Rep. Cleaver Demands Action to Save Ex-Im Bank, American Jobs As House Holds 60th Vote Against the Affordable Care Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. –Today, Congressman Cleaver called for immediate action to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank and protect American jobs. The charter of the Ex-Im Bank, a key support for American workers and American businesses looking to sell their goods overseas, expires on June 30 – in just one legislative day. Yesterday, instead of taking action on this legislation, the House of Representatives held its 60th vote to repeal or undermine the Affordable Care Act. House Republicans are planning to recess for the month on Thursday, allowing the charter to expire.
"It is outrageous that we continue to hold votes to undermine the Affordable Care Act, but refuse to stand with American workers and American businesses exporting their goods overseas," said Congressman Cleaver. "We must not put the pursuit of political tribalism above the jobs of hard-working Missourians – including the 9,397 people in Missouri whose jobs have been supported by the Ex-Im Bank since 2007."
In total, the Export-Import Bank has created or sustained 1.5 million private sector jobs since 2007, at no cost to the taxpayer. Three times in recent months, Democrats have moved to have the House consider legislation to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank's charter, but each time they have been blocked. Tonight, instead of addressing the impending Ex-Im charter deadline, the House will vote once again to undermine the Affordable Care Act, by repealing the Independent Payment Advisory Board and slashing the vital Prevention Fund, which funds such critical services as cancer screenings and childhood immunizations.
"We must stop trying to dismantle the newfound health security of millions of American families across the nation, and instead focus on the thousands of jobs and hundreds of companies supported by the Ex-Im Bank. Missouri does nearly 1.5 billion in export sales. Now is the time to act: we must renew the Ex-Im Bank and support American jobs," Congressman Cleaver concluded.
Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee, the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, and also a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. A high-resolution photo of Congressman Cleaver is available here.