NSBA, SBEA Applaud House Passage of Ex-Im Reauthorization

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Oct 28, 2015, 09:13 ET

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Small Business Association (NSBA) and its international arm, the Small Business Exporters Association (SBEA) applaud passage in the House of reauthorizing language for the Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im) of the U.S. Nearly four months after partisan politics shut down Ex-Im, the House voted overwhelmingly in support of the Bank with 313 lawmakers finally getting the opportunity to express their views on the record.

Below is a statement from NSBA President and CEO Todd McCracken.

"I would like to personally thank Rep. Stephen Fincher (R-Tenn.) who led the procedural maneuvering to finally bring this vote to the floor, along with the 127 Republicans and 186 Democrats—majorities in both parties—who voted for H.R. 579. Reauthorization of Ex-Im Bank was voted by NSBA's members among our priorities earlier this year.

"Ex-Im is one of those rare federal programs that both provides critical assistance to small firms—86 percent of its total transactions have been for small firms over the past five years—and returns funds to the U.S. Treasury – to the tune of nearly $1 billion in each of the last two years.

"Far too much time and attention has been spent on legislation that was hijacked by a small group of lawmakers pushing ideology over common-sense. Yesterday's vote is a clear signal that, even in our jaded system, sometimes the right thing does actually win out.

"I sincerely hope that the Senate follows course and allows a vote on Ex-Im reauthorization. As was clearly demonstrated by the House vote, this program has broad, bipartisan support, and enabling a small majority of lawmakers to stand in the way of progress is no way to do America's business."

Celebrating more than 75 years in operation, NSBA is a staunchly nonpartisan and member-driven organization advocating on behalf of America's entrepreneurs. NSBA's 65,000 members represent every state and every industry in the U.S. SBEA is the largest and oldest nonprofit association in the country dedicated exclusively to small- and mid-size exporters. Please visit www.nsba.biz or www.sbea.org or follow us at @NSBAAdvocate.

SOURCE National Small Business Association