Hoyer Sends Letter Requesting the Opportunity to Testify Against Garrett Nomination to Lead the Export-Import Bank

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) sent a letter to Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID), Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, formally requesting an opportunity to provide testimony against former Rep. Scott Garrett’s nomination to serve as President of the Export-Import Bank and Chairman of its Board. 
 
The Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on nominees to positions at the Export-Import Bank on Wednesday, November 1.  Since former Rep. Garrett’s nomination was announced, Hoyer has been among the most vocal opponents of placing at the helm of the Bank an individual who spent his time in Congress trying to eliminate it.  In 2015, Hoyer helped lead a successful bipartisan effort to end the shutdown of the Export-Import Bank and reauthorize it, against the opposition of Garrett and others who sought to close an agency that supports thousands of American manufacturing jobs every year. 
 
“Scott Garrett is precisely the wrong pick to lead the Ex-Im Bank,” Hoyer wrote in his letter.  “During his time in the House, he led efforts to block its reauthorization and played a key role in causing a lapse in its charter.  Nothing he has said or done since then suggests he would do anything at the Bank other than seek to carry out the same sabotage from the inside.  As Chairman, he would have extraordinary power to control the Board’s agenda and block its consideration of transactions that have the support of the rest of the Board – effectively keeping the Bank from playing its Congressionally-directed role of supporting American exporters.”

To read the full letter, click here or see below.

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October 25, 2017
 
The Honorable Mike Crapo, Chairman
Senate Committee on Banking
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
  
Dear Mr. Chairman:
 
I write to request an opportunity to testify at the Committee on Banking’s November 1, 2017 hearing for nominees to fill positions at the Export-Import Bank of the United States.
 
I strongly oppose the nomination of Scott Garrett to be President of the Ex-Im Bank and Chairman of its Board, and I would appreciate the chance to explain to the Committee why I believe he is the wrong choice to lead this institution. I believe his confirmation would threaten the important role the Ex-Im Bank plays in ensuring American companies can successfully export and compete against foreign companies that are strongly supported by their own country’s export credit agencies.  As you well know, the Ex-Im Bank boosts U.S. exports, supports thousands of American jobs, and has generated more than $7 billion in returns for the U.S. Treasury.  For these reasons, I am proud to have led the effort in securing strong bipartisan support for its last two reauthorizations over considerable but misguided ideological opposition.
 
Scott Garrett is precisely the wrong pick to lead the Ex-Im Bank.  During his time in the House, he led efforts to block its reauthorization and played a key role in causing a lapse in its charter.  Nothing he has said or done since then suggests he would do anything at the Bank other than seek to carry out the same sabotage from the inside.  As Chairman, he would have extraordinary power to control the Board’s agenda and block its consideration of transactions that have the support of the rest of the Board – effectively keeping the Bank from playing its Congressionally-directed role of supporting American exporters.
 
It is important for the Members of your Committee to fully understand the destructive role Mr. Garrett played during his tenure in the House and would undoubtedly continue at the Bank.  Therefore, I respectfully request that you allow me to testify against the Garrett nomination. 
 
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
 
Sincerely yours,
 
      STENY H. HOYER
 
cc. The Honorable Sherrod Brown, Ranking Member
The Honorable Bob Corker
The Honorable Catherine Cortez Masto
The Honorable Tom Cotton
The Honorable Joe Donnelly
The Honorable Heidi Heitkamp
The Honorable Dean Heller
The Honorable John Kennedy
The Honorable Robert Menendez
The Honorable David Perdue
The Honorable Jack Reed
The Honorable Mike Rounds
The Honorable Ben Sasse
The Honorable Brian Schatz
The Honorable Tim Scott
The Honorable Richard C. Shelby             
The Honorable Jon Tester
The Honorable Thom Tillis
The Honorable Patrick J. Toomey
The Honorable Chris Van Hollen
The Honorable Mark R. Warner
The Honorable Elizabeth Warren