House Republicans Block Votes on Ex-Im Renewal Bill
House Republicans blocked two Democratic attempts this week to bring renewal legislation for the Export-Import bank to the House floor, said House Financial Services ranking member Maxine Waters, D-Calif., in a March 18 statement (here). Waters is the lead sponsor of the Promoting U.S. Jobs through Exports Act of 2015, HR-1031, introduced in late February (see 1502250042).
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All Democrats in the House signed onto the bill. The bank’s charter will expire on June 30, and the Waters legislation would extend authorization for seven years, while making a number of reforms. Waters teamed up with Reps. Danny Heck, D-Wash., and Al Green, D-Texas, to try to force a vote using an arcane House rule, but Republican opponents obstructed the attempt, Waters said. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., introduced the legislation in the Senate on March 19 (here), and five other Democrats jumped on as lead co-sponsors.
Meanwhile, Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., led a bipartisan group of seven senators in introducing the Export-Import Bank Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2015, S-819, on March 19, as well. The bill would extend the credit agency's charter for only four years, and would also force a series of reforms. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp is the lead Democratic co-sponsor, but Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., also signed on. Manchin played an active role in failed attempts in the last Congress to extend the bank for a multi-year period (see 14071107).