Motion to Proceed to H.R.2072, ExIm Reauthorization

The Senate is now considering the motion to proceed to Calendar #396, H.R.2072, the Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act.  Senator Reid stated on the floor that he hopes we can pass this bill today.  The unofficial transcript of his remarks is below.

MR. REID: MR. PRESIDENT WE'RE NOW ON THE MOTION TO PROCEED TO

THE EX-IM BILL. I HOPE WE CAN PASS THE BILL TODAY. I HAVEN'T

HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TODAY TO SPEAK TO THE REPUBLICAN LEADER, BUT

I'LL DO THAT SHORTLY AND WILL DECIDE IF THERE'S A WAY FORWARD

ON THAT. SO I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE NEXT HOUR BE

DIVIDED AND CONTROLLED BETWEEN THE TWO LEADERS OR THEIR

DESIGNEES WITH THE MAJORITY CONTROLLING THE FIRST HALF AND THE

REPUBLICANS CONTROLLING THE SECOND HALF.

MR. REID: MR. PRESIDENT, ON A STRONG BIPARTISAN VOTE YESTERDAY,

THE HOUSE PASSED A PIECE OF COMMONSENSE JOB-CREATING

LEGISLATION, THE REAUTHORIZATION OF THE 130ER9 -- OF THE

EXPORT-IMPORT BANK. FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, THIS LEGISLATION HAS

HELPED AMERICAN COMPANIES GROW AND SELL THEIR PRODUCTS

OVERSEAS, CREATING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF JOBS, AND FOR YEARS THE

BANK HAS ENJOYED BROAD BIPARTISAN SUPPORT. IT PASSED BY

UNANIMOUS CONSENT ON ONE OCCASION AND BY VOICE VOTE ON ANOTHER

OCCASION. IT IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THE KIND OF SMART

INVESTMENTS CONGRESS SHOULD BE MAKING TO SPUR JOB GROWTH. SO I

HOPE THE SENATE WILL BE ABLE TO QUICKLY APPROVE THE

HOUSE-PASSED MEASURE TODAY AND DO IT BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT. I'M

OPTIMISTIC THAT THE 330-93 VOTE IN THE HOUSE YESTERDAY WILL BE

ENOUGH TO CONVINCE SENATE REPUBLICANS THEY SHOULDN'T HOLD UP

THIS LEGISLATION ANY LONGER. 330-93. THE PROCESS OF

REAUTHORIZING THE EXPORT-IMPORT BANK HAS TAKEN TOO LONG. I HOPE

WE DON'T HAVE TO FILE CLOTURE ON THIS MATTER, BUT I WILL, IF WE

MUST. LET ME REMIND YOU, MR. PRESIDENT ... THE SENATE

CONSIDERED REAUTHORIZING THIS IMPORTANT LEGISLATION IN MARCH,

TWO MONTHS AGO. SENATE REPUBLICANS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO

SUPPORT THE MEASURE THEN. INSTEAD, ALL BUT THREE OPPOSED IT,

AND THE MEASURE FAILED. THE AMERICAN EXPORTERS HAVE ALREADY

WAITED IN LIMBO FOR TWO MONTHS TO SEE WHETHER REPUBLICANS WOULD

COME AROUND TO BACKING THIS BUSINESS FRIENDLY, JOB-CREATING

ISSUES. BUSINESSES SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WAIT LONGER. WE CAN'T

AFFORD MORE OF THE PARTISAN OBSTRUCTION WE SAW ON THIS

COMMONSENSE LEGISLATION LAST MARCH. TO GET TO THE PRESIDENT'S

DESK, THIS CONGRESS AND EVERY PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT WE PASS

MUST GET TO HIS DESK OR IT DOESN'T BECOME LAW. SO TO DO THAT,

WE NEED DEMOCRATIC VOTES AND REPUBLICAN VOTES. THAT'S JUST A

REALITY. AND IT MEANS WE ABSOLUTELY MUST WORK TOGETHER IF WE

WANT TO GET ANYTHING DONE.