Courtney statement on Discharge Petition to force vote on Export-Import Bank reauthorization | Congressman Joe Courtney
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Courtney statement on Discharge Petition to force vote on Export-Import Bank reauthorization

October 9, 2015

WASHINGTON—Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-2) released the following statement after the discharge petition he signed earlier today reached the 218 signature threshold, forcing a vote on the floor of the House to reauthorize the U.S. Export-Import Bank:

"Today, a bipartisan majority of the House successfully worked together to overcome an obstinate minority of House Republicans by passing the first discharge petition since 2002 to force an up-or-down vote on reauthorization for the U.S. Export-Import Bank. The bank costs nothing to taxpayers—in fact, the bank returns revenue to the U.S. Treasury each year."

"The Ex-Im Bank, which has provided low-cost financing for U.S. Companies exporting goods overseas since 1934, has been shuttered for months because of a revolt in the right wing of the House Republican conference—harming our economy and forcing layoffs in manufacturing. Connecticut companies have grown their export markets in recent years, supporting good jobs for workers in our state, but ending access to affordable financing threatens that progress. I am pleased that cooler heads prevailed today to push Ex-Im reauthorization forward to a vote, and I look forward to supporting it on the House floor soon."