Press Releases

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) today voted with 312 colleagues to reauthorize the Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank. House leaders had refused to allow an up-or-down vote to reauthorize the program that supports U.S. jobs, but a bipartisan group of 218 members of Congress signed a discharge petition to force a vote. The bill now heads to the Senate for further action.

“The temporary expiration of the Export-Import Bank was inexcusable and unnecessarily risked the success of hundreds of small-and-middle-market businesses in Washington state,” DelBene said. “Washington state exports some of the world’s best products, including airplanes, software, wine, dairy and produce. Our economy is reliant on these exports as well as identifying new markets. The Export-Import Bank helps connect our businesses with consumers around the world.

“It’s disappointing that it took a force of hand and a nearly four month lapse to finally get a vote on reauthorization. House leaders ignored thousands of American businesses and workers, while leaving them at a competitive disadvantage on the global stage.”

According to the Export-Import Bank, 33 businesses in Washington’s First District have received loans, with a total export value of $297 million since 2007.

“The Ex-Im Bank levels the playing field for U.S. companies involved in international trade by creating predictability and ensuring emerging market risk is reasonably mitigated,” said Ted Mischaikov, CEO of Healthy Pet in Ferndale, Wash. “As a medium market company with 75 percent of our growth being international exports, we need such infrastructure in place to keep jobs at home, products in transit and financials transparent.”

The Export-Import Bank serves as the export credit agency of the federal government, providing financial assistance both to U.S. businesses and foreign buyers at no cost to taxpayers. The Bank’s authorization expired on June 30, 2015, leaving U.S. businesses with uncertainty for nearly four months. Just last year, the Export-Import Bank supported more than 3,800 businesses and 160,000 American jobs while generating a $675 million surplus for taxpayers.

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