Joplin Globe - McCaskill Tours Joplin Company to Promote Import-Export Bank

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By Susan Redden

Companies such as American Ramp in Joplin could be the losers if Congress does not act to reauthorize the Import-Export Bank, U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill said this morning in Joplin.
McCaskill toured the Joplin company and met with company officials who said their business and its 83 workers would be hurt if the program is not reauthorized.

Jim Moss, president and CEO of the company that manufactures skateboard ramps, said American Ramp does business in 32 countries and the insurance provided by the bank has helped enable their expansion.

"It (exports) represents between 35 to 40 percent of our business and losing it would affect our entire workforce," he said.

McCaskill said the bank provides funding and support to American businesses to help them compete abroad. Congressional authorization of the program is set to expire Sept. 30. She said the program always has had broad bipartisan support in the past, including U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, but it now under attack by Tea Party forces.

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