The majority of Republicans, along with House Democrats, passed a bill reauthorizing Ex-Im through 2019, 313-118.
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A drive by traditionally Republican-friendly groups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers focused on the assistance the bank provides to small businesses.
While the votes are a big victory for supporters of the bank, its unclear whether it will lead to passage in the Senate.
Asked Tuesday if Ex-Im reauthorization would get floor time amid a packed legislative schedule, McConnell told reporters on Tuesday: Well, no, not in the Senate. The bill’s fate remains uncertain in the Senate. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., however, opposes the bank and said Tuesday that he won’t bring the House stand-alone measure up for a vote. House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, had refused to move a bill, calling the bank’s activities “crony capitalism” that was unnecessary in a free market.
He also argued that the bank has been linked to several fraud investigations.
An unlikely coalition of conservative and moderate House Republicans and all House Democrats joined forces Tuesday to resuscitate the Export-Import Bank of the United States.
Ex-Im’s charter expired June 30.
Proponents of the bank forced a House vote through a rarely used procedure known as a discharge petition. The ExIm Bank is a valuable tool supporting exports in the aerospace and defense industry – the leading export industry in the USA manufacturing sector with a trade surplus of almost $62 billion. It is extremely hard for members in the majority to defy their party’s leadership to force a vote. “This is a Republican-led discharge petition that follows regular order and gives individual members a path forward when a committee fails to act”.
Among those to take to the floor in opposition to the bill was Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., who in a matter days will likely become House speaker, succeeding John Boehner, R-Ohio. Are we going to reward good work or good connections?
This is about us being competitive all around the world, Fincher said.
I think they never should have tried to do what they did to Mark [Meadows], Jordan said in an interview, referring to the North Carolina Republican punished by GOP leaders earlier this year for voting against a rule. He also does not support the use of discharge petitions.
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The Export-Import Bank operated for decades without controversy, but past year, tea party Republicans and their conservative allies such as Heritage Action for America made a decision to try to discontinue the bank. Once it was forced to the floor, even a majority of Republicans favored the measure – 127 of them, versus 117 opposed.
