*GOP’s Export-Import Bank Shutdown

With Congress returning to session today, House Democrats, dozens of House Republicans, and business owners across the country will continue to urge Republican leaders to stop their ideological crusade against the Export-Import Bank and bring to the Floor legislation to re-open the Bank without delay.

As House Republicans attempt to explain to their constituents why they decided to shut down the Export-Import Bank and harm our economic competitiveness, take a look at a roundup of recent articles on how Republicans’ politically motivated shutdown is negatively affecting businesses across the country.

WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) spoke on the House Floor today in opposition to House Republicans' failure to reopen the Export-Import Bank before adjourning for the August District Work Period:

Yesterday, Speaker Boehner announced that today would be the last day of votes before the House adjourns for the August District Work Period. In their haste to leave town, House Republican leaders have clearly decided not to reopen the Export-Import Bank, even though it enjoys majority support in both chambers and plays a critical role in helping ensure American small businesses are competing on a level playing field with global competitors.

The Senate has now acted and approved a reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank, which both Democrats and Republicans agree supports thousands of American jobs.

MESSAGE FROM THE DEMOCRATIC WHIP

Before the end of the month, Congress must take action to reauthorize the Highway Trust Fund and reopen the Export-Import Bank – both of which will support jobs here in the U.S. Last week, the House passed a five-month reauthorization of the Highway Trust Fund, and I continue to urge the Senate to work in a bipartisan way to reauthorize the Highway Trust Fund before the July 31 deadline.

House Republicans’ misguided, ideological crusade against the Export-Import Bank is already harming American businesses across the country.

MESSAGE FROM THE DEMOCRATIC WHIP

Yesterday, I hosted the first hearing in a series of hearings called “Make It In America: What’s Next?” Since I launched the Make It In America jobs plan in 2010 to revitalize American manufacturing and support job creation, sixteen Make It In America bills have been signed into law.