NAM Urges Approval of Pending Ex-Im Bank Nominees
JANUARY 11, 2018
National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) President and CEO Jay Timmons sent a letter this week to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-TX), requesting that the Senate approve pending nominees to serve on the board of the Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank by the end of January.
Timmons said, “[Approving the nominees] will be beneficial to manufacturers of all sizes and types that rely on the tools that the Ex-Im Bank provides and will advance U.S. competitiveness in the global economy at a critical moment when overseas opportunities are increasing at a renewed pace. Failing to act on these nominations aids our competitors overseas while throwing Americans out of good paying jobs right here at home. While the United States sits on the sidelines, China has provided more trade-related investment support than the rest of the world combined.”
The Senate Banking Committee has approved the nominations of Claudia Slacik, former Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-AL), and Judith Pryor to serve as directors, and Kimberly Reed to serve as First Vice-President.
President Trump’s nominee to serve as the Ex-Im Bank’s president, former Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ), was rejected several weeks ago by the Senate Banking Committee because of longstanding concerns about his commitment to the Bank’s mission and how he would lead it.
Floor time has not yet been scheduled for consideration of the nominees by the full Senate.