Export-Import Bank Reauthorization

Floor Speech

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, unless Congress acts, on September 30 the Export-Import Bank will go out of existence. This is a government program that has been around for 80 years--since Franklin Roosevelt--helping businesses export products and create jobs in America.

Last week, Congressman John Larson and I joined the largest Chamber of Commerce in the State of Connecticut, along with three small exporting businesses, pleading with Speaker Boehner to please bring up a bill to extend the life of the Export-Import Bank, which has happened routinely on a bipartisan basis over the last 80 years.

Madam Speaker, I want to make two points. Number one, this program does not cost the taxpayers money. Last year it returned $1 billion to the Treasury. Secondly, our largest competition--China and Germany--are doubling the sizes of their export-import programs because they understand that that is a way to grow their economies and to take away jobs and customers from our country, from America.

Please, Mr. Speaker, listen to the 850 business groups all across the country, led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Bring up the Export-Import Bank reauthorization for a vote, and let's get this economy growing again.

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