Missouri congressional delegation all-in on Ex-Im Bank revival

Good news from Washington D.C. where AIM’s lobbying efforts on behalf of the revival of the Export-Import Bank are meeting with a welcoming audience in our congressional delegation.

All eight members of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri voted in favor of the Ex-Im revival Tuesday. The final vote tally was 313-118 in favor, with all but one Democratic representative voting for the bill. The vote was almost evenly split on the Republican side with 127 voting in favor and 117 against.

The revival now moves on to the Senate, where Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell is opposed to the Ex-Im Bank. 65 members have voted in favor of the bank during a test vote earlier this session. McConnell says Ex-Im Bank revival will have to be passed as part of a bigger bill mostly dealing with highway funding.

Missouri Senators Roy Blunt and Claire McCaskill appear to be strong supporters of Ex-Im revival. In introducing a stand-alone revival bill earlier this year with a group of Senators from both parties, Sen. Blunt pointed out that the Ex-Im Bank helps both large and small businesses.

“Missouri job creators and thousands of workers in our state benefit from Export-Import Bank loans. I’m glad to co-sponsor this bipartisan bill, which will help Missouri workers stay competitive in a global economy,” said Blunt.

A press release from Blunt’s office goes on to say that in Missouri, since 2007 there have been 129 total Missouri exporters who have directly benefitted from Export-Import Bank assistance, including 83 small businesses. These numbers do not reflect the numerous business partners and interests that indirectly gain from the success of these exporting businesses. The top industries in Missouri benefitting from the Export-Import Bank include machinery manufacturing and sales, heavy and civil works construction, and food manufacturing and sales.

Sen. McCaskill has taken to the Senate floor on a couple of occasions to speak in favor of the Ex-Im Bank. Last week, McCaskill’s office issued a statement in support of House action to revive the bank bill.

“I’m grateful to the members of the U.S. House—especially the Republicans who had the courage to stand up to their party’s leadership to advance this incredibly important tool that helps American companies create jobs and succeed in an increasingly competitive global market. I’m disappointed that more Republican House members didn’t sign the petition, but I remain hopeful that we can quickly renew this lapsed agency that strengthens our economy, benefits small businesses, and generates billions for taxpayers,” McCaskill is quoted as saying.