Letter to John Boehner, Speaker of the House - Export-Import Reauthorization Vote

Letter

The Honorable John Boehner
Speaker
H-232, The Capitol
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Speaker Boehner:

We, the Texas Democratic delegation, write to you today to express our grave concern for the quickly approaching deadline for the Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank and its potential impacts to Texas jobs and economic well-being of the Lone Star State. Additionally, we are particularly concerned by recent statements from Members of your Republican Caucus that play politics at the expense of U.S. businesses and their workers and cherry-pick slanted criticisms against the reauthorization.

As you know, Ex-Im expires on June 30, 2015 without congressional action. As Texas lawmakers, we have a responsibility to stand up for Texas before that date. This independent, self-sustaining agency with a rich bipartisan history -- lasting through 80 years of Republican and Democrat administrations and Congresses -- has a strong track record of economic growth and job creation for Texas, at no cost to the taxpayer.

If you and your Republican colleagues allow Ex-Im to shut down, Texas, of all the states, has the most to lose.

Texas jobs: Ex-Im supports more than 135,000 jobs.

Texas economy: Ex-Im provided financing for $22 billion in exports from the state since 2007, with a total export value of $31 billion.

Texas exporters: Ex-Im assists 1,647 total exporters in Texas, including 880 small businesses, 127 minority-owned businesses, and 58 women-owned businesses.

Texas industries: Ex-Im-supported a range of industries that are important to the Texas economy, including include oil and gas extraction, as well as machinery manufacturing and sales.

Considering the Ex-Im Bank's significant involvement in our state, its closure would inevitably negatively affect Texas businesses' participation in the domestic and international economies. Conversely, other industrial countries with Export Credit Agencies--such as China, Japan, or Korea--would gain significant international sales and contracting advantages if the United States Ex-Im Bank shuts down.

If we do not act, the past 80 years of bipartisan history will come to a screeching halt when the Ex-Im Bank expires in four legislative days.

While the chairman of the committee of jurisdiction remains opposed to the reauthorization, we request your thoughtful reconsideration to allow the House of Representatives to vote on a responsible reauthorization measure. Texas' businesses, workers, and future economic strength are relying on us to do the right thing.

Sincerely,

Joaquin Castro
Member of Congress

Gene Green
Member of Congress

Eddie Bernice Johnson
Member of Congress

Lloyd Doggett
Member of Congress

Rubén Hinojosa
Member of Congress

Henry Cuellar
Member of Congress

Al Green
Member of Congress

Beto O'Rourke
Member of Congress

Marc Veasey
Member of Congress

Filemon Vela
Member of Congress

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