Duckworth Votes To Support Local Businesses, Protect And Create Jobs In The Eighth District

Press Release

Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth (IL-08) voted to support small businesses and jobs in Illinois' 8th District by renewing the Export-Import Bank's authority to finance entrepreneurial efforts throughout the country, which expired earlier this year following Congressional gridlock. The "Ex-Im" Bank supported $27.4 billion in U.S. exports and 164,000 jobs in 2014 at no cost to taxpayers, but has been unable to provide new financing, credit or insurance to employers since July. Roughly 90% of the Ex-Im Bank's transactions directly supported small businesses seeking to sell their products overseas.

"Helping our employers grow and create jobs and opportunity isn't a partisan issue, and we should be doing everything in our power to rebuild our nation's manufacturing base and support Illinois workers," the Congresswoman continued."That's why I voted to reauthorize the Ex-Im Bank, which has supported more than 40 businesses--like Elk Grove's BLS Enterprises--and over 1,700 jobs in the 8th District in recent years without costing taxpayers a dime."

Information on BLS enterprises, just one of the 8th District manufacturers that rely on the Export-Import Bank, can be found here. In addition to her vote today, Congresswoman Duckworth has long worked to ensure our small businesses and entrepreneurs have access to the Bank's financial services by speaking out in support of Ex-Im on the U.S. House Floor, cosponsoring legislation and signing on to the discharge petition that ultimately forced House Leadership to bring the Bank's charter renewal to a vote this week.

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