vote.
  This, though, is a bad bill that does not deserve to pass the House 
of Representatives. And even if it does pass the House of 
Representatives, it is going nowhere in the Senate. And even if it 
passes the Senate, the President says he is going to veto it.

  So let's think calmly and rationally about it. Let's not waste the 
people's time here in the House of Representatives with a needless 
debate on something that is going to go nowhere. Let's actually work on 
something that could take us somewhere.
  We had a bipartisan bill. Sadly, the majority walked away from it.
  Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no,'' and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Chairman, I would just like to remind this body that 
Mr. McHenry is one of the ones responsible for the nonreauthorization 
of the Ex-Im Bank before. He didn't support it then, and he doesn't 
support it now, and he never will because he is opposed to Ex-Im Bank 
reauthorization, period.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. 
Heck), a key sponsor of this legislation and a major supporter of Ex-
Im.
  Mr. HECK. I thank Chair Waters for yielding.
  Mr. Chairman, I also am not going to spend much time rebutting the 
arguments of the previous speaker, indeed, given that he has opposed 
every single reauthorization of the Ex-Im since he began service in 
this Chamber--especially since he supported every amendment that would 
have been harmful in past reauthorization legislation; especially since 
he had the audacity, frankly, to use Huawei as an example, which he 
cannot cite a single line in the draft to which he refers that would 
have prohibited export financing to Huawei, and the bill before you 
does.

                              {time}  1430

  No. I am going to use my time to do as I have in the past: to support 
and defend the bank, one of the most important, least understood 
elements of our national manufacturing strategy, the Export-Import 
Bank.
  It is vital to our national and local economies, especially 
manufacturers, farmers, and small businesses, but it has suffered badly 
under misguided attacks, such as that to which you were just treated. I 
have seen this damage firsthand, despite our ongoing attempts to fight 
them.
  This year, I am pleased and proud that we finally have an opportunity 
to reverse that damage and reinvigorate and expand the Ex-Im.
  I support the Export-Import Bank because we want to see more U.S. 
exports. The international market for goods and services is three times 
as large as our domestic economy, and that gap, by the way, is 
widening.
  The American economy has not historically been export oriented, so 
targeting foreign markets and increasing exports holds untapped promise 
to raise living standards.
  As I like to say, if we want to keep our middle class, we better sell 
into the world's growing middle class.
  Maximizing exports will require a strong Export-Import Bank. Over the 
last many years, the committee has heard testimony and seen analysis 
that the private market will not maximize exports if left to its own 
devices.
  Trade financing markets fail in predictable and repeated ways. The 
scale is too large for new exporters to access; the timeframes are too 
short for the largest, most expensive products; and there are some 
countries that private lenders simply will not lend into.
  So without a robust official export credit agency to fill these gaps, 
we simply lose out on overseas sales, especially for small businesses 
and capital equipment makers and farmers.
  Every country recognizes this fact, but the U.S. alone among major 
economies has failed to fully act on this knowledge.
  If we want to maximize our exports, we need to stop the sabotage of 
our credit agency, the Ex-Im Bank, and enhance it. This is what this 
reauthorization bill does.
  It does make several critical changes. It sets the bill up to succeed 
by increasing the spending cap and expanding the ability to use 
reinsurance to lay off risk, and setting up new authorities for the 
bank to go out and search for foreign buyers who it can match with U.S. 
suppliers, American jobs.
  It attempts to move past some of the misinformation about the 
agency's purpose that has dogged the reauthorization fight the last 
many years by renaming it to focus on its sole purpose: financing and 
expanding exports of U.S.-made goods.
  It preserves the requirement that goods must be made in the United 
States by U.S. workers in order to qualify for assistance from the 
agency. This is the strongest domestic content requirement in the 
world, and it reinforces that the core of Ex-Im's mission is supporting 
U.S. manufacturing jobs.
  It continues Ex-Im's historical role in leading export credit 
agencies

[[Page H8848]]

around the world toward higher environmental standards, stricter 
pollution controls, and more concern for the effects of infrastructure 
projects in developing countries.
  This is a legacy to be proud of and to build on, and I am glad to see 
that our environmental advocates and our export sector have come 
together to agree on the importance of this language.
  It aligns Ex-Im more closely with U.S. foreign policy and 
anticorruption efforts. Ex-Im financing will now be barred if a foreign 
customer appears on any one of several bad actor lists maintained by 
various agencies of the U.S. Government.
  No, Mr. Chair, it is not a restatement of current policy. It is an 
expansion of it, and they full well know it.
  These targeted provisions allow Ex-Im to focus on maximizing U.S. 
sales to good customers while also increasing the leverage that our 
foreign policymakers have in encouraging foreign countries and 
corporations to clean up their act.
  Finally, it makes it much faster and easier for Ex-Im to match 
financing terms with those foreign export credit agencies that 
subsidize financing in their country's exporters.
  The CHAIR. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Chair, I yield an additional 1 minute to the 
gentleman.
  Mr. HECK. Mr. Chair, I thank Chairwoman Waters for yielding.
  Mr. Chair, China, in particular, has used this tactic to crowd out 
U.S. manufacturers, and Ex-Im will finally have the tool it needs to 
counter this tactic.
  I am proud of the work we have done on this bill. Building a stronger 
Export-Import Bank, if I may be personal for just one second, is one of 
the main reasons why I was asked and honored to become a member of the 
Financial Services Committee 7 years ago.
  This is a bill that would achieve that mission for a decade to come, 
and I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes.''
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Chair, let me restate that, as I said in my opening statement, to 
be clear, the bill that Chairwoman Waters and I filed, H.R. 3407, is a 
7-year extension of the Export-Import Bank.
  It is clear by my cosponsorship of that with Chairwoman Waters that I 
support reauthorizing the Bank. And as I said in my opening statement, 
I support the Bank staying open through the continuing resolution or 
the appropriations vehicle, whatever it is that is going to become law. 
So I will restate that to both my colleagues so they can hear.
  Mr. Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. 
Huizenga), the ranking member of the Investor Protection, 
Entrepreneurship and Capital Markets Subcommittee.

  Mr. HUIZENGA. Mr. Chair, I appreciate Mr. McHenry yielding to me, and 
I rise today in opposition to H.R. 4863, the United States Export 
Finance Agency Act.
  According to its charter, the mission of the Export-Import Bank is to 
``contribute to maintaining or increasing employment of United States 
workers'' by subsidizing the export of U.S. goods and services to 
foreign markets.
  Over the years, Congress has amended Ex-Im's charter to reflect 
numerous congressional interests regarding lending practices, 
transparency, and foreign policy objectives, so much so, that the 
Bank's charter has grown from four pages at its inception to more than 
150 pages now, and with that expansion, we have seen the Bank expand 
its portfolio to a staggering $135 billion.
  Well, each reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank has afforded 
Congress the opportunity to revisit the charter and to work for reform 
and to modernize the Bank appropriately. However, this flawed partisan 
proposal that we have before us today fails to make any meaningful 
reforms to the Export-Import Bank.
  Now, despite the claims that you are hearing across the aisle about 
the company not being able to do business with China and Russia, this 
simply isn't the fact.
  In fact, I had an amendment, two amendments, that would have actually 
not allowed the bank to deal with state-owned enterprises in China and 
in Russia.
  Now, why? Because of this: the human rights record in China is 
deplorable. We are seeing it play out today in Hong Kong, literally, 
right now.
  We also know that we are battling the Belt and Road Initiative that 
has been a Chinese initiative that has gone around the world, and it 
has no business getting U.S. taxpayer dollars in support of it.
  Well, this initiative allows the Bank to provide taxpayer financing 
to entities owned and controlled by the Chinese Government, including 
Chinese state-owned enterprises involved in military activities, human 
rights abuses, and this Belt and Road Initiative.
  At a time when China is diverting massive subsidies to state-owned 
enterprises, specifically through the use of export subsidies, why 
would Congress authorize the use of taxpayer dollars to make the 
Chinese Communist Party's job easier? I am baffled by that.
  Now, claims of the opposite can be repeated and they can be repeated 
in louder and louder voices, but that still doesn't make it true.
  The simple fact is my amendment that was rejected by the other side 
of the aisle would have limited interaction with Chinese and Russian 
state-owned actors.
  Well, we all know that the primary goal of the Export-Import Bank is 
to support American jobs through exports. However, any Ex-Im 
reauthorization that doesn't address the strategic threat to our 
national interests posed by China's economic and military efforts is 
not in the best interests of American workers or jobs.
  The CHAIR. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Chair, I yield the gentleman an additional 30 
seconds.
  Mr. HUIZENGA. Mr. Chair, I will move quickly through this.
  Yes, it is true, I have been a sharp critic of the Export-Import 
Bank. I have been accused of wanting to do nothing more than shut it 
down by the other side, as much was said to the ranking member.
  However, I was also a part of a group trying to come up with a 
bipartisan agreement in 2012 and 2015, and I was willing to support the 
bipartisan bill that was introduced by the ranking member and the 
chair.
  I wasn't necessarily happy with all the provisions, but I felt that 
there was sufficient and significant progress made in those much-needed 
reforms.
  Well, unfortunately, this bipartisan agreement was abandoned by the 
other side. The bill that we have before us is a flawed bill, and I 
urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Chair, I would like to remind the House that the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Huizenga) has 16 total exporters in his 
district, would support a value of $52 million. I would hope that as he 
opposes this bill, he is reminded that between 2014 and 2020, his 
district received substantial support.
  Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Green), 
a strong supporter of the Bank and the chair of the Subcommittee on 
Oversight and Investigations of the Committee on Financial Services.
  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Chair, I thank Madam Chair for yielding. 
Indeed, I am a strong supporter of the Bank and I am also a strong 
supporter of the chairwoman.
  I support this legislation because the Export Bank is not a 
traditional bank. Traditional banks take deposits. The Ex-Im Bank makes 
deposits.
  Over the last 10 years, it has deposited 1.5 million jobs, American 
jobs; over the last 10 years, $3.4 billion in the U.S. Treasury; over 
the last 10 years, $255 billion to those who are exporting by way of 
financing these exports.
  In the way of jobs, if we look at the State of Texas, we can see that 
from 2014 to 2019, it has assisted 91 minority-owned businesses, 14 
percent of which are in my district; 467 small business exporters; 55 
women-owned exporters. A total of 810 businesses have benefited from 
the Ex-Im Bank.
  If you like diversity, you will love the Ex-Im Bank. It has within it 
an Office of Minority and Women Inclusion. It will have an Office of 
Territorial Exporting to help Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. 
territories.
  I support the Ex-Im Bank because it not only makes good sense, it 
makes good dollars and cents.
  This is a bill that we should support. If we didn't have the Ex-Im 
Bank, we

[[Page H8849]]

would invent it. Why reinvent the wheel when we have something that can 
roll out right now?
  Mr. Chair, I support this bill.
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Kentucky (Mr. Barr), the ranking member of the Oversight and 
Investigations Subcommittee.
  Mr. BARR. Mr. Chair, I rise today in opposition to this bill, not 
because I believe the Export-Import Bank should not exist under any 
circumstances, but because I believe we can produce a better bill, a 
bill that would actually help America compete while holding other 
nations like China accountable in the global market.

  I am concerned that the bill in its current form would actually 
enable China's malign activities to the detriment of U.S. national 
security.
  Now, let me be clear. I supported the compromise bill that Chairwoman 
Waters and Ranking Member McHenry negotiated in June, and I compliment 
my friend, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McHenry) for his 
leadership on this. I recognize the value a reformed Ex-Im Bank can 
provide to U.S. businesses.
  The new Ex-Im president and chairman, Kimberly Reed, has impressed 
me. She visited my district and made clear her commitment to helping 
U.S. exporters, including small businesses in Kentucky, compete in the 
global market. She also, importantly, committed to reforming the Bank 
to abandon Obama-era policies that discriminated against Ex-Im support 
of traditional fossil energy and related exports.
  But the bill we are debating today cannot be fixed by a strong leader 
like Kimberly Reed. It is flawed, it is not the right answer, and we 
can and should do better.
  Specifically, this bill does not go far enough to combat malign 
Chinese influence and China's aspirations to replace the United States 
as the preeminent global economic power.

                              {time}  1445

  The Communists in Beijing continue to steal our intellectual property 
and place their thumb on the scale of global economic competitiveness 
by propping up its economy through state-owned enterprises.
  Additionally, we see rampant human rights abuses and violent quashing 
of freedom seekers in Hong Kong. Over the last 5 months, we have 
observed protestors in Hong Kong being shot, beaten, gassed, and 
arrested.
  My amendment to this bill, which the Rules Committee did not make in 
order, would have made Ex-Im assistance to Chinese state-owned 
enterprises contingent on their commitment to upholding the Sino-
British declaration, which established the ``one country, two systems'' 
principle that would allow Hong Kong to retain its capitalist system.
  In his book ``The Hundred-Year Marathon,'' former senior Defense 
Department official Michael Pillsbury details China's strategy to 
supplant the United States as the world's dominant power by 2049, the 
100th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic. He said, 
``Only recently have there been disturbing signs that a more 
militaristic China may be ascendant, which has caused some to question 
the wishful thinking that has prevailed for more than 40 years.''
  Unless we take a hard stand and a hard line against China, including 
through more powerful restrictions on the Ex-Im Bank's interactions 
with Chinese SOEs, we risk ceding our preeminence in a fair and free 
global market.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill, which will allow 
U.S. taxpayer funds to subsidize Chinese ascendency and its Communist 
state-owned enterprises and enable China's theft of our intellectual 
property, its forced transfer of technology, and its blatant violation 
of human rights.
  This bill could be better. The Export-Import Bank could help us 
combat Chinese growing imports. This bill doesn't do it.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Chair, I would like to again remind Mr. Barr that 
between 2014 and 2020, his State received $10 million in total export 
value.
  I would also like to remind this body that he did not support 
reauthorization in the past. He does not do it now. I don't know if 
there will ever be a good enough bill to have him and the ranking 
member support Export-Import.
  Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. 
Garcia).
  Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Chair, first, I thank the gentlewoman from 
California, and my chairwoman, for her leadership in bringing this 
incredibly important bill to the floor.
  Mr. Chair, I rise to speak in support of the Ex-Im Bank.
  Mr. Chair, the Bank provides targeted credit and export support to 
our small businesses that need it most to stay competitive. We know 
that the Bank's programs work, and we should not abandon them.
  I fully support the reauthorization. The Ex-Im Bank plays an 
irreplaceable role in promoting American exports and keeping small 
businesses competitive on the international market and helps in 
creating jobs for America, some 352,000 jobs.
  Since 2014, the Bank has provided over $450 million worth of export 
support value in my district alone in the Houston area. Among the 53 
total exporters supported in my district, 39--well over half--are small 
businesses. In Texas, the Bank has supported $12 billion in exports and 
815 exporters, including 470 small businesses.
  Along with the reauthorization of this bill, it also includes an 
Office of Women and Minority Inclusion. This is important because, in 
my district alone, seven out of the 53 businesses are minority-owned 
and four are female-owned.
  Additionally, this bill includes commonsense environmental and 
community engagement standards that seek to make sure the Bank is 
helping meet our Paris climate accord commitments.
  While these improvements to the Bank contained in the bill are 
important, I don't want to take away from the bottom-line fact, and 
that is it creates jobs.
  This bill supports American manufacturers. This bill supports our 
exporting sector. This bill helps reduce our trade deficit. That is why 
I am calling on all of my colleagues to join me in passing this 
critical legislation.
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Arkansas (Mr. Hill), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on National 
Security, International Development and Monetary Policy.
  Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Chair, I thank my friend from North 
Carolina for yielding. I congratulate the ranking member and the 
chairwoman for trying to work together to produce a bipartisan bill 
that we can all support and demonstrate our keen interest in a long-
term, bipartisan reauthorization of the Ex-Im Bank, an important 
foreign policy tool for this Nation, not just in the situation with 
China, but generally.
  To my friend from Washington who talked about Huawei a few minutes 
ago, it is not just state-owned enterprises that we are concerned 
about. It is not public companies in China we are concerned about, or 
private companies in China. We are concerned with anyone who has 
engaged in something that is going to challenge the national security 
of this country.
  I would remind my friends on the other side that China's laws say: 
Any organization or citizen shall support, assist, and cooperate with 
the People's Republic of China intelligence effort. They shall provide 
all efforts truthfully and may not refuse.
  So it is not just small companies or state-owned enterprises; it is 
all companies in China that we have that risk.
  I offered an amendment that was turned down by the Rules Committee, 
ruled out of order by the majority, to try to tackle the issue of 
intellectual property, something we have dealt with in this country for 
30 years. That was going to be an effort, I think, in this compromise 
bill that would have been so helpful, had we been able to successfully 
get it done.

  I have been a longtime advocate for proceeding with care as it 
relates to foreign policy with China. There is no doubt that 
intellectual property is at the heart of that challenge, and the Bank 
has a role to play as it reviews financing activities in China for our 
businesses.
  Nothing has been more pirated than computer software, music CDs, and 
Hollywood videos. All that has been taken by the People's Republic of 
China to the detriment of business in

[[Page H8850]]

America. It plagued President Clinton; it plagued President Bush 43; 
and it plagued President Obama.
  Mr. Chair, let's work together on a bipartisan bill that we can all 
support.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Chair, this is another Member on the opposite side of 
the aisle, the gentleman from Arkansas, who, when we were trying to get 
the Bank up and running, he voted against reauthorization. He is voting 
against it again today. I don't know what it would take to make these 
Members who have consistently opposed reauthorization to ever support 
Ex-Im.
  I would like to remind him there are 10 exporters in his district for 
a total of $43 million--that is a total value of export--between 2014 
and 2020.
  Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. 
Stanton).
  Mr. STANTON. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
  Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 4863, the United States 
Export Finance Agency Act, which will reauthorize the Export-Import 
Bank for 10 years.
  I am proud to cosponsor and support this bill for one simple reason: 
Businesses across Arizona looking to create great jobs and export their 
products across our international borders need certainty to succeed.
  Main Street is still the backbone of my State's economy, and the 
Export-Import Bank is an essential tool to ensure they remain 
competitive in an increasingly competitive global market.
  I want to highlight one business headquartered in Tempe in my 
district. First Solar focuses on securing the energy of the future by 
developing next-generation PV technology.
  The company exports solar panel technology around the world and has 
benefited from nearly $4 million in export financing from the Bank. 
First Solar is just one of the many environmentally friendly companies 
that benefits from the Export-Import Bank.
  In Arizona, four out of five exporters supported by the Bank are 
small businesses. In the last 5 years alone, it has supported upward of 
$2 billion in exports in my State.
  Congress has a duty to reassert its role in U.S. trade policies as 
exporters continue to face challenges on all fronts. If we can't find 
common ground and reauthorize the Bank, we will be removing one of the 
most essential tools American companies have.
  Mr. Chair, I strongly urge my colleagues to support this important 
bill in order to provide certainty and to level the playing field for 
American businesses across the country.
  Mr. Chair, I thank Chairwoman Waters for leading this important 
effort.
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Chair, if I may inquire of the Chair how much time 
remains on both sides.
  The CHAIR. The gentleman from North Carolina has 9\1/2\ minutes 
remaining. The gentlewoman from California has 11\1/2\ minutes 
remaining.
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Chair, I am pleased that the gentleman from Arizona 
just talked about the kind of support he has in his district. Let me 
remind the House that we have support from the U.S. Chamber of 
Commerce, Aerospace Industries Association, International Association 
of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, AFL-CIO, International Federation 
of Professional and Technical Engineers, National Association of 
Manufacturers, Boeing, and Air Tractor, Inc. What you have here is 
business and labor have come together to support this most important 
bill.
  Mr. Chair, I include in the Record letters of support.
                                               Chamber of Commerce


                              of the United States of America,

                                 Washington, DC, October 28, 2019.
     Hon. Maxine Waters,
     Chairwoman, Committee on Financial Services,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
     Hon. Patrick McHenry,
     Ranking Member, Committee on Financial Services,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairwoman Waters and Ranking Member McHenry: The U.S. 
     Chamber of Commerce thanks the committee for considering 
     legislation to provide for long-term reauthorizations of the 
     Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (``TRIA'') program and the 
     Export-Import Bank of the United States (``Ex-Im''). The 
     Chamber strongly supports the substitute amendment to H.R. 
     4634, the ``Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization 
     Act of 2019.'' The Chamber also strongly supports the 
     ``United States Export Finance Agency Act of 2019,'' and 
     opposes all amendments that are intended to serve as ``poison 
     pills'' which would prevent this legislation from viable 
     consideration on the House floor or in the Senate.


 H.R. 4634, the ``Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act 
                               of 2019''

       Since its initial enactment in 2002, TRlA has served as a 
     vital public-private risk sharing mechanism, ensuring that 
     private terrorism risk insurance coverage remains 
     commercially available and that the U.S. economy would more 
     swiftly recover in the event of a terrorist attack.
       The Chamber strongly supports the substitute amendment to 
     H.R. 4634, the ``Terrorism Risk Insurance Program 
     Reauthorization Act of 2019,'' and applauds the leadership of 
     Chairwoman Waters and Ranking Member McHenry in reaching this 
     bipartisan deal which would provide a seven-year 
     reauthorization of this important program while providing for 
     a study on the evolving risks in cyberterrorism and the 
     affordability and availability of TRIA coverage for places of 
     worship.


        The ``United States Export Finance Agency Act of 2019''

       As the official U.S. export credit agency (``ECA''), Ex-
     lm's mission is to support domestic jobs by facilitating the 
     export of goods or services when private sector lenders are 
     unable or unwilling to provide financing. Foreign governments 
     have established 113 ECAs of their own around the world. In 
     2018, China's two ECAs alone provided 130 times as much 
     medium- and long-term export credit support as the Ex-Im 
     Bank. Due to the extensive competition in this space, it is 
     vital that Ex-Im be reauthorized to ensure that U.S. 
     businesses and workers are not deprived of a basic tool 
     enjoyed by their competitors in every other country.
       The Chamber strongly supports the ``United States Export 
     Finance Agency Act of 2019.'' This legislation builds off of 
     S. 2293, the ``Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act of 
     2019,'' which was introduced earlier this year with the 
     bipartisan support of Senators Kevin Cramer and Kyrsten 
     Sinema, and cosponsored by Senators Thom Tillis, Maria 
     Cantwell, Roy Blunt, Patty Murray, Lindsey Graham, Chris 
     Coons, Susan Collins and Maggie Hassan. This legislation 
     would provide exporters with 10 years of much-needed 
     certainty.
       In May, the Senate confirmed three of Ex-Im's board 
     members, establishing a quorum for the first time since 2015 
     and finally making the Bank fully functional after several 
     years of being limited to only supporting transactions less 
     than $10 million. This bill would also establish an 
     alternative procedure during any future lapses in the board's 
     quorum to ensure that Ex-Im can continue to serve its vital 
     role in supporting U.S. jobs.
       U.S. exporters and the hundreds of thousands of jobs that 
     they support need long-term certainty--simply extending the 
     life of Ex-Im through short-term continuing resolutions is 
     not enough. The Chamber strongly urges members of the 
     Committee to vote in support of this long-term legislation 
     and urges members to oppose the adoption of any ``poison 
     pill'' amendments that are intended to prevent this 
     legislation from viable consideration on the House floor or 
     in the U.S. Senate.
       The Chamber thanks you for your attention on these 
     important issues and looks forward to working with you to 
     ensure long-term reauthorizations of both of these important 
     programs.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Neil L. Bradley,
     Executive Vice President & Chief Policy Officer.
                                  ____

                                         U.S. Chamber of Commerce,


                               Congressional & Public Affairs,

                                Washington, DC, November 11, 2019.
       To the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives: The 
     U.S. Chamber of Commerce strongly supports H.R. 4863, the 
     ``United States Export Finance Agency Act of 2019,'' which 
     would provide for a long-term reauthorization of the Export-
     Import Bank (``Ex-Im''). The Chamber will consider including 
     votes on this legislation--including votes on amendments--in 
     our annual How They Voted scorecard.
       As the official U.S. export credit agency (``ECA''), Ex-
     Im's mission is to support domestic jobs by facilitating the 
     export of goods or services when private sector lenders are 
     unable or unwilling to provide financing. Foreign governments 
     have established 113 ECAs of their own around the world. In 
     2018, China's two ECAs alone provided 130 times as much 
     medium- and long-term export credit support as the Ex-Im 
     Bank. Due to the extensive competition in this space, it is 
     vital that Ex-Im be reauthorized to ensure that U.S. 
     businesses and workers are not deprived of a basic tool 
     enjoyed by their competitors in every other country.
       H.R. 4863 builds off of S. 2293, the ``Export-Import Bank 
     Reauthorization Act of 2019,'' which was introduced earlier 
     this year with the bipartisan support of Senators Kevin 
     Cramer and Kyrsten Sinema, and cosponsored by Senators Thom 
     Tillis, Maria Cantwell, Roy Blunt, Patty Murray, Lindsey 
     Graham, Chris Coons, Susan Collins and Maggie Hassan. Both of 
     these pieces of legislation would provide 10 years of much 
     needed certainty, establish an alternative procedure during 
     any future lapses in the board's

[[Page H8851]]

     quorum, and raise Ex-Im's lending authority to ensure that it 
     can compete globally.
       H.R. 4863 includes several additional provisions, including 
     restrictions that would ensure that Ex-Im financing follows 
     strict new rules to prevent financing for the Chinese army 
     and intelligence services, sanctioned entities, and known 
     violators of anti-bribery and intellectual property laws.
       U.S. exporters and the hundreds of thousands of jobs that 
     they support need long-term certainty--simply extending the 
     life of Ex-Im through short-term continuing resolutions is 
     not enough. The Chamber urges you to support H.R. 4863.
           Sincerely,
     Jack Howard.
                                  ____



                             Aerospace Industries Association,

                                  Arlington, VA, October 29, 2019.
     Hon. Maxine Waters,
     Chairwoman, House Committee on Financial Services, 
         Washington, DC.
     Hon. Patrick McHenry,
     Ranking Member, House Committee on Financial Services, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairwoman Waters and Ranking Member McHenry: On 
     behalf of the nearly 340 member companies of the Aerospace 
     Industries Association (AIA), we urge you to reauthorize the 
     Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank before the November 21 deadline. A 
     fully functioning Ex-Im Bank is vital to aerospace and other 
     industries.
       The U.S. aerospace and defense industry supports more than 
     2.5 million American jobs, thousands of which have been 
     supported by Ex-Im Bank financing solutions that facilitate 
     the export of American goods and services. Moreover, the Bank 
     is essential for businesses of all sizes, as more than 90 
     percent of the Bank's transactions in FY2019 directly 
     supported American small businesses. This is done at no cost 
     to the U.S. taxpayer. In fact, in 2014 (the last entire year 
     the Bank was fully operational), the Bank paid $1 billion 
     into the U.S. Treasury, generated from the interest paid on 
     loans and the fees from the Bank's foreign customers.
       Ultimately, the Ex-Im Bank levels the playing field against 
     foreign competitors in increasingly competitive international 
     markets. Key competing nations view aerospace as critical for 
     their economic growth and security interests and are 
     increasing investments in their respective domestic aerospace 
     industries. These countries are using their export credit 
     agencies (ECAs) to increase foreign sales and thus gain 
     advantage in the market. U.S. industries are up against more 
     than 110 foreign ECAs in an increasingly competitive export 
     market. Without the Bank, we're giving foreign powers the 
     advantage--the Bank is a necessary equalizer.
       We overwhelmingly support moving forward with Ex-Im 
     legislation that will pass both the House and Senate. This 
     legislation must include key principles, including long-term 
     reauthorization, an increase in the authorization ceiling, 
     and a quorum fix.
       We look forward to working with you on Ex-Im 
     reauthorization and ensuring that our industry remains 
     economically competitive globally.
           Sincerely,
     Tim McClees,
       Vice President, Legislative Affairs, Aerospace Industries 
     Association.
                                  ____

                                         International Association


                          of Machinists and Aerospace Workers,

                             Upper Marlboro, MD, October 28, 2019.
       Dear Representative: On behalf of the International 
     Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), the 
     largest aerospace manufacturing union in North America, I 
     strongly urge you as a member of the House Financial Services 
     Committee to support this vital legislation and vote ``Yes'' 
     to advance the United States Export Finance Agency Act of 
     2019. This legislation would create and sustain U.S. jobs in 
     manufacturing and other strategic industries and improve the 
     balance of trade between the U.S. and high export nations by 
     reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank for the next ten years.
       The Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im Bank) is one of the few U.S. 
     institutions that actually supports U.S. exports and jobs by 
     providing vital loan guarantees for the sale of U.S. goods 
     and services to international markets. This legislation would 
     rename the Ex-IM Bank to the United States Export Finance 
     Agency, but its mission would remain the same, ``to assist in 
     financing the export of U.S. goods and services'', enabling 
     ``large and small companies to turn export opportunities into 
     real sales that help to maintain and create U.S. jobs and 
     contribute to a stronger national economy.'' With the banks 
     authorizing charter set to expire in November 2019, it is 
     imperative that Congress work expeditiously to pass this Ex-
     IM Bank reauthorization legislation before the bank's charter 
     lapses.
       American jobs depend upon a fully functioning Ex-Im Bank 
     with a fully staffed board of directors to provide vital 
     financing for the export of U.S. made products. Under the 
     Bank's current charter projects which require more than $10 
     million in financing must be approved by the Ex-IM Bank board 
     of directors. However, the lack of a quorum on the board in 
     recent years has crippled the Ex-Im Bank's ability to support 
     U.S. manufacturers and workers, particularly in the aerospace 
     industry, one of the last sectors in which the U.S. enjoys a 
     positive balance of trade with the rest of the world. 
     According to the bank's most recent annual report, the Ex-Im 
     Bank authorized only $3.3 billion in export credit in FY 
     2018. This is down from $20 billion in authorized export 
     credit in FY 2014, which was the last year the bank was fully 
     operational with a fully staffed board. Consequently, the 
     bank estimates that it supported a mere 33,000 U.S. jobs in 
     FY 2018, a fraction of the 164,000 American jobs that the 
     bank supported in FY 2014 when it operated with a full 
     quorum. Meanwhile, job producing export projects are being 
     taken by foreign competitors. Our international competitors 
     continue to support their companies through comprehensive 
     industrial policies in addition to robust export financing 
     agencies. China alone has three export credit agencies that 
     dwarf what our Ex-Im Bank provides.
       The proposed legislation not only reauthorizes the Ex-IM 
     bank over the next ten years, but it includes important 
     provisions to reform the bank's quorum rules which have 
     severely limited the banks effectiveness in recent years. The 
     bill provides for a process to seat a temporary board if a 
     quorum cannot be reached over a 90 day period. In addition to 
     these needed reforms to the quorum rules, this legislation 
     would gradually increase the Ex-Im Bank's lending authority 
     from $135 billion to $175 billion, allowing the bank to 
     expand its portfolio of projects, increase U.S. exports, 
     create additional U.S. jobs, and drive economic growth.
       For all of these reasons, I urge all members of the House 
     Financial Services Committee to support this vitally 
     important legislation and vote ``Yes'' in favor of passage of 
     The United States Export Finance Agency Act of 2019.
       For more information, please contact IAM Legislative 
     Director.
           Thank you,
                                             Robert Martinez, Jr.,
     International President.
                                  ____



                                                      AFL-CIO,

                                Washington, DC, November 13, 2019.
       Dear Representative: On behalf of the AFL-CIO, I write to 
     express our strong support for the ``United States Export 
     Finance Agency Act of 2019'' (H.R. 4863) scheduled for floor 
     consideration this week.
       A healthy Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im Bank) is pivotal to the 
     creation and sustainability of U.S. jobs in manufacturing, as 
     well as increasing U.S. exports, thereby improving the 
     balance of trade between the U.S. and high export countries.
       H.R. 4863 reauthorizes the Ex-Im Bank for the next ten 
     years and would gradually increase the bank's lending 
     authority by $40 billion, resulting in an expansion of 
     projects. Although the bill would rename the Ex-Im Bank as 
     the ``United States Export Finance Agency,'' its intended 
     mission ``to assist in financing the export of U.S. goods and 
     services'' would remain unchanged. The legislation also 
     includes provisions that reform the Bank's quorum rules that 
     have severely limited the Bank's viability in recent years.
       The creation of U.S. jobs is essential to a strong economy, 
     and with the Bank's authorizing charter set to expire in 
     later this month, now is the time to pass this important 
     piece of legislation. For the reasons stated above, we urge 
     you to vote for the immediate passage of H.R. 4863.
           Sincerely,
                                                   William Samuel,
                                                         Director,
     Government Affairs.
                                  ____

         International Federation of Professional & Technical 
           Engineers,
                                Washington, DC, November 12, 2019.
       Dear Representative: As the executive officers of the 
     International Federation of Professional & Technical 
     Engineers (IFPTE), representing upwards of 90,000 workers, we 
     urge you to vote to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank by 
     passing H.R. 4863. ``United States Export Finance Agency Act 
     of 2019.'' This legislation supports American jobs in 
     strategic industries and sectors of the U.S. economy, helps 
     domestic manufacturing compete with manufacturers in high 
     export nations. and takes steps to maintain the Export-Import 
     Bank's (EXIM) operations over the next ten years.
       EXIM is a critical tool that promotes U.S. manufacturing 
     exports, from the primary exporter down through the domestic 
     supply chain and requires at least 85% domestic content for 
     full financing support. Among the U.S. workers that have 
     benefited from EXIM are IFPTE members working at Boeing. 
     Spirit AeroSystems. and Triumph Composite Systems. EXIM's 
     financing for commercial airplane exports not only supports 
     high-paying jobs and strategic sectors of the economy but 
     also helps reduce the U.S. trade deficit. and provides 
     financing for diverse industries, including small- and 
     medium-sized business. consumable and durable goods 
     exporters, and services exporters. The ExportImport Bank also 
     results in a reduction of our national debt. as it has proven 
     itself to be a federal agency that added $9.6 billion in 
     revenue to our national budget since 1992.
       Emerging national economies have aggressively expanded 
     their export financing agencies and Organization for Economic 
     Cooperation & Development (OECD) nations continue their 
     export credit support, making it critically important for 
     Congress to respond by reauthorizing EXIM before its current 
     authorization expires after November 21. China's two export 
     credit agencies totaled $39 billion in new medium- to long-
     term export credits in 2018, an amount greater than the next 
     three countries' (Italy, German, and

[[Page H8852]]

     South Korea) combined authorizations. By comparison, EXIM 
     committed just $300 million in medium- to long-term export 
     credits for 2018 with all financial authorizations for the 
     year totaling $3.3 billion. EXIM's financial authorizations 
     have ranked near the bottom of OECD nations and emerging 
     national economies over the last three years due to EXIM 
     lacking a quorum for its Board from mid-2015 to May 2019, 
     leaving it unable to approve transactions exceeding $10 
     million during that time. The three-year backlog of 
     transactions in the EXIM pipeline totals $40 billion and is 
     estimated by EXIM to support 240,000 jobs.
       IFPTE supports this legislation as well as the Senate bill 
     sponsored by Senator Kevin Cramer, S. 2293, because it 
     includes straightforward measures to reform EXIM's quorum 
     rules so that EXIM's ability to support American exports and 
     jobs cannot be limited by political gridlock, reauthorizes 
     EXIM for ten years. and gradually increases EXIM's exposure 
     cap from $135 billion to $175 billion over seven years. These 
     provisions will create stability and room for EXIM's 
     financing ability to grow its portfolio of projects, support 
     U.S. exports and jobs. and drive economic growth.
       For these reasons, we urge you to vote for the ``United 
     States Export Finance Agency Act of 2019.'' Thank you for 
     your consideration. Should you have any questions. please 
     feel free to contact either of us or IFPTE legislative 
     representative.
           Sincerely.
     Paul Shearon,
       President.
     Matthew Biggs,
       Secretary-Treasurer/Legislative Director.
                                  ____

                            National Association of Manufacturers,
                                                November 14, 2019.
       Dear Representative: Following strong growth and job 
     creation over the past several years, manufacturers in 
     America are now facing global economic headwinds and 
     grappling with uncertainty in trade policy. If this 
     uncertainty is allowed to persist, America will feel the 
     consequences of reduced demand, production and employment in 
     the manufacturing industry. That is why the National 
     Association of Manufacturers urges you to act now to help 
     reverse this trend by supporting H.R. 4863, the United States 
     Export Finance Agency Act, which provides a long-term 
     reauthorization of the U.S. Export-Import Bank that will 
     enable manufacturers to export more of our products, invest 
     more in our communities and hire more American workers.
       H.R. 4863 will provide the tools that manufacturers need to 
     compete in the global economy. More than 100 foreign export 
     credit agencies around the world are actively helping their 
     manufacturers win sales and jobs. Failing to reauthorize the 
     bank is akin to unilateral disarmament. The Ex-Im Bank fills 
     the gaps when the private sector is unable or unwilling to 
     finance or provide other tools needed to participate in 
     foreign projects or make export sales. Since 2000, the Ex-Im 
     Bank has facilitated nearly $450 billion in exports from 
     thousands of U.S. companies-with more than 90% of its 
     transactions directly supporting small businesses-and 
     supported more than 2.5 million American jobs.
       In the decade following the Great Recession, countries have 
     prioritized exports, leading to a substantial increase in 
     global export credit financing. China is the most aggressive 
     nation, using export credit to expand its influence around 
     the globe. Chinese programs are opaque and unregulated, with 
     estimates that China provided more than $500 billion in 
     export credit in 2018, more support than all G7 export credit 
     agencies combined.
       To counter China and remain competitive, manufacturers in 
     the United States need H.R. 4863. It includes a 10-year 
     reauthorization, an increase in the authorization ceiling and 
     measures to ensure that the agency's board of directors will 
     remain fully functioning for the length of the 
     reauthorization. The USEFAA also includes important reforms 
     to prevent the misuse of Ex-Im Bank financing by entities 
     connected to the Chinese People's Liberation Army or other 
     sanctioned entities involved in corruption, intellectual 
     property theft and other activities that threaten U.S. 
     security. At the same time, this legislation will enable 
     manufacturers in the United States to compete with China 
     everywhere, outside and inside China.
       The USEFAA is a win for American manufacturing workers. It 
     will level the playing field, help manufacturers win sales 
     and set an example of the values we are proud to represent on 
     the global stage. Manufacturers urge your support for H.R. 
     4863 and ask that you reject amendments that would undermine 
     this robust reauthorization and the ability of the agency to 
     enable manufacturers to compete effectively around the world.
           Sincerely,
     Jay Timmons.
                                  ____



                                           The Boeing Company,

                                  Arlington, VA, October 28, 2019.
     Hon. Maxine Waters,
     Chairwoman, House Committee on Financial Services, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairwoman Waters, The Boeing Company values your 
     commitment to American manufacturing and job growth. As you 
     know well, American workers create some of the best products 
     and services in the world. When we are able to compete on a 
     level playing field, we are able to create good-paying jobs 
     by selling those products around the globe.
       We write today to express our strong support for your 
     legislation, the United States Export Finance Agency Act of 
     2019, which would provide a long-term reauthorization for the 
     Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im).
       A full, long-term reauthorization of the Ex-Im Bank is 
     critical to stabilizing and strengthening America's economic 
     capability in this current, unstable global market. 
     Manufacturers and businesses that invest in equipment and 
     other building materials would be greatly empowered by the 
     stability brought by your legislation's 10 year 
     reauthorization of the Ex-Im charter.
       We also strongly support the permanent fix to the quorum 
     requirements for larger deals. as well as the increase in cap 
     thresholds, bringing the policies of Ex-Im in line with the 
     modern challenges our American workers and businesses face in 
     the global marketplace today.
       During the last eight years, Ex-Im has supported more than 
     1.4 million U.S. jobs. In 2018 alone, the Ex-Im Bank helped 
     more than 2,100 small businesses export their products. These 
     impressive data points don't include the countless other 
     supply chain companies who do business with larger U.S. 
     exporters who also use Ex-Im financing.
       Ex-Im is a tremendous asset to American businesses. We 
     support your leadership in authoring the United States Export 
     Finance Agency Act and urge all members of the House 
     Financial Services Committee to vote in favor of its passage.
           Sincerely,
     Tim Keating,
       Executive Vice President, Government Operations, The Boeing 
     Company.
                                  ____



                                             Air Tractor Inc.,

                                      Olney, TX, October 28, 2019.
     Hon. Maxine Waters, Chair,
     Hon. Patrick McHenry, Ranking Minority Member,
     House Committee on Financial Services,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Waters and Ranking Member McHenry: It is my 
     understanding that your committee will consider mark up 
     tomorrow of which one consideration is reauthorization of the 
     Export-Import Bank (United States Export Finance Agency of 
     2019). I have communicated to you before on how important the 
     Export-Import Bank (``Ex-Im'') is to Air Tractor, a small 
     business manufacturer and exporter. Ex-Im allows us to create 
     and sustain jobs in rural north Texas. There is no substitute 
     for Ex-Im and its products. Ex-Im is very important to small 
     business and in my opinion, to all exporters large and small. 
     Ex-Im means U.S. jobs.
       I would urge swift and bipartisan action tomorrow to 
     advance this legislation as currently proposed. The U.S. 
     needs a robust and long-term reauthorization of Ex-Im.
       If you have any questions of me, please contact me.
           Sincerely,
                                                     David Ickert,
                                                Treasurer and CFO.

  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Pennsylvania (Ms. Dean).
  Ms. DEAN. Mr. Chair, I thank Chairwoman Waters and Representative 
Heck for this important legislation.
  I am excited to stand here in support of the Export-Import Bank. It 
is critically important to my home State of Pennsylvania and, in 
particular, my home district of Montgomery County and Berks County.
  With over 200 total exporters in Pennsylvania, which have contributed 
over $4 billion in total export value from 2014 to 2019, the Export-
Import Bank has helped businesses across the Commonwealth gain access 
to new markets, create jobs, and compete globally.
  That is why I am pleased to be among the original cosponsors and 
supporters of H.R. 4863, the United States Export Finance Agency Act, 
which reauthorizes the Bank for 10 years and makes critical reforms to 
help businesses across our Nation.
  In particular, this reauthorization bill increases the Bank's lending 
authority to $175 billion, includes a quorum fix, and enhances the 
Bank's environmental practices. Importantly, it also establishes an 
Office of Minority and Women Inclusion and an Office of Territorial 
Exporting, two important provisions that will help diversify the Bank's 
activities and our global activities.
  Finally, the bill has key endorsements, as the chairwoman has so 
eloquently listed, from various industry stakeholders, including labor 
and the business community.
  Mr. Chair, I thank Chairwoman Waters and Representative Heck for 
introducing this reauthorization bill, and I urge adoption of the bill.
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Chair, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

[[Page H8853]]

  

  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Chair, it is my pleasure to yield 1 minute to the 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the distinguished majority leader 
and a longtime supporter of Ex-Im.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Chair, I thank the chairwoman for yielding.
  And I thank Mr. McHenry for his work on the committee. Mr. Chair, I 
say to Mr. McHenry: There is still time to get well.
  Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of this legislation. I have been 
the majority leader in years past, the minority whip in years past, and 
now again the majority leader. During all of those years, I have been a 
strong supporter of the Ex-Im Bank.
  Mr. Cantor, who was the majority leader, and I worked together the 
last time we brought this bill to the floor for reauthorization. There 
were 42 Republicans, many of whom served on the Financial Services 
Committee, who signed a discharge petition, a Republican discharge 
petition, because the chairman of the committee refused to bring this 
bill to the floor.

                              {time}  1500

  Mr. Chair, this bill enjoys the support of the United States Chamber 
of Commerce, wide support among the business community throughout 
America, support of the labor movement--the AFL-CIO and labor unions--
all over America, and the support of millions of workers who are 
producing products here in America.
  I have an agenda. I call it Make It In America. This is critical to 
that because all of our competitors around the world have an agency 
similar to the Export-Import Bank that facilitates their products being 
sold in competition with ours.
  If we fail to reauthorize this piece of legislation, and if we fail 
to effect the reforms that have been included in not only dealing with 
the amount of money that they are authorized to lend but also the fact 
that we will not be locked into the inability of either a President or 
a Senate to confirm members of the Ex-Im board, but we will be able to 
act.
  This legislation, therefore, is better than we have done before.
  I thank Maxine Waters for her untiring leadership on this issue, and 
I also congratulate my friend Denny Heck, a member of the committee 
from Washington State who has been as tenacious and faithful in his 
support of ensuring the reauthorization when we had the discharge 
petition, and this time, as anybody in this House. I thank the 
gentleman, Mr. Heck, for his leadership on this issue.
  When that bill was discharged, some of you may remember, even though 
the Republican leadership would not bring it to the floor, it had to be 
discharged. Forty-two Republicans signed the discharge petition, led by 
Mr. Lucas and Mr. Fincher from Tennessee.
  Mr. Lucas is still here. I hope Mr. Lucas will vote for this bill 
when he has the opportunity to do so one more time.
  I had made the point with Mr. Cantor that I believed that the 
majority of Republicans would support the reauthorization. And, in 
fact, they did. The majority of Republicans, when the vote came, voted 
for the bill that had been refused by Mr. Hensarling to bring it to the 
floor.
  So this is not as if it is some partisan piece of legislation. I 
would hope the Republicans would have the courage--although I see them 
too often marching in lockstep to their party principle rather than 
their own principle. I am disappointed with that, Mr. Chair, because 
this is a piece of legislation that will protect and create hundreds of 
thousands of jobs and because it will make us more competitive.
  We make some of the best products in the world, period. But we need 
to be price competitive because people will be inclined to buy, 
perhaps, a less quality product because it is cheaper.
  That is why the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is overwhelmingly in support 
of this. That is why the administration is in favor of reauthorizing 
the Ex-Im Bank.
  They say they want it clean. The President was initially, during the 
course of his campaign, opposed to the Ex-Im Bank. Then he talked, 
frankly, to some people in manufacturing who said: Mr. President, if we 
don't have an Export-Import Bank, you said you want to create jobs, but 
you are going to lose jobs.
  So he changed his mind. Then, unfortunately, he appointed somebody to 
head up the Ex-Im Bank who was totally against it, a guy named Scott 
Garrett from New Jersey. The good news is the Senate said, because it 
supports the Ex-Im Bank, they are not going to take Garrett, so his 
name was withdrawn.
  Mr. Chair, I appreciate Chairwoman Waters for bringing this to the 
floor. I urge every Member of this body to support it. Don't snatch 
partisanship from the jaws of bipartisanship every time you get the 
opportunity.
  Let's try to reflect to the American people that business and labor 
are together, and, yes, even Democrats and Republicans, conservatives 
and liberals, are together because this is good for American jobs. It 
is good for people who want to make it in America.
  That is what Ms. Waters, the chair of the committee, has been 
arguing, and Mr. Heck, and Gwen Moore, who chaired the subcommittee 
when we took it out last time, and others who have fought so hard for 
this bill.
  Our economy depends on strong export growth, not just for large 
businesses, but small and medium-sized businesses in communities across 
the country. It is not just the exporter. It is all the secondary small 
businesses that provide products for those large exporters.
  For this reason, the Export-Import Bank has traditionally had strong, 
bipartisan support. A majority of Republicans just a few years ago 
supported this bill. Not this exact bill. This bill should have that 
kind of support, too.
  There is not a single provision in this bill that those on the other 
side of the aisle can legitimately label a poison pill. That doesn't 
mean it is exactly like they want it. We don't always get everything we 
want. But the central part of this bill ought to be supported by every 
one of us.
  The last time this came up, one Democrat voted against it. He is no 
longer with us--not because of his vote on this bill. But I point out 
to you that we are overwhelmingly for this bill. Business wants this 
bill.
  Usually, you don't see the Democrats saying yes to business groups. 
This is for jobs for working Americans. That is why this bill has the 
strong and unified support of the business community.
  I am disappointed, frankly, that Republicans have decided to make 
this bill partisan. Frankly, Mr. McCarthy was for this bill before he 
was against this bill--not this bill. He was for the Export-Import Bank 
before he was against it, if you look at the Record. He is going to 
vote against it this time.
  Mr. Scalise voted against it last time, as did Mr. McCarthy on the 
reauthorization that I just mentioned that was discharged out of 
committee, as did Mr. McHenry. All three of them opposed this bill in 
the past.
  So it is not a question of these amendments. For whatever reasons, 
they are opposed to this bill. That is a shame. There is no reason for 
supporters of American exports on both sides of the aisle not to come 
together and support the Ex-Im Bank's reauthorization.
  My hope is that what this House will do today is send a strong 
message of support for the Export-Import Bank. Tell the rest of the 
world we are going to compete. Tell the rest of the world we are going 
to compete on an even playing field. Tell the rest of the world we are 
going to support our exporting community.
  Indeed, according to the National Association of Manufacturers, 
during the 4-year period from 2015 to 2019 when the Ex-Im Bank lacked a 
quorum needed to do its job properly, our country gained 80,000 fewer 
manufacturing jobs and lost $119 billion in manufacturing output, all 
because we didn't fix the quorum, which is now fixed in this bill. Let 
me repeat that: 80,000 fewer manufacturing jobs and $119 billion in 
lost output.
  This fixes that. If you vote against this bill, you may be voting 
against $119 billion--probably more because of inflation, maybe $150 
billion--to the good. Not government spending, increased output, 
increased economic activity, and increased jobs of 80,000, probably 
more.
  Countries all around the world have export credit agencies, as I have 
said. In fact, China has three export credit agencies that provided 
more support in just 1 year than the Export-Import Bank has provided in 
its entire history.

[[Page H8854]]

  What do you say by a ``no'' vote? We are going to retreat from that 
competition. We are not going to play. Who does that advantage? China. 
Who does that advantage? Every one of our other competitors. Who does 
that disadvantage? American workers.
  Mr. Chair, we need to give our exporters a fair, fighting chance by 
providing export financing to American business. That is what this bill 
does.
  It is not a partisan bill. It is not a Republican bill or a 
Democratic bill. Those of you who say you are probusiness and proworker 
and want to build jobs, that is why the President of the United States 
decided he is for reauthorization. He may not like a provision or two 
in this bill, but the administration says they are for reauthorizing 
this.
  This gives you the opportunity to do that. Take it. This is not going 
to be a partisan bill for any of us. Take this opportunity to stand up 
as the majority of your colleagues did the last time this 
reauthorization came to the floor, and as they have done every time it 
has come to the floor.
  Join me, my colleagues, in voting for American workers, American 
manufacturers, suppliers, subcontractors, little businesses, small 
businesses, and medium businesses. This is good for America. Vote 
``yes.''
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I would assure my colleagues that when the President says that he is 
going to veto the bill, as he put out with a Statement of 
Administration Policy, he intends to veto this bill if it hits his 
desk. That is number one.
  Two, the Senate majority leader says: ``We are not going to pass the 
House bill.''
  They also say they are going to take this up as a part of the CR, and 
I think that is important. We don't want this Bank to lapse.
  I would also commend for my colleagues that--it is a bit rich, a bit 
thick, because people voted for Ex-Im and against Ex-Im in the past, 
including Chairwoman Waters, who voted against reauthorization in 2002. 
So times change, issues change, and our votes reflect those changes in 
time.
  I would say that the majority leader, in his speech, does outline 
that he is a strong advocate for the Bank. He absolutely is. That is 
why I have great assurance when this bill passes or doesn't pass that 
we will have an extension of the Bank, and we are going to have a 
functioning bank. It is important.
  Mr. Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
Stivers), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on National Security, 
International Development and Monetary Policy, a great advocate for the 
Ex-Im Bank, to talk through his position on Ex-Im.
  Mr. STIVERS. Mr. Chair, I thank the ranking member for yielding.
  I don't want to fall into revisionist history. I was one of the 
Republicans who signed the discharge petition against my own chairman 
and against my own leadership in 2014 and supported the Ex-Im Bank.
  I would love to be here this afternoon to be supporting a bipartisan 
bill on reauthorizing the Ex-Im Bank. We had a bipartisan bill in June, 
and it wasn't the Republicans who walked away from it. It was the 
Democratic majority that walked away from it. The bill was marked up on 
a party-line vote in the Financial Services Committee.
  I think it is really important to note that we will reauthorize the 
Export-Import Bank in the appropriations process, and many of us 
support that. We do not want a lapse. But this bill is going to the 
Senate where it goes nowhere. And the administration has said they 
would veto it.
  Let's not pursue a partisan vehicle here. The Rules Committee had an 
opportunity to allow for some amendments that would have addressed some 
very important issues, including one from my colleague from Arkansas 
(Mr. Hill) that would have stopped China from stealing intellectual 
property. They chose to block consideration of those amendments.
  Ex-Im reauthorization is now, unfortunately, tied to the 
appropriations process, and I think we all know that.
  I want to reiterate that my fear is that we are needlessly moving 
forward with a party-line vote, or a mostly party-line vote, on 
something that has and should be bipartisan.

                              {time}  1515

  Finally, I want to address some comments made earlier by one of my 
colleagues expressing skepticism about the ranking member, Mr. 
McHenry's willingness to back the reauthorization effort.
  We all know that the ranking member reached a deal with the 
chairwoman in June on reauthorization, and, again, it was the 
Democratic majority that walked away from it, not the ranking member. I 
just want to make sure everybody understood that that was what 
happened.
  Furthermore, the deal actually increased Ex-Im's lending cap up to 
$175 billion, something that I know our former chairman would have 
never done. So I think our ranking member has dealt in good faith 
through this whole process. I also think it is completely inaccurate 
that they didn't deal in good faith.
  Regardless of what happens today, I am hopeful that we will find a 
way to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank, and I now know it is 
definitely tied to the appropriations process.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the majority leader, to respond to anything he 
would like to respond to.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
  Mr. Chair, by the way, Mr. McHenry is my friend. He and I have a good 
working relationship, and I appreciate that friendship. I regret that 
he is opposing this bill. I know there was an attempt to reach a 
bipartisan agreement.
  In candor, I think everybody on this floor needs to know there were 
outside business concerns about that agreement, so it was not simply a 
partisan act. It was that those who see this as a job creator thought 
that some of the provisions that were put in the so-called compromise 
would be harmful to job creation and to the sale of exports across the 
sea.
  But the reason I really rose--and I thank Madam Chairwoman for 
yielding--is to say, yes, the President said he was going to veto this; 
yes, the majority leader in the Senate said he is not going to bring 
things up. That is unfortunate, but the statement I made is accurate.
  The President of the United States says he is for the reauthorization 
of the Export-Import Bank. That is a change in his position during the 
course of his campaign in 2016. It is a change because he was convinced 
that the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank is good for America, 
good for jobs, good for business, good for working men and women in 
this country. And so he has repaired, also, to partisanship.
  There are no poison pills in here. There may be some things you 
wanted that are not in this bill; there may be some things in this bill 
that I would have liked that are not in this bill. But the central 
point of this is this reauthorizes the Bank.
  The CHAIR. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Chair, I yield an additional 1 minute to the majority 
leader.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewoman.
  It takes care of the challenge that we had when there was no quorum, 
and the fact that we had no quorum was all about politics.
  Don't make this about politics as well. An estimate of 80,000 jobs, 
$150 billion lost because we didn't have a quorum. Let's not twist in 
the wind.
  This bill has 95 percent agreement. The gentleman who spoke before me 
said he voted for this last time. There is no change that, in my 
opinion, warrants a change in heart.
  I know that there is some upset that the bipartisan bill that was 
agreed to didn't fly, but it didn't fly mostly because the outside came 
in and said: This will not help us; this will not affect the end that 
we want. That record ought to be clear, Mr. Chairman.
  So the chairwoman worked on bringing a bill to the floor that will 
help. She has done that. I hope my colleagues will put their 
partisanship behind them, put protecting, frankly, their positioning in 
terms of negotiation behind them and vote for this bill.
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Chairman, may I inquire how much time I have 
remaining.

[[Page H8855]]

  The CHAIR. The gentleman from North Carolina has 6 minutes remaining. 
The gentlewoman from California has 5 minutes remaining.
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Chairman, I would commend for the House that, yes, 
there is an opportunity for bipartisanship. I think that will be on the 
CR to extend the Export-Import Bank. It is an important institution. At 
its height, it supported almost 2 percent of American exports. It is a 
small amount of global trade, but it is important. We want to make sure 
the Bank continues to function, but this is not the bill to do that. We 
will take care of that in another vehicle, and I am hopeful we can have 
a bipartisan vote there.
  Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. 
Tipton), my colleague.
  Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Chairman, we hear the President is for the extension, 
the Senate is for the extension. The problem is, they are not for this 
piece of legislation.
  I think it is important to be able to note that the ranking member, 
once again, on the Committee on Financial Services had a deal in 
principle with the chair to be able to reauthorize the Bank, to be able 
to add strong protections against China's global interest. 
Unfortunately, that deal was pulled, and we are left with the bill that 
does not address these issues head-on.
  In the committee's process, I offered an amendment to be able to 
combat China's Belt and Road Initiative that would prohibit Ex-Im's 
assistance to the Government of China unless otherwise authorized by 
the President of the United States.
  China's envisioned the Belt and Road as an economic tool to be able 
to expand their influence and, in some cases, force countries to become 
overly reliant on financing from China.
  The Belt and Road projects also raise a specter of infrastructure 
that could be used by China's military, even as China promotes 
international reach with the yuan and the potential displacement of the 
dollar.
  With more than 60 countries potentially hosting Belt and Road 
projects and estimated total financing exceeding $1 trillion, the 
Chinese Government's ambitions are massive and serious--and should be 
taken so.
  The Obama administration actively attempted to be able to keep 
foreign countries from joining China in their Asian Infrastructure 
Investment Bank over concerns that the resources would support 
Beijing's geopolitical ambitions.
  The bill on the floor today does nothing to be able to address these 
issues. If anything, the Belt and Road Initiative is even more 
worrying, and we ought to take a strong stance against it.
  Further, according to the Council on Foreign Relations, China's Belt 
and Road Initiative is one of the main planks of China's statecraft 
under the current regime, and it is a key component of the Made in 
China 2025 economic development strategy.
  And yet, my amendment, in process, was rejected in committee, and 
there is no trace of proactive restraint against the Belt and Road 
investments in the bill on the floor today.
  It is completely nonsensical to have the Export-Import Bank offer 
U.S. taxpayer-backed subsidies to companies implementing projects that 
further Beijing's geopolitical ambitions.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Washington (Mr. Heck).
  Mr. HECK. Mr. Chair, consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds, and 
nobody is ever going to accuse the other side of having a small mind, 
because I have been here just long enough to remember when they railed 
with righteous indignation to pass legislation even though the Obama 
administration had issued an SAP. Evidently, that is not a standard 
that applies today, but it applied then.
  Listen, I have heard no objections to the content of the proposed 
legislation. What mostly I have heard is that we had a deal that fell 
apart and it is all our fault. That is pretty good revisionist history. 
It fell apart because it didn't have the votes.
  And it wasn't just a question of what happened on the majority side. 
They know full well there were minority party Members who were not 
going to vote for it. There was bipartisan opposition, frankly, because 
of all the external stakeholder opposition, because it does not work.
  What are the differences, the major differences? Basically, that 
other deal would have prohibited sale into countries--China, in 
particular--with state-owned enterprises.
  What are those? All railroads, all utilities, all airlines. That is 
not the way we engage other countries and change their behavior.
  Materially, factually wrong that we would subsidize the Chinese 
Communist Party. In fact, in the last 30 years, the Export-Import Bank 
has transferred up to $10 billion into the U.S. Treasury.
  Listen, I just wish people would have the courage of their 
convictions. The argument seems to be made, and I think it is a debate 
worth having, is should we kick China out of the World Trade 
Organization. That is really what is being said here. Let's have that 
debate.
  Looking back, I think it is questionable that they were admitted 
without stronger accountability, and I think we need stronger 
accountability.
  Mr. Chair, great irony, the bill before you has incredible advance 
progress over current law in terms of accountability with China. So, at 
the end of the day, here it is: revenue generating, job generating, 
American jobs. Vote ``yes.''
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Chair, this is what we are trying to not fund for 
American taxpayers. We are having American taxpayer dollars go to 
subsidize Chinese companies to perpetrate the violence that is 
happening in repression of the Chinese people and the folks in Hong 
Kong. This is what we are trying to stop, and their bill does nothing 
to stop this type of subsidization of our goods, our American tax 
dollars going into the harm that is perpetrated there.
  So you can make a nice political case that you have done something, 
but in reality, in terms of legislative text, you don't do squat. And 
that is a huge problem. That is the reason why there is opposition over 
here.
  I would also commend to my colleagues that every Republican voted for 
the bipartisan bill that I negotiated with Chairwoman Waters in 
committee.
  Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
Gonzalez).
  Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio. Mr. Chair, I thank Ranking Member McHenry for 
his leadership on this issue.
  Let me start by saying that I fully support the Export-Import Bank 
and recognize the important role that the Bank plays in supporting 
businesses and jobs across my district and State.
  This is my first time having the opportunity to vote on this and 
state that, and I want to state it emphatically.
  I appreciate that the majority leader and Mr. Heck have articulated 
what specifically is at issue here. And what is at issue here is that 
outside groups have captured this bill and objected to every single 
provision, no matter how small, dealing with the People's Republic of 
China.
  They objected, in particular, to an amendment that I offered that 
would require exporters receiving Ex-Im assistance to certify that they 
do not punish their employees for private communications on issues that 
China is so sensitive to, specifically, freedom in Hong Kong and human 
rights in Xinjiang and Tibet--not throwing China out of the WTO, though 
I am very, very happy to have a debate on that.
  But that is not what this was about. This was about preventing our 
companies from censoring their own employees, domestic employees, on 
their own time, in the comfort of their own home.
  Nothing in this amendment would have affected a company's policies in 
the workplace or its ability to manage business communications. But 
when employees are expressing themselves on their own time and if they 
want to stand by victims of oppression, an Ex-Im beneficiary wouldn't 
have been able to retaliate against them.

  I was disheartened that the majority would not allow this body to 
debate and vote on this commonsense amendment that would have protected 
the free speech of American workers.
  And a final point, because I have a feeling that somebody is about to 
read back to me what they believe they know about my district.
  We have a wonderful system, and in our system of government, we 
represent our own districts. Okay? We

[[Page H8856]]

know our districts better than anybody else. That is why we are here.
  On behalf of northeast Ohio, let me tell you, China has absolutely 
decimated our manufacturing sector, and I am proud to vote ``no'' on 
this bill.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Chair, may I inquire how much time I have remaining.
  The CHAIR. The gentleman from North Carolina has 30 seconds 
remaining. The gentlewoman from California has 3 minutes remaining.
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Chair, I am prepared to close. May I inquire if 
there are further speakers on the other side.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Chair, I am prepared to close.
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Chair, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Chair, this is a failure of bipartisan policymaking, and this is 
a sad day.
  I am not angry. I appreciate Chairwoman Waters attempting to strike a 
bipartisan deal. In fact, we had a deal, and we filed that bill. It is 
H.R. 3407 that encouraged Members to sign the discharge petition so we 
can actually support something that was a bipartisan negotiation, not 
this bill before us today that doesn't take on the important work of 
banning Chinese state-owned enterprises from accessing our export 
credit agency. That is what this is about.
  So I ask my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this very important measure 
of international export activities, and I yield back the balance of my 
time.

                              {time}  1530

  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Earlier this year when the Ex-Im reauthorization was still in 
committee, we entered into good-faith negotiations with Ranking Member 
McHenry. Unfortunately, the China state-owned enterprise provision 
insisted on by the ranking member came up short and prevented us from 
reaching broad bipartisan support for the bill.
  In fact, his China provision was roundly rejected in seven different 
votes in committee. This provision was voted down during markup because 
my colleagues realized that it would do more to harm U.S. exporters and 
U.S. jobs than help to counter against the very real problems faced by 
U.S. exporters competing with China.
  There are a number of other provisions in Mr. McHenry's bill that are 
unnecessary, even burdensome, and aimed at diminishing the bank's 
ability to function. In fact, in many ways, rather than seeking to 
strengthen and improve the flexibility of the bank to meet the 
challenges faced by U.S. industry today, the provisions in this bill 
put forward by the ranking member consistently sought to further 
constrain the bank with unnecessary and, in many cases, new limits and 
restrictions.
  What the Republicans don't say is that a bipartisan bill in the 
Senate was introduced that had none of Mr. McHenry's problematic 
provisions. Then, last week, the President similarly said that he also 
supported a 10-year clean reauthorization, which is odd since the 
Republicans claimed he supported Mr. McHenry's hurdles for the Ex-Im 
Bank.
  I continue to believe that this provision will hamper Ex-Im's ability 
to support U.S. exporters and American jobs.
  Let me just wrap this up by saying that this is a significant bill 
that we have before this House. This is a bill that will correct the 
harm that has been done to our export agency. This is a bill that will 
create more jobs.
  This is a bill that has the support of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 
GE, Boeing, the AFL-CIO, the International Association of Machinists 
and Aerospace Workers, the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, 
the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the International 
Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, the Business 
Roundtable, and North America's Building Trades Unions.
  So, here we have a bill where we have people who oppose each other 
all the time and have come together because they know that it is in the 
best interests of our country. They know that they have put us in a 
position--those who have been voting against reauthorization--of being 
noncompetitive with China and other countries who like to see us in 
that weakened position.
  This bill is going to bring us out of that weakened position. This is 
a bill that improves upon our ability to provide export financing. This 
is a bill that will create jobs.
  This is a bill that recognizes that we are not manufacturing at the 
rate that we should be in this country. And we are not going to be in 
that position any more.
  This is a bill that creates jobs in all of our districts. This is a 
bill that I would ask my Members to please support, and let's keep 
America moving forward with the export-import bill.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The CHAIR. All time for general debate has expired.
  Pursuant to the rule, the bill shall be considered for amendment 
under the 5-minute rule.
  In lieu of the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by 
the Committee on Financial Services, printed in the bill, an amendment 
in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of Rules Committee 
Print 116-36 shall be considered as adopted. The bill, as amended, 
shall be considered as an original bill for purpose of further 
amendment under the 5-minute rule and shall be considered as read.
  The text of the bill, as amended, is as follows:

                               H.R. 4863

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``United States Export Finance 
     Agency Act of 2019''.

     SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       The table of contents of this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
Sec. 3. Renaming of the Export-Import Bank of the United States.
Sec. 4. Authorization period.
Sec. 5. Aggregate loan, guarantee, and insurance authority.
Sec. 6. Office of Minority and Women Inclusion.
Sec. 7. Support for United States territories.
Sec. 8. Alternative procedures during quorum lapse.
Sec. 9. Strengthening support for U.S. small businesses.
Sec. 10. Enhancing flexibility to respond to predatory export financing 
              by China.
Sec. 11. Restriction on financing for certain entities.
Sec. 12. Prohibitions on financing for certain persons involved in 
              sanctionable activities.
Sec. 13. Promoting renewable energy exports, environmental and social 
              standards, and accountability.
Sec. 14. Reinsurance program.
Sec. 15. Information technology systems.
Sec. 16. Administratively determined pay.

     SEC. 3. RENAMING OF THE EXPORT-IMPORT BANK OF THE UNITED 
                   STATES.

       (a) In General.--The Export-Import Bank of the United 
     States is hereby redesignated as the United States Export 
     Finance Agency.
       (b) References.--Any reference to the Export-Import Bank of 
     the United States in any law, rule, regulation, certificate, 
     directive, instruction, or other official paper in force on 
     the date of the enactment of this Act is deemed a reference 
     to the United States Export Finance Agency.

     SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION PERIOD.

       Section 7 of the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 (12 U.S.C. 
     635f) is amended by striking ``2019'' and inserting ``2029''.

     SEC. 5. AGGREGATE LOAN, GUARANTEE, AND INSURANCE AUTHORITY.

       Section 6(a)(2) of the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 (12 
     U.S.C. 635e(a)(2)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(2) Applicable amount defined.--In this subsection, the 
     term `applicable amount' means--
       ``(A) $145,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2020;
       ``(B) $150,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2021;
       ``(C) $155,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2022;
       ``(D) $160,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;
       ``(E) $165,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;
       ``(F) $170,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; and
       ``(G) $175,000,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 
     through 2029.''.

     SEC. 6. OFFICE OF MINORITY AND WOMEN INCLUSION.

       (a) In General.--Section 3(i) of the Export-Import Bank Act 
     of 1945 (12 U.S.C. 635a(i)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(i) Office of Minority and Women Inclusion.--
       ``(1) Establishment.--The Agency shall establish an Office 
     of Minority and Women Inclusion which shall be responsible 
     for carrying out this subsection and all matters relating to 
     diversity in management, employment, and business activities 
     in accordance with such standards and requirements as the 
     Director of the Office shall establish.
       ``(2) Transfer of responsibilities.--The Agency shall 
     ensure that, to the extent that the responsibilities 
     described in paragraph (1) (or comparable responsibilities) 
     were, as of the date of the enactment of this subsection, 
     performed by another office of the Agency, the 
     responsibilities shall be transferred to the Office.

[[Page H8857]]

       ``(3) Duties with respect to civil rights laws.--The 
     responsibilities described in paragraph (1) shall not include 
     enforcement of statutes, regulations, or executive orders 
     pertaining to civil rights, except that the Director of the 
     Office shall coordinate with the President of the Agency, or 
     the designee of the President of the Agency, regarding the 
     design and implementation of any remedies resulting from 
     violations of the statutes, regulations, or executive orders.
       ``(4) Director.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Director of the Office shall be 
     appointed by, and shall report directly to, the President of 
     the Agency. The position of Director of the Office shall be a 
     career reserved position in the Senior Executive Service, as 
     that position is defined in section 3132 of title 5, United 
     States Code, or an equivalent designation.
       ``(B) Duties.--The Director shall--
       ``(i) develop standards for equal employment opportunity 
     and the racial, ethnic, and gender diversity of the workforce 
     and senior management of the Agency;
       ``(ii) develop standards for increased participation of 
     minority-owned and women-owned businesses in the programs and 
     contracts of the Agency, including standards for coordinating 
     technical assistance to the businesses; and
       ``(iii) enhance the outreach activities of the Agency with 
     respect to, and increase the total amount of loans, 
     guarantees, and insurance provided by the Agency to support 
     exports by socially and economically disadvantaged small 
     business concerns (as defined in section 8(a)(4) of the Small 
     Business Act) and small business concerns owned by women.
       ``(C) Other duties.--The Director shall advise the 
     President of the Agency on the impact of the policies of the 
     Agency on minority-owned and women-owned businesses.
       ``(5) Inclusion in all levels of business activities.--
       ``(A) Contracts.--The Director of the Office shall develop 
     and implement standards and procedures to ensure, to the 
     maximum extent possible, the inclusion and utilization of 
     minorities (as defined in section 1204(c) of the Financial 
     Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 
     (12 U.S.C. 1811 note)) and women, and minority- and women-
     owned businesses (as such terms are defined in section 
     21A(r)(4) of the Federal Home Loan Bank Act (12 U.S.C. 
     1441a(r)(4)) in all business and activities of the Agency at 
     all levels, including in procurement, insurance, and all 
     types of contracts. The processes established by the Agency 
     for review and evaluation for contract proposals and to hire 
     service providers shall include a component that gives 
     consideration to the diversity of the applicant.
       ``(B) Applicability.--This paragraph shall apply to all 
     contracts for services of any kind, including all contracts 
     for all business and activities of the Agency, at all levels.
       ``(C) Outreach.--The Agency shall establish a minority 
     outreach program to ensure the inclusion (to the maximum 
     extent practicable) of contracts entered into with the 
     enterprises of minorities and women and businesses owned by 
     minorities and women, including financial institutions, 
     investment banking firms, underwriters, accountants, brokers, 
     and providers of legal services.
       ``(6) Diversity in agency workforce.--The Agency shall take 
     affirmative steps to seek diversity in its workforce at all 
     levels of the Agency consistent with the demographic 
     diversity of the United States, in a manner consistent with 
     applicable law, including--
       ``(A) to the extent the Agency engages in recruitment 
     efforts to fill vacancies--
       ``(i) recruiting at historically Black colleges and 
     universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribal colleges 
     and universities, women's colleges, and colleges that 
     typically serve majority minority populations; and
       ``(ii) recruiting at job fairs in urban communities, and 
     placing employment advertisements in print and digital media 
     oriented toward women and people of color;
       ``(B) partnering with organizations that are focused on 
     developing opportunities for minorities and women to place 
     talented young minorities and women in industry internships, 
     summer employment, and full-time positions; and
       ``(C) by use of any other mass media communications that 
     the Director of the Office determines necessary.''.
       (b) Inclusion in Annual Report.--Section 8 of such Act (12 
     U.S.C. 635g) is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(l) Office of Minority and Women Inclusion.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Agency shall include in its annual 
     report to the Congress under subsection (a) a report from the 
     Office of Minority and Women Inclusion regarding the actions 
     taken by the Agency and the Office pursuant to section 3(i), 
     which shall include--
       ``(A) a statement of the total amounts paid by the Agency 
     to contractors since the most recent report under this 
     subsection;
       ``(B) the percentage of the amounts described in 
     subparagraph (A) that were paid to contractors as described 
     in section 3(i)(5)(A);
       ``(C) the successes achieved and challenges faced by the 
     Agency in operating minority and women outreach programs;
       ``(D) a description of the progress made by the Agency in 
     supporting exports by minority-owned small business concerns 
     and the progress made by the Agency in supporting small 
     business concerns owned by women, including estimates of the 
     amounts made available to finance exports directly by both 
     categories of small business concerns, a comparison of these 
     amounts with the amounts made available to all small business 
     concerns, and a comparison of such amounts with the amounts 
     so made available during the 2 preceding years;
       ``(E) the challenges the Agency may face in hiring 
     qualified minority and women employees and contracting with 
     qualified minority-owned and women-owned businesses; and
       ``(F) any other information, findings, conclusions, and 
     recommendations for legislative or Agency action, as the 
     Director of the Office deems appropriate.
       ``(2) Definitions.--In this subsection:
       ``(A) Minority-owned small business concern.--The term 
     `minority-owned small business concern' has the meaning given 
     the term `socially and economically disadvantaged small 
     business concern' under section 8(a)(4) of the Small Business 
     Act.
       ``(B) Small business concern.--The term `small business 
     concern' has the meaning given that term under section 3(a) 
     of the Small Business Act.''.
       (c) Conforming Amendment.--Section 8(f) of the Export-
     Import Bank Act of 1945 (12 U.S.C. 635g(f)) is amended--
       (1) by striking paragraph (4); and
       (2) by redesignating paragraphs (5) through (8) as 
     paragraphs (4) through (7), respectively.

     SEC. 7. SUPPORT FOR UNITED STATES TERRITORIES.

       (a) Creation of the Office of Territorial Exporting.--
     Section 3 of the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 (12 U.S.C. 
     635a) is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(n) Office of Territorial Exporting.--
       ``(1) In general.--The President of the Agency shall 
     establish an Office of Territorial Exporting, the functions 
     of which shall be to--
       ``(A) promote the export of goods and services from the 
     territories;
       ``(B) conduct outreach, education, and disseminate 
     information concerning export opportunities and the 
     availability of Agency support for such activities; and
       ``(C) increase the total amount of loans, guarantees, and 
     insurance provided by the Agency benefitting the territories.
       ``(2) Staff.--The President of the Agency shall hire such 
     staff as may be necessary to perform the functions of the 
     Office, including--
       ``(A) at least 1 staffer responsible for liaising with 
     Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands; and
       ``(B) at least 1 staffer responsible for liaising with the 
     United States territories of Guam, the Commonwealth of the 
     Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa.
       ``(3) Definition of territory.--In this Act, the term 
     `territory' means the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United 
     States Virgin Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern 
     Mariana Islands, and American Samoa.''.
       (b) Annual Report.--Section 8 of such Act (12 U.S.C. 635g), 
     as amended by section 6(b) of this Act, is amended by adding 
     at the end the following:
       ``(m) Report on Activities in the Territories.--The Agency 
     shall include in its annual report to Congress under 
     subsection (a) a report on the steps taken by the Agency in 
     the period covered by the report to increase--
       ``(1) awareness of the Agency and its services in the 
     territories; and
       ``(2) the provision of Agency support to export businesses 
     in the territories.''.

     SEC. 8. ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURES DURING QUORUM LAPSE.

       (a) In General.--Section 3(c)(6) of the Export-Import Bank 
     Act of 1945 (12 U.S.C. 635a(c)(6)) is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``(A)'' after ``(6)''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(B)(i) If there is an insufficient number of directors to 
     constitute a quorum under subparagraph (A) for 90 consecutive 
     days during the term of a President of the United States, a 
     temporary Board, consisting of the following members, shall 
     act in the stead of the Board of Directors:
       ``(I) The United States Trade Representative,
       ``(II) The Secretary of the Treasury,
       ``(III) The Secretary of Commerce, and
       ``(IV) The members of the Board of Directors.
       ``(ii) If, at a meeting of the temporary Board--
       ``(I) a member referred to in clause (i)(IV) is present, 
     the meeting shall be chaired by such a member, consistent 
     with Agency bylaws; or
       ``(II) no such member is present, the meeting shall be 
     chaired by the United States Trade Representative.
       ``(iii) A member described in subclause (I), (II), or (III) 
     of clause (i) may delegate the authority of the member to 
     vote on whether to authorize a transaction, whose value does 
     not exceed $100,000,000, to--
       ``(I) if the member is the United States Trade 
     Representative, the Deputy United States Trade 
     Representative; or
       ``(II) if the member is referred to in such subclause (II) 
     or (III), the Deputy Secretary of the department referred to 
     in the subclause.
       ``(iv) If the temporary Board consists of members of only 1 
     political party, the President of the United States shall, to 
     the extent practicable, appoint to the temporary Board a 
     qualified member of a different political party who occupies 
     a position requiring nomination by the President, by and with 
     the consent of the Senate.
       ``(v) The temporary board may not change or amend Agency 
     policies, procedures, bylaws, or guidelines.
       ``(vi) The temporary Board shall expire at the end of the 
     term of the President of the United States in office at the 
     time the temporary Board was constituted or upon restoration 
     of a quorum of the Board of Directors as defined in 
     subparagraph (A).
       ``(vii) With respect to a transaction that equals or 
     exceeds $100,000,000, the Chairperson of the temporary Board 
     shall ensure that the Agency complies with section 
     2(b)(3).''.
       (b) Termination.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
     shall have no force or effect after the 10-year period that 
     begins with the date of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 9. STRENGTHENING SUPPORT FOR U.S. SMALL BUSINESSES.

       (a) Small Business Policy.--Section 2(b)(1) of the Export-
     Import Bank Act of 1945 (12

[[Page H8858]]

     U.S.C. 635(b)(1)) is amended by striking subparagraph 
     (E)(i)(I) and inserting the following:
       ``(E)(i)(I) It is further the policy of the United States 
     to encourage the participation of small business (including 
     women-owned businesses, minority-owned businesses, veteran-
     owned businesses, businesses owned by persons with 
     disabilities, and businesses in rural areas) and start-up 
     businesses in international commerce, and to educate such 
     businesses about how to export goods using the United States 
     Export Finance Agency.''.
       (b) Outreach.--
       (1) Plan.--Within 120 days after the date of the enactment 
     of this Act, the United States Export Finance Agency shall 
     prepare and submit to the Committee on Financial Services of 
     the House of Representatives and the Committee on Banking, 
     Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate a comprehensive 
     outreach plan to ensure that small business owners are aware 
     of the financing options available to them through the 
     Agency. The plan shall include--
       (A) input from the Small Business Administration and 
     statewide small business coalitions with operations in rural, 
     urban, and suburban regions;
       (B) an emphasis on outreach to businesses owned by women, 
     minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities; and
       (C) a proposed budget for carrying out the plan during 
     fiscal years 2020 through 2029, that provides for the 
     spending of at least $1,000,000 annually for outreach to 
     small businesses.
       (2) Implementation.--Section 2(b)(1)(E) of such Act (12 
     U.S.C. 635(b)(1)(E)) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(xi) After consultation with the Committee on Financial 
     Services of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
     Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate, the Agency 
     shall implement the outreach plan referred to in section 
     9(b)(1) of the United States Export Finance Agency Act of 
     2019.''.
       (c) Exclusion of Unutilized Insurance Authority in 
     Calculating Small Business Threshold.--Section 2(b)(1)(E)(v) 
     of such Act (12 U.S.C. 635(b)(1)(E)(v)) is amended by adding 
     at the end the following: ``For the purpose of calculating 
     the amounts of authority required under this clause, the 
     Agency shall, with respect to insurance, exclude unutilized 
     authorizations that terminated during the fiscal year.''.
       (d) Increase in Small Business Threshold.--
       (1) In general.--Section 2(b)(1)(E)(v) of such Act (12 
     U.S.C. 635(b)(1)(E)(v)) is amended by striking ``25'' and 
     inserting ``30''.
       (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) 
     shall take effect on October 1, 2028.

     SEC. 10. ENHANCING FLEXIBILITY TO RESPOND TO PREDATORY EXPORT 
                   FINANCING BY CHINA.

       (a) Deeming Rule Under Tied Aid Credit Program.--Section 
     10(b)(5)(B)(i)(III) of the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 (12 
     U.S.C. 635i-3(b)(5)(B)(i)(III)) is amended by adding at the 
     end the following new sentence: ``The requirement that there 
     be credible evidence of a history of a foreign export credit 
     agency making offers not subject to the Arrangement is deemed 
     met in the case of exports likely to be supported by official 
     financing from the People's Republic of China, unless the 
     Secretary of the Treasury has reported to the Committee on 
     Financial Services of the House of Representatives and the 
     Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the 
     Senate that China is in substantial compliance with the 
     Arrangement.''.
       (b) Collaboration With USDA on Export Financing Programs.--
     Section 13(1)(A) of such Act (12 U.S.C. 635i-7(1)(A)) is 
     amended by inserting ``, the Department of Agriculture,'' 
     before ``and other Federal agencies''.

     SEC. 11. RESTRICTION ON FINANCING FOR CERTAIN ENTITIES.

       Section 2 of the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 (12 U.S.C. 
     635) is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(l) Restriction on Financing for Certain Entities.--
       ``(1) In general.--Beginning on the date that is 180 days 
     after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the Board 
     of Directors may not approve a transaction that is subject to 
     approval by the Board with respect to the provision by the 
     Agency of any guarantee, insurance, or extension of credit, 
     or the participation by the Agency in any extension of credit 
     for which the end user, obligor, or lender is described in 
     paragraph (2).
       ``(2) Prohibited end user, obligor, or lender.--An end 
     user, obligor, or lender is described in this paragraph if 
     the end user, obligor, or lender is known to the Agency to 
     be:
       ``(A) The People's Liberation Army of the People's Republic 
     of China.
       ``(B) The Ministry of State Security of the People's 
     Republic of China.
       ``(C) Included on the Denied Persons List or the Entity 
     List maintained by the Bureau of Industry and Security of the 
     Department of Commerce.
       ``(D) Included on the Arms Export Control Act debarred list 
     maintained by the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls of 
     the Department of State.
       ``(E) Any person who has paid a criminal fine or penalty 
     pursuant to a conviction or resolution or settlement 
     agreement with the Department of Justice for a violation of 
     the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in the preceding 3 years.
       ``(F) A person who, in the preceding 3 years, appeared on 
     the Annual Intellectual Property Report to Congress by the 
     Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator in the 
     Executive Office of the President, if the person was 
     convicted in any court
       ``(3) Definitions.--In this subsection:
       ``(A) Person.--The term `person' means an individual or 
     entity.
       ``(B) Entity.--The term `entity' means a partnership, 
     association, trust, joint venture, corporation, group, 
     subgroup, or other organization.''.

     SEC. 12. PROHIBITIONS ON FINANCING FOR CERTAIN PERSONS 
                   INVOLVED IN SANCTIONABLE ACTIVITIES.

       Section 2 of the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 (12 U.S.C. 
     635), as amended by section 11 of this Act, is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:
       ``(m) Prohibitions on Financing for Certain Persons 
     Involved in Sanctionable Activities.--
       ``(1) In general.--Beginning on the date that is 180 days 
     after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the Board 
     of Directors of the Agency may not approve any transaction 
     that is subject to approval by the Board with respect to the 
     provision by the Agency of any guarantee, insurance, or 
     extension of credit, or the participation by the Agency in 
     any extension of credit, to a person in connection with the 
     exportation of any good or service unless the person provides 
     the certification described in paragraph (2).
       ``(2) Certification described.--The certification described 
     in this paragraph is a certification by a person who is an 
     end user, obligor, or lender that neither the person nor any 
     other person owned or controlled by the person engages in any 
     activity in contravention of any United States law, 
     regulation, or order applicable to the person concerning--
       ``(A) trade and economic sanctions, including an embargo;
       ``(B) the freezing or blocking of assets of designated 
     persons; or
       ``(C) other restrictions on exports, imports, investment, 
     payments, or other transactions targeted at particular 
     persons or countries.
       ``(3) Certification requirements.--The certification 
     described in paragraph (2) shall be made after reasonable due 
     diligence and based on best knowledge and belief.''.

     SEC. 13. PROMOTING RENEWABLE ENERGY EXPORTS, ENVIRONMENTAL 
                   AND SOCIAL STANDARDS, AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

       (a) Office of Financing for Renewable Energy, Energy 
     Efficiency and Energy Storage Exports.--Section 2(b)(1)(C) of 
     the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 (12 U.S.C. 635(b)(1)(C)) 
     is amended to read as follows:
       ``(C) Office of Financing for Renewable Energy, Energy 
     Efficiency and Energy Storage.--The President of the Agency 
     shall establish an office whose functions shall be to promote 
     the export of goods and services to be used in the 
     development, production, and distribution of renewable energy 
     resources, and energy efficiency and energy storage 
     technologies, and disseminate information concerning export 
     opportunities and the availability of Agency support for such 
     activities, to increase the total amount of loans, 
     guarantees, and insurance provided by the Agency to support 
     exports related to renewable energy, energy efficiency, and 
     energy storage.''.
       (b) Environmental Policy and Procedures.--Section 11(a) of 
     such Act (12 U.S.C. 635i-5(a)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1)--
       (A) in the 2nd sentence, by inserting ``, including to 
     potentially impacted communities in the country in which the 
     activity will be carried out, at least 60 days before the 
     date of the vote,'' before ``and supplemental'';
       (B) by inserting after the 2nd sentence the following: 
     ``The procedures shall include a requirement for an analysis 
     of the environmental and social impacts, including worker 
     impacts and anticipated health impacts and costs, of the 
     proposed activity and of alternatives to the proposed 
     activity, including mitigation measures, where 
     appropriate.''; and
       (C) in the 3rd sentence, by striking ``The preceding 
     sentence'' and inserting ``This paragraph'';
       (2) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (7) and 
     inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
       ``(2) Consultations with potentially impacted 
     communities.--In any credit or common terms agreements to 
     which the Agency is a party relating to a transaction 
     described in paragraph (1), the Agency shall include a 
     provision to ensure that robust consultations with 
     potentially impacted communities in the country in which the 
     activity will be carried out have been and will continue to 
     be carried out throughout the project cycle.
       ``(3) Environmental and social due diligence procedures and 
     guidelines review.--By the end of 2020 and once at the end of 
     each subsequent 3-year period, the Board of Directors of the 
     Agency shall complete a review of the Environmental and 
     Social Due Diligence Procedures and Guidelines ensuring that 
     the procedures and guidelines incorporate requirements for 
     project consideration that are consistent to limit greenhouse 
     gas emissions and, to the maximum extent possible, to affirm 
     that the Board operates consistently with the multilateral 
     environmental agreements to which the United States is a 
     party that are directly related to transactions in which the 
     Agency is involved.
       ``(4) The Agency shall operate consistently with Annex VI 
     of the Arrangement on Officially Supported Export Credits, as 
     adopted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and 
     Development as of January 2019.
       ``(5) The Agency shall make publicly available the 
     estimated amounts of CO2 emissions expected to be 
     produced from pending projects that the Agency has designated 
     as Category A and B projects and work with other export 
     credit agencies to encourage them to do the same.
       ``(A) The Agency shall report CO2 emissions 
     associated with projects that the Agency has

[[Page H8859]]

     designated as Category A and B fossil fuel projects in its 
     annual report by product categories.
       ``(B) The Agency shall advocate within the OECD and other 
     multilateral fora for the full reporting of CO2 
     emissions associated with appropriate energy and non-energy 
     projects including manufacturing and agriculture.
       ``(C) The Agency shall undertake periodic reviews with 
     stakeholders to ensure that the Agency employs the most 
     appropriate methodology of estimating and tracking the 
     CO2 emissions from Category A and B projects the 
     Agency supports.
       ``(6) The Agency shall develop and maintain measures to 
     provide increased financing support for evolving technologies 
     that reduce CO2 emissions.
       ``(A) The Agency shall develop and maintain measures to 
     encourage foreign buyers to seek available, commercially 
     viable technology to reduce the CO2 footprint of 
     projects.
       ``(B) The Agency shall develop and maintain initiatives to 
     finance aspects of project development that reduce or 
     mitigate CO2 emissions, such as effective carbon 
     capture and sequestration technology, while maintaining the 
     competitiveness of United States exporters.
       ``(C) In coordination with the Department of the Treasury, 
     the Agency shall advocate in international fora for the 
     availability of financing incentives for low to net zero 
     CO2-emitting projects, a common methodology for 
     evaluating and taking into account the social cost of carbon.
       ``(D) The Agency shall encourage export credit agencies and 
     other relevant lending institutions to adopt similar 
     CO2 policies, including encouraging transparency 
     and the involvement of stakeholders.''; and
       (3) in paragraph (7) (as so redesignated by paragraph (2) 
     of this subsection), by striking ``paragraph (1)'' and 
     inserting ``this subsection''.
       (c) Annual Report to Congress.--Section 11(c) of such Act 
     (12 U.S.C. 635i-5(c)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(c) Inclusion in Annual Report to Congress.--The Agency 
     shall include in its annual report to Congress under section 
     8 a summary of its activities under subsections (a) and (b). 
     The Board of Directors shall submit to the Congress a report, 
     which shall be made publicly available on the Internet at the 
     time of delivery--
       ``(1) that provides a detailed accounting of the 
     methodology used to make greenhouse gas emissions project 
     determinations; and
       ``(2) details the steps taken to ensure that the 
     Environmental and Social Due Diligence Procedures and 
     Guidelines of the Agency are consistent with--
       ``(A) reducing greenhouse gas emissions; and
       ``(B) operating consistently with the multilateral 
     environmental agreements to which the United States is a 
     party that are directly related to transactions in which the 
     Agency is involved.''.
       (d) Financing for Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and 
     Energy Storage Technologies.--Section 2(b)(1)(K) of such Act 
     (12 U.S.C. 635(b)(1)(K)) is amended by inserting ``, energy 
     efficiency, and energy storage. It shall be a goal of the 
     Bank to ensure that not less than 5 percent of the applicable 
     amount (as defined in section 6(a)(2)) is made available each 
     fiscal year for the financing of renewable energy, energy 
     efficiency, and energy storage technology exports'' before 
     the period.
       (e) Sense of the Congress Regarding Agency 
     Accountability.--It is the sense of the Congress that--
       (1) the Board of Directors of the United States Export 
     Finance Agency (in this section referred to as the 
     ``Agency'') should, after a public consultation process, 
     establish a formal, transparent, and independent 
     accountability mechanism to review, investigate, offer 
     independent dispute resolution to resolve, and publicly 
     report on allegations by affected parties of any failure of 
     the Agency to follow its own policies and procedures with 
     regard to the environmental and social impacts of projects, 
     and on situations where the Agency is alleged to have failed 
     in ensuring the borrower is fulfilling its obligations in 
     financing agreements with respect to the policies and 
     procedures;
       (2) the accountability mechanism should be able to provide 
     advice to management on policies, procedures, guidelines, 
     resources, and systems established to ensure adequate review 
     and monitoring of the environmental and social impacts of 
     projects;
       (3) in carrying out its mandate, the confidentiality of 
     sensitive business information should be respected, as 
     appropriate, and, in consultation with potentially impacted 
     communities, project sponsors, Agency management, and other 
     relevant parties, a flexible process should be followed aimed 
     primarily at correcting project failures and achieving better 
     results on the ground;
       (4) the accountability mechanism should be independent of 
     the line operations of management, and report its findings 
     and recommendations directly to the Board of Directors of the 
     Agency and annually to the Congress;
       (5) the annual report of the Agency should include a 
     detailed accounting of the activities of the accountability 
     mechanism for the year covered by the report and the remedial 
     actions taken by the Agency in response to the findings of 
     the accountability mechanism;
       (6) in coordination with the accountability mechanism, the 
     Agency and relevant parties should engage in proactive 
     outreach to communities impacted or potentially impacted by 
     Agency financing and activities to provide information on the 
     existence and availability of the accountability mechanism;
       (7) the President of the Agency should, subject to the 
     approval of the Board of Directors of the Agency, and 
     consistent with applicable law, through an open and 
     competitive process, including solicitation of input from 
     relevant stakeholders, appoint a director of the 
     accountability mechanism, who would be responsible for the 
     day-to-day operations of the mechanism, and a panel of not 
     less than 3 experts, including the director, who would also 
     serve as chair of the panel; and
       (8) The accountability mechanism director and members of 
     the panel should not have been employed by the Agency within 
     the 5 years preceding their appointment, and should be 
     ineligible from future employment at the Agency.

     SEC. 14. REINSURANCE PROGRAM.

       Section 51008 of the Fixing America's Surface 
     Transportation Act (12 U.S.C. 635 note) is amended--
       (1) in the section heading, by striking ``pilot'';
       (2) in subsection (a), by striking ``pilot'';
       (3) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``$1,000,000,000'' 
     and inserting ``$2,000,000,000''; and
       (4) by striking subsections (c) through (e) and inserting 
     the following:
       ``(c) Factors for Consideration in Reinsurance Pools.--In 
     implementing this section, the Agency shall, with respect to 
     a reinsurance pool, pursue appropriate objectives to reduce 
     risk and costs to the Agency, including by the following, to 
     the extent practicable:
       ``(1) Ensuring a reasonable diversification of risks.
       ``(2) Including larger exposures where the possibility of 
     default raises overall portfolio risk for the Agency.
       ``(3) Excluding transactions from the pool that are covered 
     by first-loss protection.
       ``(4) Excluding transactions from the pool that are 
     collateralized at a rate greater than standard market 
     practice.
       ``(5) Diversifying reinsurance pools by industry and other 
     appropriate factors.
       ``(6) Exploring different time periods of coverage.
       ``(7) Exploring both excess of loss structures on a per-
     borrower as well as an aggregate basis.
       ``(d) Biennial Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the 
     date of the enactment of this subsection, and every 2 years 
     thereafter through 2029, the Agency shall submit to the 
     Committee on Financial Services of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 
     Urban Affairs of the Senate a written report that contains an 
     assessment of the use of the program carried out under 
     subsection (a) since the most recent report under this 
     subsection.
       ``(e) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall 
     be construed to limit any authority of the Agency described 
     in section 2(a)(1) of the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945.''.

     SEC. 15. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS.

       Section 3(j) of the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 (12 
     U.S.C. 635a(j)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1), by striking all that precedes 
     subparagraph (A) and inserting the following:
       ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), the 
     Agency may use an amount equal to 1.25 percent of the surplus 
     of the Agency during fiscal years 2020 through 2029 to--''; 
     and
       (2) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following:
       ``(3) Limitation.--The aggregate of the amounts used in 
     accordance with paragraph (1) for fiscal years 2020 through 
     2029 shall not exceed $40,000,000.''.

     SEC. 16. ADMINISTRATIVELY DETERMINED PAY.

       Section 3 of the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 (12 U.S.C. 
     635a), as amended by section 7(a) of this Act, is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:
       ``(o) Compensation of Employees.--
       ``(1) Rates of pay.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Board of 
     Directors of the Agency, consistent with standards 
     established by the Director of the Office of Minority and 
     Women Inclusion, may set and adjust rates of basic pay for 
     employees and new hires of the Agency without regard to the 
     provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of 
     title 5, United States Code, except that no employee of the 
     Agency may receive a rate of basic pay that exceeds the rate 
     for level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5313 of 
     such title.
       ``(2) Limitations.--The Board of Directors of the Agency 
     may not apply paragraph (1) to more than 35 employees at any 
     point in time. Nothing in paragraph (1) may be construed to 
     apply to any position of a confidential or policy-determining 
     character that is excepted from the competitive service under 
     section 3302 of title 5, United States Code, (pursuant to 
     schedule C of subpart C of part 213 of title 5 of the Code of 
     Federal Regulations) or to any position that would otherwise 
     be subject to section 5311 or 5376 of title 5, United States 
     Code.''.

  The CHAIR. No further amendment to the bill, as amended, shall be in 
order except those printed in House Report 116-289.
  Each such further amendment may be offered only in the order printed 
in the report, by a Member designated in the report, shall be 
considered as read, shall be debatable for the time specified in the 
report equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, 
shall not be subject to amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand 
for division of the question.


          Amendment No. 1 Offered by Mrs. Torres of California

  The CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 1 printed in 
House Report 116-289.

[[Page H8860]]

  

  Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the 
desk.
  The CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 16, line 3, strike ``and''.
       Page 16, after line 3, insert the following:
       (C) an emphasis on outreach to businesses that export goods 
     and services that are produced by Indian tribes and that are 
     made, assembled, or otherwise derived on or from an Indian 
     tribe's Indian land (as defined in section 2601(2) of the 
     Energy Policy Act of 1992 (25 U.S.C. 2501(2));
       Page 16, line 4, strike ``(C)'' and insert ``(D)''.
       Page 17, after line 7, insert the following:
       (e) Report on Activities Supporting Indian Tribes.--Section 
     8 of such Act (12 U.S.C. 635g), as amended by the preceding 
     provisions of this Act, is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(n) Report on Activities Supporting Indian Tribes.--The 
     Agency shall include in its annual report to Congress under 
     subsection (a) a report on the steps taken by the Agency in 
     the period covered by the report to increase--
       ``(1) awareness of the Agency and its services available to 
     Indian tribes; and
       ``(2) the provision of Agency support to tribal export 
     businesses.''.

  The CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 695, the gentlewoman from 
California (Mrs. Torres) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.
  Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as 
I may consume.
  My amendment would add language directing the U.S. Export Finance 
Agency to emphasize outreach to Tribal businesses, including Alaskan 
Native corporations, that export goods and services.
  There is a long history of successful Federal economic development 
programs leaving--leaving--Indian Country behind.
  Ensuring that Tribal businesses are aware of the services and 
resources that the agency provides is absolutely critical. Companies 
that increase their exports are able to raise wages, take on additional 
employees, and further invest in their communities.
  Increased economic development in Indian Country means increased 
economic opportunity, which, in turn, means more self-determination for 
Tribes and a greater ability to take care of their people as sovereign 
nations.
  The U.S. Export Finance Agency has proven to be an important tool in 
expanding U.S. exports and creating American jobs, but we need to 
ensure that it is a tool that benefits all Americans, including Native 
Americans. And that is exactly what this amendment does.
  Mr. Chair, I urge all of my colleagues to support this amendment, and 
I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Chair, I claim time in opposition, though I am not 
opposed to the amendment.
  The CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman from North Carolina is 
recognized for 5 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Chair, Republicans unanimously voted to support the 
Waters-McHenry bipartisan bill to strengthen the bank and combat 
Chinese aggression but will not support this partisan bill.
  And, while I am not opposed to the Torres amendment, I would simply 
note that there is a point where additional reporting requirements and 
other mandates can burden agencies to the point of diminishing returns.
  I think it is important, though, that Ex-Im be focused on American 
businesses, especially those in need and that have great capacity like 
Tribal businesses do.
  So, it is a good amendment. I support it.
  What I would also mention to this body is that the negotiation on the 
Waters-McHenry bill took the small business mandate for the bank and 
raised it so that Ex-Im would make small businesses more of a priority 
for this reauthorization than it previously had been; and, instead, we 
have a bill before us today that delays that raise for 10 years, until 
the last year of the authorization of the bill before us.
  I think this is a missed opportunity. It is bad for small business, 
bad for Tribal export businesses, which would qualify as a small 
business, most of them--almost all of them, in fact--under the purview 
of the Ex-Im Bank and the designation of Ex-Im Bank.
  So that small business mandate shows that that was not a priority for 
the Democrats who wrote this bill. And that is a sad thing. It is a bad 
thing. It is not helpful to American business and not helpful to the 
bank.
  Mr. Chair, I support the Torres amendment, the Torres-Cole amendment, 
commend the gentlewoman for offering it, and I yield back the balance 
of my time.
  Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Chairman, I thank the ranking member 
for his support. There has been a lot of talk around China and zero 
talk around Indian Country.
  All this amendment does is require the agency to conduct outreach--
outreach--to Indian Country to ensure that Tribal export businesses 
benefit from the same services and resources we offer every other 
American business.
  Mr. Chair, I urge all of my colleagues to support this amendment, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  The CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Torres).
  The amendment was agreed to.


          Amendment No. 2 Offered by Mrs. Torres of California

  The CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 2 printed in 
House Report 116-289.
  Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the 
desk.
  The CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:
       Page 21, line 9, strike ``or''.
       Page 21, after line 9, insert the following:
       ``(C) sanctions relating to serious violations of human 
     rights or free speech, including any sanctions--
       ``(i) imposed under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights 
     Accountability Act;
       ``(ii) related to the efforts to the Chinese government to 
     limit or punish demonstrations in Hong Kong;
       ``(iii) related to the political repression or detention of 
     religious and ethnic minorities in China or Burma; or
       ``(iv) related to the gross violation of internationally 
     recognized human rights (as defined in section 502B of the 
     Foreign Assistance Act of 1961) in China; or''.
       Page 21, line 10, strike ``(C)'' and insert ``(D)''.

  The CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 695, the gentlewoman from 
California (Mrs. Torres) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.
  Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  As the new Export Finance Agency works to help American businesses 
export their products and services, it is critical that we ensure that 
we are not enriching or empowering the bad actors, especially those 
involved in drug trafficking, corruption, or human rights violations.
  We don't want to help those whose actions are contrary to our 
American values, and we certainly don't want to help those who act 
against our best interests.
  That is why H.R. 4863 prohibits the Export Finance Agency from doing 
business with individuals who are subject to U.S. sanctions.
  I have offered an amendment to further clarify that this prohibition 
also extends to individuals who are subject to sanctions related to 
human rights and violations of free speech. This is especially 
important given the growing challenges to free speech across the world, 
including in Hong Kong and in Xinjiang.
  Government officials or other entities who are involved in the 
suppression of free speech should not benefit from the agency's 
investment, and all of us should agree to that.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Chair, I seek time in opposition, but I am not 
opposed to the amendment.
  The CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman from North Carolina is 
recognized for 5 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Chair, let me say this: Republicans unanimously 
voted to support the Waters-McHenry bipartisan deal in committee to 
strengthen and combat Chinese aggression, but we are not going to 
support this partisan bill that is before us.
  This amendment, in my view, is a very simple one. It is a restatement 
of

[[Page H8861]]

existing law. You cannot do business with sanctioned individuals. 
American businesses cannot do business with sanctioned individuals or 
entities. It is American law.
  So, if American businesses can't do business with sanctioned 
entities, what this amendment says is they also cannot get subsidized 
by the Ex-Im Bank to do that business that they can't do.
  So, fine. I don't oppose the amendment, but what this looks like to 
me is cover to Democrats for gutting important national security 
provisions in the Waters-McHenry bipartisan Ex-Im reauthorization bill.
  In that legislation, Republicans sought to restrict Ex-Im assistance 
for Chinese government-controlled entities in light of Beijing's 
suppression of freedom of speech, freedom in Hong Kong, its political 
repression of religious and ethnic minorities, and other actions 
inconsistent with our national interests.
  Rather than support those provisions, Democrats have decided to 
parrot China, this China language, and, well, quite frankly, take 
Republicans' intellectual property here and talking points, if you 
will, and try to cover it. And that is what this amendment is.
  So, American businesses cannot do business with sanctioned entities. 
What this says is that they also can't get Ex-Im financing for the 
business that they can't do.
  Fine. Great. Fine. We will let it go. It is fine. But, news flash to 
anyone: You can't finance something that doesn't actually happen.
  So this amendment, it is fine. It checks the box, covers a little 
political cover. I got it. It is fine. So we will just let it go, but 
that is really what this does. It is a political cover vote rather than 
actually anything of substance. So I will let it go. I will let it go 
by a voice vote.
  But I think what will happen is that the Democrat majority will call 
a rollcall vote so their Members can show they have a vote to do 
something that gives them political cover. It is good. It is great. It 
is fine. But I am not going to participate in that charade.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. TORRES of California. I take issue with the ranking member 
questioning my hard work. I have spent every year since I came to 
Congress in 2015 working to address the issues of public corruption in 
Central America and throughout Latin America. So for this to come up 
now is, frankly, very disappointing.
  My amendment, yes, does build on important provisions that are 
already in the bill, which prohibit extending credit to individuals who 
are subject to U.S. sanctions.
  These provisions will protect the new agency, uphold American values, 
and protect our national security.
  I urge my colleagues to find a way to see through this fog and 
understand that this is the right way to go about it. I hope they will 
support the bill and support my amendment.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1545

  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Chair, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Again, let me state this: If you are a sanctioned individual or 
entity, under American law, American businesses cannot do business with 
them.
  We have an amendment here that says they also can't get subsidized 
financing from Ex-Im to do that business that they are prevented from 
doing.
  Okay, fine. I get this. It has language about human rights, but we 
already have that limitation in law, in fact. If we wanted to do 
something real and substantive when it comes to sanctioned individuals, 
we would have gone a step further, including the China provisions in 
the bipartisan Waters-McHenry bill.
  All this does is restate existing law. It is not a good amendment. It 
is not a bad amendment. It is a political cover amendment. It is a sad 
thing that, instead of doing things of substance and having real 
impact, we are doing this.
  So, fine. Vote for it. Add it to the bill. It doesn't matter. The 
bill is not going to become law.
  We are restating existing policy here, existing law. American 
businesses cannot do business with sanctioned entities. If they do, 
they become potentially sanctioned under American law. We have a 
provision of law already for this. Now you are saying Ex-Im can't 
finance something that can't happen. Okay, fine.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Torres).
  The question was taken; and the Chair announced that the ayes 
appeared to have it.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
  The CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further proceedings on 
the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from California will be 
postponed.


                 Amendment No. 3 Offered by Mr. Flores

  The CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 3 printed in 
House Report 116-289.
  Mr. FLORES. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment as the designee of Mr. 
Burgess.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 21, strike line 17 and all that follows through page 
     30, line 9, and insert the following:

     SEC. 13. PROMOTING AFFORDABLE ENERGY, ENERGY EFFICIENCY, AND 
                   CLEAN ENERGY EXPORTS.

       (a) Office of Energy Efficiency and Clean Energy Exports.--
     Section 2(b)(1)(C) of the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 (12 
     U.S.C. 635(b)(1)(C)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(C) Office of Energy Efficiency and Clean Energy 
     Exports.--The President of the Agency shall establish an 
     office whose functions shall be to--
       ``(i) advise the Board of Directions on ways of promoting 
     the export of goods and services to be used in the 
     development, production, and distribution of energy 
     efficiency and clean energy resources;
       ``(ii) disseminate information concerning export 
     opportunities and the availability of Agency support for such 
     activities; and
       ``(iii) act as a liaison between the Agency and the 
     Department of Commerce and other appropriate departments and 
     agencies of the Federal Government.''.
       (b) Affordable Energy.--Section 11(a) of such Act (12 
     U.S.C. 635i-5(a)) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3) and 
     inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
       ``(2) Affordability of energy consideration.--The Agency 
     shall establish procedures to consider, concurrently with 
     compliance with the procedures established under paragraph 
     (1), potential increases to energy prices resulting from the 
     export of any good or service supported by the Agency.''; and
       (2) in paragraph (3) (as so redesignated)--
       (A) by striking ``paragraph (1)'' and inserting ``this 
     subsection'';
       (B) by inserting ``or energy affordability'' after 
     ``environmental'' the 1st place it appears; and
       (C) by inserting ``and energy affordability'' after 
     ``environmental'' the 2nd place it appears.
       (c) Annual Report to Congress.--Section 11(c) of such Act 
     (12 U.S.C. 635i-5(c)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(c) Inclusion in Annual Report to Congress.--The Agency 
     shall include in its annual report to Congress under section 
     8 a report on the following:
       ``(1) Whether the provision by the Agency of financing for 
     the goods and services described in section 2(b)(1)(C)(i) 
     have increased energy affordability in the countries to which 
     the goods and services have been exported.
       ``(2) An estimate of any reductions in emissions (including 
     emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, greenhouse 
     gases, particulates, and lead) resulting from the provision 
     by the Agency of financing for the goods and services 
     referred to in paragraph (1) of this subsection.''.
  The CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 695, the gentleman from Texas 
(Mr. Flores) and a Member opposed each will control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
  Mr. FLORES. Mr. Chairman, again, I am offering this amendment on 
behalf of the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess).
  This amendment requires the Export-Import Bank to take into 
consideration energy affordability, in addition to environmental 
impact, before approving transactions. It further requires the Export-
Import Bank to report on how transactions impact the cost of energy in 
the importing country and the estimated emissions reductions caused by 
Bank-financed exports.
  Clean energy sources from nonrenewable sources, such as hydrogen, 
nuclear, and natural gas, are just as important to lowering emissions 
as renewable energy. The bill, as written, only focuses on renewable 
energy sources, but we should also promote nonrenewable clean energy 
sources such as nuclear, hydrogen, and natural gas.

[[Page H8862]]

  If emissions reductions are the goal, Federal policies must focus on 
total performance and not favor one technology over the other. In the 
developing world, affordable, clean energy will give people more 
opportunity for a better life when expensive alternatives are 
unaffordable.
  I urge passage of this amendment to ensure that energy affordability, 
energy efficiency, and clean energy remain an important component of 
our export policy.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CASTEN of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I seek to claim the time in 
opposition.
  The CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CASTEN of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I rise to strongly oppose the 
Burgess amendment and in support of the underlying bill, the United 
States Export Finance Agency Act of 2019.
  The science is really clear. The climate crisis is here, and we are 
already seeing its devastating impact. Despite the best efforts of the 
current administration to the contrary, the United States must be a 
global leader in acting to combat the climate crisis.
  Leading in climate action will not only protect our future from the 
worst impacts of climate change but will make our Nation more 
competitive and enable U.S. companies and workers to own the clean 
energy technologies and jobs of tomorrow.
  I was proud to work with all of my colleagues on the Financial 
Services Committee to introduce an amendment in markup that added 
strong environmental protections to this reauthorization.
  Mr. Chairman, H.R. 4863 provides important reforms to the Ex-Im Bank 
to ensure it is able to support America's exporters in the 21st 
century. Let me describe precisely what this amendment would eliminate.
  It would eliminate a new office focused on supporting renewable 
energy-related exports so that we can make these products here in the 
United States and sell them around the world.
  It would eliminate a new target that 5 percent of Ex-Im's financing 
goes to support renewable energy-related exports.
  It would eliminate a requirement that the Ex-Im Bank consult with 
local communities to ensure that U.S.-financed projects are not causing 
harm.
  It would eliminate a direction from Congress that the Ex-Im Bank 
establish an accountability mechanism to provide persons who may have 
been negatively affected by an Ex-Im project to find resolution.
  And it would eliminate required disclosures of the estimated 
CO2 emissions expected to be produced from Ex-Im supported 
projects.
  Mr. Chairman, these provisions were carefully crafted by the 
committee to protect the environment and support American workers. 
However, all of those environmental reforms would be eliminated by the 
Burgess amendment, harming our efforts to compete with China on new 
environmental technologies and undermining Ex-Im's efforts to 
responsibly finance projects around the world.
  Why? Because of this theory about economics. Let me be very clear. 
Coal is dying right now for the same reason that clean energy is 
rising, because of economics.
  Does it cost money to build new projects? You bet it does. Where I 
come from, that is called an investment, especially when you replace a 
1950s technology with a high marginal operating cost with a new, modern 
technology that doesn't cost anything to operate.
  Claiming economics in defense of blocking clean energy is foolish. It 
is irresponsible. It ain't leadership. It is cowardice. It is 
irresponsible.
  This is the time we have to stand up and lead, and I urge all of my 
colleagues to oppose this amendment.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FLORES. Mr. Chairman, with all due respect to my colleague, I 
don't think he understands my amendment.
  Nuclear energy has zero emissions. Hydrogen has zero emissions. 
Natural gas has much-reduced emissions compared to coal.
  The advantage of nuclear energy is it is always on. Renewable is not 
always on.
  This is a chance to give the importing companies a chance to have 
clean energy, affordable energy, and to be able to advance their 
economies using U.S. know-how and technology, which leads in several of 
these areas.
  I urge a ``yea'' vote for my amendment because it is the right thing 
to do if we really care about emissions reduction, affordability around 
the world, and being able to export the United States' leading 
technology and clean energy.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CASTEN of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters), the chairwoman of the 
committee.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  I strongly oppose this amendment. This amendment undermines a 
carefully crafted compromise on environmental reforms, both in the 
underlying bill and developed by my good friend from Illinois.

  It undermines U.S. leadership on growing more jobs in renewable 
energy, eliminates accountability at Ex-Im, and ends efforts to have 
Ex-Im consult with local communities on projects it supports.
  I urge all of my colleagues to oppose this amendment.
  Mr. CASTEN of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, has the gentleman from Texas 
closed?
  The CHAIR. The gentleman from Texas has relinquished his time.
  Mr. CASTEN of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. Chairman, the amendment under consideration has nothing to do 
with moving the Ex-Im forward. Instead, it eliminates needed reforms in 
the underlying bill to modernize the Bank and bring it into the 21st 
century. It takes this bill back toward the past rather than looking 
toward the future.
  I urge all my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this misguided amendment. 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  The CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman 
from Texas (Mr. Flores).
  The question was taken; and the Chair announced that the noes 
appeared to have it.
  Mr. FLORES. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
  The CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further proceedings on 
the amendment offered by the gentleman from Texas will be postponed.


                 Amendment No. 4 Offered by Mr. McAdams

  The CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 4 printed in 
House Report 116-289.
  Mr. McADAMS. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 21, line 9, strike ``or''.
       Page 21, after line 9, insert the following:
       ``(C) sanctions relating to the illegal trafficking of 
     synthetic opioids, including any sanctions imposed pursuant 
     to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act; or''.
       Page 21, line 10, strike ``(C)'' and insert ``(D)''.

  The CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 695, the gentleman from Utah 
(Mr. McAdams) and a Member opposed each will control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah.
  Mr. McADAMS. Mr. Chair, my amendment builds on the work of the 
underlying bill, which has strong and smart prohibitions on financing 
to bad actors known to the U.S. Government, such as those violating 
U.S. laws related to trade and economic sanctions.
  Specifically, my amendment ensures that the Export-Import Bank, 
renamed as the U.S. Export Finance Agency under the bill, prohibits any 
transaction to people involved in sanctionable activities related to 
the illegal trafficking of synthetic opioids, including any sanctions 
imposed pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act.
  We know synthetic opioid trafficking is a problem, specifically 
coming from China, where they are the leading producer of fentanyl. We 
have taken bipartisan action in this Congress to put more pressure on 
China to stop opioid trafficking, which is fueling so many deaths and 
so much tragedy across our communities.
  Earlier this year, we passed legislation introduced by my colleague 
from New York (Mr. Rose), who is a cosponsor of this amendment, the 
Fentanyl Sanctions Act. That act would apply

[[Page H8863]]

pressure to the Chinese Government to honor their commitment to make 
all fentanyl illegal and to provide the United States with more tools 
and resources to go after illicit traffickers in China, Mexico, and 
other countries.
  This amendment builds on that effort by ensuring those bad actors are 
not seeing the benefit of our export finance agency and that U.S. 
companies are not engaged in business with criminal enterprises abroad.
  Mr. Chair, this is a commonsense amendment. We should not be doing 
business with bad actors, especially those that are poisoning our 
communities with synthetic opioids.
  I urge adoption of this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. DAVIDSON of Ohio. Mr. Chair, I claim time in opposition, but I am 
not opposed to the amendment.
  The CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman from Ohio is recognized 
for 5 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DAVIDSON of Ohio. Mr. Chair, first, let me say Republicans 
unanimously voted to support the Waters-McHenry bipartisan deal to 
strengthen the Export-Import Bank and combat Chinese aggression, but we 
will not support this partisan bill.
  This is yet another do-nothing amendment offered by the Democrats so 
they can send out a press release claiming they care about national 
security or, in this case, the opioid crisis. In fact, it is a poison 
pill meant to counter an amendment that will be offered shortly.
  ``Amend and pretend'' is going to be a running theme during this 
debate. Like another measure offered today by Mrs. Torres, Mr. McAdams' 
amendment would simply require Ex-Im users to self-certify that they 
are not breaking the law by violating opioid trafficking sanctions. 
This way, Democrats can claim that they don't like opioids.
  See how it works? They push this bill. It means nothing. Criminals, 
of course, are going to say: No. Who, me? I wouldn't violate the law.
  The real opioid measure that we have before us today is being offered 
by me shortly. Mr. McAdams' amendment would actually prevent Ex-Im 
assistance from going to foreign governments that significantly 
contribute to opioid trafficking if those governments fail to cooperate 
with U.S. antinarcotics efforts. That is a serious amendment. It 
prevents taxpayer-backed financing from going to governments that help 
to poison taxpayers. It is logical.
  Unfortunately, my opioid trafficking amendment was so logical that 
Democrats opposed it in committee and have pledged to oppose it here on 
the floor shortly.
  Again, this McAdams amendment is about a press release for Democrats, 
so amend and pretend it is today with the McAdams amendment.

                              {time}  1600

  I want to be clear that I do not oppose the amendment, but I am 
opposed and disappointed that my Democratic colleagues have offered 
another amendment that is another stunt provision for this dead-end 
bill.
  We had a bipartisan path forward, and Democrats are wasting floor 
time with this bill that will never be enacted to law.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McADAMS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Waters), the chair of the House Financial Services 
Committee.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I 
thank him for offering this important amendment.
  This amendment builds on the important work of the gentleman from New 
York on combating illegal opioids in this country. It ensures that 
those who are sanctioned because of their involvement in the illegal 
trade of opioids do not get access to Ex-Im assistance, including any 
sanctions imposed pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation 
Act.
  I strongly support the gentleman's amendment to strengthen this bill 
with respect to preventing the illegal trafficking of synthetic opioids 
and urge all my colleagues to do so.
  Mr. DAVIDSON of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, as we will see shortly, to 
highlight the fact that this isn't about getting the provision into 
law, I am confident a recorded vote will be requested because it is all 
theater. It is not meant to change the law in a substantive way; it is 
meant to provide cover.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. McADAMS. Mr. Chair, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Chairman, the bill before us is a strong measure to support 
economic development and to support job creation throughout our 
country. The legislation improves the agency's ability to support 
exports, and it supports small businesses in my home State of Utah. It 
is supported by businesses and labor, and it does this all at no 
expense to the taxpayer.
  Miles Hansen, who is the president and CEO of the World Trade Center 
Utah, said that the Export-Import Bank plays an important role in 
supporting Utah's economic growth and Utah's companies' ability to 
compete with countries such as China, Brazil, the U.K., and Germany: 
``Direct access to the Export Finance Agency's finance and risk 
management programs provide Utah's small businesses with critical tools 
for international growth.''
  I agree with Mr. Hansen, and I am a strong supporter of the agency 
and the underlying bill, which strengthens and reauthorizes Ex-Im for 
10 years.
  My amendment is a commonsense addition to the bill to ensure that we 
are not doing business with opioid traffickers overseas. I urge 
adoption of the amendment, and I urge a ``yes'' vote on final passage.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman 
from Utah (Mr. McAdams).
  The question was taken; and the Chair announced that the ayes 
appeared to have it.
  Mr. McADAMS. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
  The CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further proceedings on 
the amendment offered by the gentleman from Utah will be postponed.


            Amendment No. 5 Offered by Mr. Davidson of Ohio

  The CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 5 printed in 
House Report 116-289.
  Mr. DAVIDSON of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 33, after line 22, insert the following:

     SEC. __. PROHIBITION ON ASSISTANCE TO GOVERNMENT THAT FAILS 
                   TO COOPERATE ON PREVENTING ILLEGAL TRAFFICKING 
                   OF SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS.

       Section 2 of the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 (12 U.S.C. 
     635), as amended by the preceding provisions of this Act, is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(n) Prohibition on Assistance to Government That Fails to 
     Cooperate on Preventing Illegal Trafficking of Synthetic 
     Opioids.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Agency may not authorize the 
     provision of financial assistance for a lender, obligor, or 
     end user that--
       ``(A) is a covered government; and
       ``(B) in the determination of the President of the United 
     States, does not closely cooperate with the United States to 
     prevent opioid trafficking.
       ``(2) Waiver authorities.--
       ``(A) President of the agency.--The President of the Agency 
     may waive paragraph (1) on reporting to the Committee on 
     Financial Services of the House of Representatives and the 
     Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the 
     Senate that the financial assistance--
       ``(i) would enable exports directly by United States small 
     business concerns; or
       ``(ii) is required for the export of humanitarian goods or 
     services.
       ``(B) President of the united states.--The President of the 
     United States may waive paragraph (1) for not more than 1 
     year at a time on reporting to the committees specified in 
     subparagraph (A) that the waiver is essential to the national 
     interest of the United States, with a detailed explanation of 
     the reasons therefor.
       ``(3) Close cooperation.--For purposes of this subsection, 
     a government shall be considered to be closely cooperating 
     with the United States to prevent opioid trafficking if the 
     government is doing 2 or more of the following:
       ``(A) Implementing substantial improvements in regulations 
     involving the chemical and pharmaceutical production and 
     export of illicit opioids.
       ``(B) Implementing substantial improve ments in judicial 
     regulations to combat transnational criminal organizations 
     that traffic opioids.
       ``(C) Increasing efforts to prosecute foreign opioid 
     traffickers.
       ``(D) Increasing intelligence sharing and law enforcement 
     cooperation with the

[[Page H8864]]

     United States with respect to opioid trafficking.
       ``(4) Definitions.--In this subsection:
       ``(A) Covered government.--The term `covered government' 
     means--
       ``(i) the state and the government of China, the state and 
     the government of Mexico, and the state and the government of 
     any other country that, in the determination of the President 
     of the United States, is a significant contributor to opioid 
     trafficking, as well as any political subdivision, agency, or 
     instrumentality of any of the foregoing;
       ``(ii) any entity owned or controlled, directly or 
     indirectly, by any of the foregoing, including any 
     corporation, partnership, association, or other entity in 
     which any of the foregoing owns a 50 percent or greater 
     interest or a controlling interest, and any entity which is 
     otherwise controlled by any of the foregoing;
       ``(iii) any person that is or has been acting or purporting 
     to act, directly or indirectly, for or on behalf of any of 
     the foregoing; and
       ``(iv) any other person which the Secretary of the Treasury 
     determines is included in any of the foregoing.
       ``(B) Opioid trafficking.--The term `opioid trafficking' 
     means any illicit activity--
       ``(i) to produce, manufacture, distribute, sell, or 
     knowingly finance or transport--

       ``(I) synthetic opioids, including controlled substances 
     that are synthetic opioids and listed chemicals that are 
     synthetic opioids; or
       ``(II) active pharmaceutical ingredients or chemicals that 
     are used in the production of controlled substances that are 
     synthetic opioids;

       ``(ii) to attempt to carry out an activity described in 
     paragraph (1); or
       ``(iii) to assist, abet, conspire, or collude with other 
     persons to carry out such an activity.
       ``(5) Report required.--If the Agency authorizes financial 
     assistance for a lender, obligor, or end user that is a 
     covered government and the authorization is not made pursuant 
     to waiver authorities provide in paragraph (2), the President 
     of the United States shall certify to the Committee on 
     Financial Services of the House of Representatives and the 
     Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the 
     Senate that the covered government is closely cooperating 
     with the United States, within the meaning of paragraph (3), 
     with a description of the cooperation.''.

  The CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 695, the gentleman from Ohio 
(Mr. Davidson) and a Member opposed each will control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio.
  Mr. DAVIDSON of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Chairman, I would like to start off by saying that I 
wholeheartedly support reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank. It is 
an important tool to help ensure American companies can stay 
competitive in foreign markets and can be used as an important national 
security tool in countering countries such as China.
  Unfortunately, there are several commonsense reforms that I think 
could dramatically improve the agency but which are not being 
considered under this bill, which is why I am offering my amendment.
  My amendment is modeled after the bipartisan Fentanyl Sanctions Act, 
introduced in the House by Max Rose and cosponsored by our colleague 
from Arkansas, French Hill. In the Senate, the Senate minority leader, 
Democrat Chuck Schumer, is the lead sponsor, joined by Republican 
Senator Pat Toomey and others.
  Under the House and Senate fentanyl bills, the President could waive 
sanctions against foreign state-owned banks if a foreign government is 
closely cooperating with our efforts to prevent opioid trafficking.
  This amendment's approach is similar. It simply says that the United 
States will oppose Ex-Im Bank assistance to a government and the 
entities it controls if the President determines that the government 
isn't cooperating with us to stop the flood of opioids into our 
country. China and Mexico, in particular, have been identified by the 
U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency as primary producers of these opioids.
  This amendment is not targeting those who need assistance from the 
United States most; in fact, my amendment would provide a waiver where 
exports are needed to the government in question for the export of 
humanitarian goods or services. We want to help those who need 
assistance, but we must be doing all that we can do to confront the 
opioid epidemic that is wreaking havoc in the United States.
  According to the Centers for Disease Control, opioids are the main 
driver of opioid deaths in America, with deaths linked to synthetic 
opioids, especially fentanyl, rising exponentially. Areas in southwest 
Ohio, where I represent, have some of the highest per capita opioid 
overdose deaths in the Nation.
  And this is an epidemic impacting all our Nation's communities. In 
2017 alone, 28,000 deaths in the United States involved synthetic 
opioids, and deaths have risen all across demographic groups in nearly 
half of U.S. States.
  In short, this is a problem that touches all of us, and close 
cooperation with countries receiving Ex-Im assistance from the United 
States is essential.
  If we care about stopping this epidemic, my amendment is a small but 
important step that we should all be able to agree on. I urge my 
colleagues to support its adoption.
  I want to clarify that countries that have problems, like China or 
Mexico, don't need to completely eliminate their problem; what they do 
need to do is cooperate with the United States, and when they do, the 
Export-Import Bank can continue to function well where it was designed 
to function well.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Ruiz). The gentlewoman from California is 
recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Chairman, this amendment demonstrates a fundamental 
misunderstanding about what Ex-Im does and whom it benefits.
  The beneficiaries of Ex-Im's assistance are U.S. exporters and the 
American workers they employ. It is in America's interest to have a 
fully functioning Ex-Im because it allows U.S. companies to compete in 
the global markets.
  Mr. Davidson's amendment would effectively ban using the Ex-Im Bank 
in China or Mexico to try to put pressure on Governments of Mexico and 
China to cooperate with the U.S. to stop the trafficking of synthetic 
opioids.
  No one wants to support the trafficking of opioids, but Ex-Im is 
precisely the wrong agency to use to achieve foreign policy outcomes. 
If Mexico or China do not cooperate, those countries will not be harmed 
by this amendment; American companies and workers will be. The Mexican 
or Chinese Governments will simply buy products from another country 
that is more than willing to sell them exports.
  If the goal is to fight the opioid crisis, we need to support 
programs like Ex-Im that are going to be creating good, well-paying 
jobs in every district all over the country and support small 
businesses that are the drivers of community investment and 
development.
  And if we really want to put pressure on foreign governments to 
cooperate with the U.S. in preventing the trafficking of opioids, then 
we need to bolster our sanctions program, which can deny the bad actor 
to the largest economy in the world.
  I understand Mr. Davidson's strongly held desire to do something to 
address this opioid epidemic and to protect Ex-Im from being improperly 
accessed by criminal networks trafficking in synthetic opioids. That is 
why I strongly support Mr. McAdams' and Mr. Rose's amendment to 
directly cut off Ex-Im financing from those criminal entities that 
violate sanctions dealing with illegal opioids, including violations of 
the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act. Mr. Rose also has 
legislation pending that would further broaden those who are sanctioned 
under U.S. law for illegal opioids.
  Mr. Davidson's concerns are understandable, but in practice, this 
amendment would limit the ability of Ex-Im to support U.S. jobs and 
small businesses, further exacerbating the conditions that have 
contributed to this opioid epidemic.
  Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to vote against this amendment, 
and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIDSON of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, how much time do I have 
remaining?
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Ohio has 2 minutes remaining.
  Mr. DAVIDSON of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my 
time.
  I would like to make the point that this amendment that I have 
offered has substance because it expects something for America's 
assistance.
  At least some of my colleagues are consistent: They don't want the 
President of the United States, whoever

[[Page H8865]]

that is, to expect anything from a foreign power in exchange for 
American participation. They want nothing in return for our dollars, no 
condition on their behavior.
  In fact, rather than trusting the United States of America to 
determine whether a country is cooperating with us on our efforts to 
stop synthetic opioids, they want to trust the people who may very well 
be using the system to create that market for their own benefit, self-
certification.
  I am sure the Sinaloa Cartel would certify that they don't 
participate in trafficking drugs, as well.
  That is what the McAdams approach does. That is the version that our 
chairwoman has, unfortunately, chosen to support, and I believe it is 
the wrong path.
  I encourage people to support this amendment if they are serious 
about trying to stop opioids and if they are serious about using the 
foreign policy tools, including trade, that the United States has to 
offer.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Washington (Mr. Heck)
  Mr. HECK. Mr. Chairman, I understand the temptation to dabble in 
foreign affairs when it comes to Ex-Im reauthorization. We have seen a 
lot of that here today. But there is a reason why we have separate 
committees in the House: so that Members can develop expertise and 
apply that expertise. Financial services, simply put, is not the main 
repository of that kind of expertise, and it shows in this approach.
  But let me be clear: No one here wants to support the trafficking of 
synthetic opioids, of course not. There is a right way and a wrong way 
to do it. This is the wrong way to do it.
  And, in fact, if my friend, the author of this amendment, and I do 
consider him a friend--if you want to ensure that those who are 
sanctioned for dealing illegal opioids cannot use this Bank, vote in 
support; indeed, vote in support of the McAdams amendment. It is not 
theater. It is not cover. It is a strong amendment that is targeted and 
substantive and, in fact, is going to get at the very underlying 
problem without costing American jobs and without hurting American 
businesses.
  So I urge you to join the Foreign Affairs Committee or support the 
efforts of the McAdams amendment.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Chairman, this misguided amendment is going to hurt American 
workers and American businesspersons. This is not the way to get at the 
issue the gentleman from Ohio is concerned about. He should be 
supporting the McAdams-Rose amendment if he wants to do that.
  I urge all my colleagues to vote against this amendment, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Davidson).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes 
appeared to have it.
  Mr. DAVIDSON of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Ohio will be 
postponed.


                  Amendment No. 6 Offered by Ms. Tlaib

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 6 
printed in House Report 116-289.
  Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 16, after line 8, insert the following:
       (2) Report on activities in economically disadvantaged 
     regions.--Section 8 of such Act (12 U.S.C. 635g), as amended 
     by sections 6(b) and 7(b) of this Act, is amended by adding 
     at the end the following:
       ``(n) Report on Activities in Economically Disadvantaged 
     Regions.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Agency shall include in its annual 
     report to Congress under subsection (a) a report on the steps 
     taken by the Agency in the period covered by the report to 
     increase--
       ``(A) awareness of the Agency and its services in 
     economically disadvantaged regions; and
       ``(B) the provision of Agency support to export businesses 
     in economically disadvantaged regions.
       ``(2) Definition.--In paragraph (1), the term `economically 
     disadvantaged region' means a county or equivalent division 
     of local government of a State in which, according to the 
     most recently available data from the Bureau of the Census, 
     20 percent or more of the residents have an annual income 
     that is at or below the poverty level.''.
       Page 16, line 9, strike ``(2)'' and insert ``(3)''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 695, the gentlewoman 
from Michigan (Ms. Tlaib) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Michigan.
  Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Chairman, my amendment would require that Ex-Im 
provide an annual report to the United States Congress on the agency's 
activity in economically disadvantaged areas and efforts that they are 
taking to support those areas.
  Government must be about people first, so when we talk about economic 
opportunity, Mr. Chair, we must ensure that we are using every tool 
possible to uplift communities that are struggling like my district.

                              {time}  1615

  After the Great Recession of 2008, the country experienced an 
economic recovery from 2011 to 2015, but already vulnerable communities 
missed out on most of that growth and opportunity. There is no question 
that some communities suffer more and take longer to recover, and 
sometimes it takes decades longer, but it shouldn't be this way.
  There is evidence that adequate reporting and proper investment may 
be able to speed that pace of recovery for these kinds of communities.
  According to the Economic Innovation Group, 52.3 million people, or 
17 percent of the American population, experienced an average 6 percent 
drop in the number of adults working and a 6.3 percent average drop in 
the number of business establishments.
  Specifically, Mr. Chair, workers and their families living in 
especially hard-hit communities face challenges such as unemployment 
that often arises from mass layoffs associated with declines in 
specific industries and businesses.
  For communities like mine, 13 districts strong, the impact on 
employment and income can be extremely persistent.
  Currently, Detroit is one of the five cities with the greatest number 
of people in distressed ZIP codes and it ranks number ten as the most 
distressed city in the United States of the country's 100 largest 
cities. Wayne County, Michigan, which I represent, ranks second in the 
Nation for inequality with job creation.
  Addressing the economic and social costs associated with persistent 
localized economic distresses requires adequate reporting, as it is 
essential to addressing the causes and the costs of long-term economic 
distress for workers, their families, and the communities.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment to help 
ensure that we have the tools to uplift every community across the 
country like mine.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the 
amendment, even though I am not opposed to it.
  The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman from North 
Carolina is recognized for 5 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Chair, let me say first that Republicans unanimously 
voted to support the Waters-McHenry bipartisan deal to strengthen the 
Bank and combat Chinese aggression, but we are not going to support 
this partisan bill here on the floor today.
  This amendment is a fine one. This amendment, as with some other 
amendments that the Democrats are offering today that the Rules 
Committee made in order--as I understand it, they made in order 19 
Democrat amendments and two Republican amendments, so that is quite a 
ratio, but I think there is a point where additional reporting 
requirements, as I said earlier, and other mandates can burden an 
agency to the point of diminishing returns.
  If you want the Export-Import Bank to be effective, it is often 
better to advocate for initiatives within the Bank,

[[Page H8866]]

like the Waters-McHenry bill, and make the Bank focus on priorities.
  This is one area, with opportunity zones, that we support in a 
bipartisan way to get investment in disadvantaged communities across 
the country. Those opportunity zones are a part of now tax law.
  That standalone bill was a bipartisan one last Congress and the 
Congress before that had great consensus. So what the gentlewoman from 
Michigan (Ms. Tlaib) is advocating here matches up quite nicely with 
that to ensure that the Bank is focused on those same areas that have 
been historically disadvantaged or economically left behind.
  Some of those areas are in my district, some are in her district, but 
they are throughout the country.
  So, as I said, I do not oppose the amendment, I support the 
amendment, and I think it is important for the Bank to focus on 
important communities across the country, but especially those that are 
economically disadvantaged.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Chair, I think it is really important, and I am glad 
the ranking member did mention the opportunity zones. One of the key 
controversies around opportunity zones right now is that out of the 
hundreds of opportunity zone census tracks that were chosen, five did 
not qualify under the poverty guidelines requirements for opportunity 
zones.
  Reporting like this creates transparency and accountability, Mr. 
Chair, and that is why it is critically important that we don't make 
the mistake again to support these kinds of tax breaks and loans and 
opportunities through the Federal Government without any accountability 
and follow-through with the United States Congress annually. That is 
why it is critically important.
  We are talking about five communities that should not have gotten the 
opportunity zone designation, including two in the city of Detroit that 
were promoted by billionaire Dan Gilbert. It should never have been 
designated. They didn't qualify, Mr. Chair.
  That is why it is important that we have these kinds of amendments 
and requirements that the United States Congress can then proceed to 
create transparency.
  I fully support, obviously, opportunities for development in 
communities that deserve it, especially representing the third poorest 
congressional district in the country. However, we cannot allow those 
political donors, like the billionaire Dan Gilbert, to pick and choose 
where those opportunity zones are designated.
  However, we are talking about Ex-Im today, and let's do this right by 
supporting this kind of annual reporting to make sure that we are 
helping economically disadvantaged communities like ours to be able to, 
again, have accountability for the American people.
  Again, I rise in support, as I hope my colleagues support me in 
rising in support of this amendment, again, to make sure that we do our 
due diligence as Members of Congress in making sure there are no other 
kind of scandalous controversies that we see now with the opportunity 
zones in our country.

  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I would say, Mr. Chair, to my colleague from Michigan, under the 
opportunity zones provision of the tax bill we passed last year, 
governors designate those census tracks. So if the gentlewoman has a 
problem with the census tracks designated in Michigan, that is a 
problem with the Governor of Michigan, not the underlying important tax 
law.
  Mr. Chair, I would also commend my colleague, this is her first term 
in Congress, two Congresses ago this was a bipartisan bill, it had wide 
bipartisan support, and we had a similar number of Republicans and 
Democrats support the opportunity zone legislation. And I think it is 
really important, powerful legislation, important law now that is going 
to have a strong impact on those economically disadvantaged 
communities, many in my district and those across the country. I think 
it is going to have a very positive effect over the long-term.
  Mr. Chair, I would say again, I support this amendment, will not 
oppose, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Chair, again, I completely agree that that is the 
process. However, it is our responsibility, since we are the ones who 
created the bipartisan support of opportunity zones. However, it 
doesn't make it exempt from corruption, Mr. Chair, and that is exactly 
what is happening.
  So then-Governor Snyder may have given his friend an advantage by not 
complying with the opportunity zone requirement that it be a poverty-
stricken census track, that it is within those guidelines. That did not 
happen.
  So it is our due diligence, because we allowed the pathway for 
opportunity zones, to have accountability. And this amendment basically 
allows us to check in, Mr. Chair, and make sure that they are following 
those guidelines, and that is exactly what didn't happen with the 
opportunity zones. Just because they were bipartisan does not mean they 
were exempt from corruption, it is exempt from accountability.
  Mr. Chair, I hope my colleagues on the other side of the aisle will 
join me in having transparency and accountability. It is our 
responsibility. They are our tax dollars. They are our programs that we 
have to, again, hold accountable for those that take advantage by using 
the system and tainting the process.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Tlaib).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                  Amendment No. 7 Offered by Mr. Case

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 7 
printed in House Report 116-289.
  Mr. CASE. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 6, line 8, after the 1st close parenthesis, insert ``, 
     which definition is deemed, for purposes of this 
     subparagraph, to include American Indians, Native Hawaiians 
     (as defined in section 103 of the Native American Languages 
     Act (25 U.S.C. 2902)), and Alaska Natives (defined as a 
     member of any Indian tribe (as defined in section 4 of the 
     Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 
     U.S.C. 5304)) that is based in the State of Alaska)''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 695, the gentleman 
from Hawaii (Mr. Case) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Hawaii.
  Mr. CASE. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment to 
confirm that Native Hawaiians and Alaska Natives are included for the 
purposes and considerations of the U.S. Export Finance Agency's new 
Office of Minority and Women Inclusion.
  I am very proud to be joined in offering this amendment by my friend 
and colleague, the dean of this House, the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. 
Young).
  In reauthorizing the Ex-Im Bank of the United States, H.R. 4863 would 
create an Office of Minority and Women Inclusion for the new U.S. 
Export Finance Agency. This office would be responsible for engaging 
with minority-owned and women-owned businesses in the program, 
contracts and activities of the agency. This includes outreach to those 
businesses to ensure their awareness of the export assistance provided 
by the agency.
  The laudable policy goal of this office is to increase access to 
export assistance and foster overall business for underrepresented 
communities.
  However, H.R. 4863 currently uses references to section 1204(c) of 
the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 
1989, which defines ``minority'' as ``any Black American, Native 
American, Hispanic American, or Asian American.''
  Because of the unique statuses that Native Hawaiians and Alaska 
Natives have and the complexities of Federal law, the term ``Native 
American'' is not always understood to include Native Hawaiians and 
Alaska Natives.
  My amendment is a simple clarification that for the purposes of the 
agency and its Office of Minority and Women Inclusion, those groups are 
included, as they are for many other comparable Federal programs.
  Adopting this amendment ensures that Native Hawaiian-owned and Alaska 
Native-owned businesses will be

[[Page H8867]]

part of the agency's outreach efforts and have greater opportunity to 
benefit from the agency's export assistance.
  In my home State of Hawaii, Native Hawaiian-owned businesses are an 
essential part of our economy, but this is also true in countless other 
communities throughout our country.
  According to the 2012 Survey of Business Owners, there are almost 
26,000 Native Hawaiian-owned businesses in the United States, employing 
over 20,000 people.
  Improving outreach to Native Hawaiian-owned businesses by the agency 
provides these businesses the chance to grow and expand opportunities 
for the families and communities they support, not just in Hawaii, but 
across the country.
  Native Hawaiian-owned businesses contribute to the economies of every 
single State and the District of Columbia. Nearly half of those 
businesses operate outside of Hawaii.
  These statistics demonstrate the involvement of Native Hawaiian 
businesses in our business communities, but they also do not adequately 
give voice to the extent to which their businesses contribute to the 
overall empowerment of Native Hawaiian communities, nor do such numbers 
tell the story of the countless lives that have been improved and the 
communities strengthened as a result of their innovation and 
entrepreneurship.
  Everything that I have said here today applies equally to Alaska 
Natives, as I am sure Mr. Young would be quick to point out.
  This amendment will ensure that the reauthorized agency will help 
Native Hawaiian-owned and Alaska Native-owned businesses pursue new 
business opportunities, support American jobs across the country, and 
sustain and enrich the communities they support, as will be the case 
for other minority- and women-owned businesses.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the 
amendment, even though I am not opposed to it.
  The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman from North 
Carolina is recognized for 5 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Chair, let me say first, Republicans unanimously 
voted for the Waters-McHenry bipartisan deal to strengthen the Bank and 
combat Chinese aggression, but we are not going to support this 
partisan bill.
  I would note that the amendment offered here clarifies the definition 
of minorities under the section of the bill that was a priority for the 
chair of our committee, Chairwoman Waters, which is the Office of 
Minority and Women Inclusion, which is referred to as OMWI.
  I would just note that in this bill, the Democrats have prioritized 
OMWIs over the global economic and national security threats posed by 
China and even Russia.
  OMWIs are important. That is fine. We included that in the bipartisan 
bill, and that was part of the tradeoff of a bipartisan bill, including 
something that was a priority for Chairwoman Waters, but also in that 
agreement were provisions that were tough on China. I thought it was a 
fair trade in order to get a bipartisan bill.
  OMWIs and being tough on China are not mutually exclusive ideas, but 
my colleagues on the other side of the aisle felt that they needed to 
prioritize, and so they chose OMWIs as opposed to a rational stance 
against Chinese aggression or even Russian actions.
  To the extent that Mr. Case's amendment clarifies language that will 
have no impact and will not be enacted anyway, I don't oppose it.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1630

  Mr. CASE. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate very much that, in the middle of 
the remarks of my colleague, I certainly heard and detected support for 
this amendment.
  I appreciate my colleague in the minority recognizing the importance 
of minority- and women-owned businesses throughout our country and 
their contributions to our export community.
  This is certainly consistent with my colleagues' earlier comments 
that they fully support the provisions of this bill that do, in fact, 
recognize that disadvantaged communities throughout our country often 
need extra assistance. As I said earlier, this is consistent very much 
with other Federal programs.
  I would certainly, to the gentleman's comments about China, Russia, 
and other countries, emphasize that, in this particular area, the more 
American businesses that can participate in export-related activities 
throughout the world, the better we will all be in this country with 
respect to our relations with these other countries.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Chairman, I would say to my colleague, yes, it is important that 
we have robust global trade. Ex-Im, at its height, at its strongest 
year, supported just shy of 2 percent of American exports.
  I don't want to diminish a little less than 2 percent, but most 
export is done through the private sector without a government program 
like Ex-Im.
  I would also say that, as a matter of our national interest, we 
shouldn't be subsidizing Chinese foreign policy with One Belt, One 
Road. We shouldn't be subsidizing their island-building in the Pacific. 
We shouldn't be subsidizing their actions in Hong Kong. That is what we 
negotiated with the Waters-McHenry bipartisan bill.
  I am disappointed that we are not dealing with that policy. Instead, 
the majority decided to go the partisan route, which the Republican 
majority leader of the Senate has already said is dead on arrival. The 
President said he is going to veto this bill.
  We could have gone a bipartisan route with a bipartisan outcome, but 
they chose a different route.
  Look, the majority is the majority. They have the votes to go do what 
they want to do. But that means I don't need to vote for bad policy 
just to get along. That is why I tried to negotiate a good bill, and 
that is why we had a good bill.
  Mr. Chairman, I support the amendment, and I yield back the balance 
of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Rouda). The question is on the amendment 
offered by the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Case).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                 Amendment No. 8 Offered by Ms. Speier

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 8 
printed in House Report 116-289.
  Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 22, line 7, after ``efficiency'' insert ``(including 
     battery electric vehicles, batteries for electric vehicles, 
     and electric vehicle charging infrastructure)''.
       Page 22, line 12, after ``energy efficiency'' insert 
     ``(including battery electric vehicles, batteries for 
     electric vehicles, and electric vehicle charging 
     infrastructure)''.
       Page 27, line 17, after ``energy efficiency'' insert 
     ``(including battery electric vehicles, batteries for 
     electric vehicles, and electric vehicle charging 
     infrastructure)''.
       Page 27, line 21, after ``energy efficiency'' insert 
     ``(including battery electric vehicles, batteries for 
     electric vehicles, and electric vehicle charging 
     infrastructure)''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 695, the gentlewoman 
from California (Ms. Speier) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.
  Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Chairman, I commend the chairwoman of the Financial 
Services Committee and the committee's efforts to support exports in 
renewable energy and energy-efficiency technology.
  My amendment makes clear that when it comes to supporting domestic 
businesses exporting green energy technology, electric vehicles need to 
be near the top of that list. It quite simply states that ``energy 
efficiency'' includes electric vehicles as well as the batteries and 
the charging infrastructure needed to make them move.
  Electric vehicles are good for the environment; they are good for the 
economy; and they are good for our national security. Zero-emission 
electric vehicles will help combat the climate crisis. Since 
transportation accounts

[[Page H8868]]

for 15 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, electric vehicles 
are critical for the future of clean energy.
  Electric vehicles also present a huge opportunity for the U.S. 
economy. We now know that 4 million jobs in the auto industry are 
reliant on us continuing to build new innovation. We will lose hundreds 
of thousands of jobs if we don't recognize the importance of building 
more electric vehicles. The global market will be a strong growth 
sector, and letting the rest of the world beat us out will cost us 
mightily in economic prosperity and domestic manufacturing.
  Though the United States was home to the first highway-ready all-
electric car, the Tesla Roadster, Chinese competitors have outpaced us 
and are poised to dominate the market. China sells half of all electric 
vehicles in the world, while the United States sells a mere 10 percent.
  The figures for domestic battery production are even more stark. 
China controls a whopping 75 percent of global battery capacity, 15 
times more than our 5 percent. Because batteries will be the backbone 
of the 21st century economy, they are essential to our national 
security.
  For a future of clean energy and a thriving automotive industry, I 
ask you to support this amendment. And I am proud to be soon 
introducing comprehensive legislation to incentivize electric vehicle 
use and production and stimulate American jobs.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Michigan 
(Mr. Kildee).
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Chairman, I thank Congresswoman Speier for her 
leadership on climate issues in general and specifically on electric 
vehicles.
  Mr. Chairman, we are suffering the climate crisis right now. In my 
home State of Michigan, climate change is changing our environment 
impacting the Great Lakes: record lake levels, algal blooms, and 
invasive species like Asian carp.
  As Members of Congress, we have a duty to act on commonsense policies 
that support climate solutions, and this amendment is a good example of 
that.
  I support this amendment because it will make explicit the Export-
Import Bank's role in supporting clean energy in our domestic exports, 
especially electric vehicles, their components, and vehicle charging 
infrastructure.
  As Congresswoman Speier said, China makes more electric vehicles than 
anybody else in the world. That doesn't have to be the case. We have to 
invest in policy that supports electric vehicles so that the U.S. can 
lead the future in transportation. This amendment would help to do 
that.
  I come from Flint, Michigan, a community with a great auto history. 
But I have seen automotive jobs sent overseas over the years, and the 
livelihood of families I represent go right along with those jobs, 
because we have failed to see the future. We have failed to see around 
the corner. We have failed to invest in the future and claim that 
future for ourselves.
  This amendment will ensure one additional piece that makes sure that 
we have a claim on the future and that we can be the leader in electric 
vehicles. It is the right thing to do. I support the amendment, and I 
support the underlying legislation.
  Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition, though I 
am not opposed to it.
  The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman from North 
Carolina is recognized for 5 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Chairman, let me say first that Republicans 
unanimously voted in the Financial Services Committee to support the 
bipartisan bill that Chairwoman Waters and I negotiated to strengthen 
the Bank and combat Chinese aggression, but we are not going to support 
this partisan bill on the floor today.
  It does seem strange that the sponsor needs to spell out that energy 
storage, which already appears in the text, refers to batteries. I 
think it is a good thing, a fine thing, but energy storage is the 
broader terminology that we had discussed, in terms of the negotiations 
between Chairwoman Waters and I.
  We both share, as I do with the amendment sponsor, the need for more 
options in the marketplace, including better batteries for cars and for 
mobility purposes, for sure. So I would commend the sponsor's interest 
in electric vehicles and related infrastructure. I think it is a good 
thing. I think we have nice bipartisan support, actually growing 
support among Republicans, for some sensible policies that would have a 
positive impact on our environment and, at the same time, have more 
options in the marketplace for consumers so they can choose how they 
seek to power their homes, their cars, and their lives.
  What Chairwoman Waters and I negotiated is in H.R. 3407. That bill 
pushed Ex-Im to devote no less than 20 percent of its authority to 
technologies of tomorrow. This was a priority of mine, and that was in 
that bill that is not in the bill before us today. That is a huge 
missed opportunity. That included energy storage and energy-efficient 
technologies.

  Those provisions, I think, would have had a really strong impact. I 
am saddened that Chairwoman Waters rejected that, in terms of the bill 
that she filed and brought before us today.
  The energy sources and technologies of tomorrow are going to have the 
most powerful impact on reducing carbon emissions, making sure that the 
globe is safe and sustainable for generations to come. It is those 
technological breakthroughs that we should prioritize, not just for 
carbon reduction, but for powering our economy.
  I think there is opportunity for us to legislate in a bipartisan way. 
I commend Ms. Speier's amendment. Unfortunately, I don't think this 
bill is going to become law, so I don't think it is going to have the 
impact that we need. But I think, on separate legislation, I would like 
to work with the sponsor of this amendment on those technological 
breakthroughs that we have to have for our environment, for my children 
and the children and grandchildren of current Americans so they can 
have a safe and sustainable environment and have jobs at the same time. 
It is the technological breakthroughs that are going to take us there 
that I am so passionate about and that are so impactful.
  Mr. Chairman, I commend the amendment sponsor, and I support its 
adoption.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Chairman, I like the fact that we are speaking the 
same language. It is wonderful to have that opportunity. I look forward 
to working with the gentleman on the other side of the aisle on the 
legislation that I am about to introduce. We might see some bipartisan 
work here.
  This is about green jobs. That is what this amendment is all about. 
We have to secure the jobs for the rest of this century in the auto 
industry, and we are not going to do it unless we move into electric 
vehicles.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Speier).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                  Amendment No. 9 Offered by Mr. Ruiz

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 9 
printed in House Report 116-289.
  Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 33, after line 22, insert the following:

     SEC. __. AUTHORITY OF THE UNITED STATES EXPORT FINANCE AGENCY 
                   TO USE 3 PERCENT OF ITS PROFITS FOR 
                   ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.

       Section 3 of the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 (12 U.S.C. 
     635a), as amended by the preceding provisions of this Act, is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(p) Authority to Use Portion of Agency Surplus for 
     Administrative Expenses.--
       ``(1) Authority.--
       ``(A) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), in addition to 
     any other amounts that the Agency may use to cover 
     administrative expenses of the Agency, the Agency may use not 
     more than 3 percent of the surplus (as defined in subsection 
     (j)(2), without regard to subparagraph (B)(ii) of such 
     subsection) of the Agency, for each fiscal year in the 5-year 
     period beginning with the date of the enactment of this 
     paragraph, to cover administrative expenses of the Agency.
       ``(B) Use for regional offices.--Of the amount of the 
     surplus which may be used as

[[Page H8869]]

     provided in subparagraph (A), the Agency shall use at least 
     \1/3\ to expand or establish regional offices of the Agency.
       ``(2) Subject to appropriations.--The authority provided by 
     paragraph (1) may be exercised only to such extent and in 
     such amounts as are provided in advance in appropriations 
     Acts.''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 695, the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Ruiz) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
  Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Chairman, I am offering my bill, the Increasing 
American Jobs and Exports Act, as an amendment to H.R. 4863.
  Mr. Chairman, my amendment is simple. It will allow the Export-Import 
Bank to use up to 3 percent of its surplus profits per year for 5 years 
to open new regional offices. These additional offices will grow small 
businesses by assisting with their capital needs to increase their 
exporting capacity and job growth ability.
  This bill will grow American jobs, increase exports of American 
goods, and strengthen our local and regional economies around the 
country.
  The Export-Import Bank is important for our Nation. Over the last 10 
years, it has supported more than 1.5 million jobs at absolutely no 
cost to the American taxpayer. The Bank has helped grow American jobs 
at no cost. It has even returned more than $3.4 billion to the United 
States Treasury. The Export-Import Bank helps grow American jobs, grow 
small businesses, and grow our economy.
  Trade and exports are important to my district and, specifically, to 
the Coachella Valley in the Inland Empire. The Inland Empire is one of 
the fastest growing economic regions in the United States and is a hub 
for international trade. The Riverside-San Bernardino region is 38th 
nationally in total export value and sixth in California in total 
export value. Let me remind everybody, California has the fifth-largest 
economy in the world.

                              {time}  1645

  The Riverside-San Bernardino Counties region is home to 6,200 
exporters, as well as $10 billion worth of exported products.
  More specifically, exports are important to my district; and within 
Coachella Valley agriculture, there are $500 million worth of fruits, 
nuts, vegetables, and melons, and all are top California exports. They 
are exported to more than 50 countries.
  I want this success repeated across my district and the entire 
Nation. The problem, however, is that the closest Export-Import 
regional finance office is more than a 2-hour drive away, in San Diego. 
That office serves businesses in four California counties and even 
three States: Montana, Wyoming, and Arizona.
  Small business owners who have the product, the vision, and the 
ability to expand their businesses deserve to have local and regional 
access to export financing services.
  The potential for more American jobs and more American exports is 
there. We just have to unlock it. Regional finance offices help small 
businesses and small farms succeed where private capital cannot.
  Most of the farm businesses in my district are small. Seventy-five 
percent are fewer than 50 acres in size. Last year, the Export-Import 
Bank financed $1.1 billion worth of agricultural products, and 81 
percent of those were small businesses.
  With more regional offices, we can continue to grow American exports 
and jobs and help small businesses compete. I urge support of my 
amendment and the Increasing American Jobs and Exports Act, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition, and I am 
opposed to the amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from North Carolina is recognized for 
5 minutes.
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment not 
because its goals are necessarily objectionable. The gentleman is right 
to focus on exports, especially given the economy of his district and 
his State, and his State's and district's importance to the Nation and 
the national economy.
  The reason why I am opposed to it is because it doesn't appear based 
on any empirical study of Ex-Im resource needs and may hinder the Bank 
from working effectively.
  To start, the amendment would allow up to 3 percent of Ex-Im's 
surplus to be used for administrative expenses, on top of the resources 
that it already has. I am unaware of any concerns by Ex-Im that it is 
unable to cover its administrative expenses, currently.
  Traditionally, excess funds from the Bank's surplus are supposed to 
go back to the Treasury, where it can reduce the deficit, something 
that both Republicans and Democrats have long supported and, I hope, 
will continue to support.
  In addition, the amendment seems to only provide for this during half 
of the reauthorization period. So what happens in the second half of 
Ex-Im Bank's reauthorization under the bill, and would it leave Ex-Im 
without recourse to the funds? We need to consider this carefully.
  Finally, the amendment would require that at least one-third of the 
new surplus funds devoted to administrative expenses be used to expand 
regional finance centers. Regional finance centers are fine, but what 
is the budgetary need?
  Mr. Chair, I think a little more work needs to be done. We didn't 
have this discussion during the markup or in the single hearing we had 
about Ex-Im, and since the one-third requirement in the amendment would 
fluctuate from year to year, it is divorced from Ex-Im's actual 
assessment of needs for its regional operations.
  There are a couple of technical issues here. I appreciate the 
gentleman for offering the amendment and his interest in serving his 
constituents, but for these reasons I have outlined, I am opposed to 
the amendment.
  Since I am in opposition, I do believe I have the right to close and 
am willing to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Chairman, I just want to clarify something, that the 
$3.4 billion surplus goes to the U.S. Treasury. My bill will not take 
one-third of that, only up to the 3 percent that would be available for 
regions that would like to have a regional finance office near them.
  For example, in North Carolina, which my esteemed colleague is from, 
his constituents have to drive all the way to south Florida, to Miami, 
to get services from the Export-Import Bank. So it is in my 
constituents' interest, and it is the interest of my colleague's that a 
regional office is financed closer to his State so that his businesses 
can acquire the capital necessary to increase jobs and increase 
exports.
  In fact, there is data to show that the cluster of businesses that 
benefit, by far, are those that are near the surrounding regional 
offices. So it is common sense to assume that, if you open an office 
near the region, more businesses will benefit and you will have created 
more jobs with more exports.
  I want to thank Chairwoman Waters for her work on this important 
legislation and for her support for my amendment. The Export-Import 
Bank has been a success story and can continue to grow. Today's 
legislation will further that success.
  The Bank supports American jobs, while also returning money to 
taxpayers year after year. My amendment would not cost the taxpayer a 
single dime. My amendment would grow jobs and businesses by exporting 
American goods.
  I urge my colleagues to support my amendment, the Increasing American 
Jobs and Exports Act, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  On this amendment, in 1 year, this would be hundreds of millions of 
dollars, and, in other years, it would be zero. So to finance these 
regional finance centers, you probably want to have more stable funding 
than that fluctuation.

  That is the technical problem, in my view, on this, not that these 
regional finance centers are a bad idea. They are not a bad idea. In 
fact, I think it is important that Ex-Im focuses on small businesses 
and does more outreach with small businesses.
  The bill that I negotiated with Chairwoman Waters actually raises the 
small business mandate. This bill fails to do it until the 10th year. 
That focus

[[Page H8870]]

on small businesses would require Ex-Im to deploy their resources more 
effectively across the country. That is something Chairwoman Waters and 
I agreed to, on that need for greater outreach from just a couple of 
urban centers where they are currently planted, as has been said.
  So while I support the laudatory goal of this, the functionality of 
it is not workable. I would like the Bank to actually work. Of course, 
that is not part of the debate that I would actually have that view, 
but I actually do want the Bank to work and be effective for American 
businesses. It is really just the technical problem of how the 
gentleman allocates the resources here, and that is why I oppose it.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Ruiz).
  The amendment was agreed to.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Chair, I move that the Committee do now rise.
  The motion was agreed to.
  Accordingly, the Committee rose; and the Speaker pro tempore (Mr. 
Veasey) having assumed the chair, Mr. Rouda, Acting Chair of the 
Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, reported that 
that Committee, having had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4863) to 
promote the competitiveness of the United States, to reform and 
reauthorize the United States Export Finance Agency, and for other 
purposes, had come to no resolution thereon.

                          ____________________