Reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank is currently awaiting action by Congress, but the clock is ticking. Congress must move quickly to support American jobs by passing a long-term and robust reauthorization of the Ex-Im Bank by September 30.

The National Association of Manufacturers is coordinating a business industry letter to send a clear message of urgency to Congress that American workers cannot afford a shutdown of our nation’s export credit agency.

Please sign onto the letter below and join us in support of the swift reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank today!

This letter is open to companies along with business and industry associations, state and local chambers and allied organizations.

The deadline sign onto this letter is September 6 at 8:00 p.m. EDT. We plan to deliver this letter to Capitol Hill on September 10.

If you have any questions please contact Linda Dempsey, Vice President, International Economic Affairs at ldempsey@nam.org

Thank you for your consideration and support.

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Letter to Congress in Support of Export-Import Reauthorization

September 10, 2019

Dear Congressman:

On behalf of the undersigned manufacturing, agriculture and service companies from across the United States, we urge you to move quickly to support American jobs, exports and industry by passing a robust and long-term reauthorization of the U.S. Export-Import Bank before its charter expires on Sept. 30, 2019.

In an increasingly competitive and uncertain global marketplace, America cannot afford to lose any opportunity to level the playing field and advance our country’s leadership. That is why without quick action to secure a long-term and robust Ex-Im Bank reauthorization that fixes past quorum issues, thousands of American exporters and tens of thousands of American workers who rely on the Ex-Im Bank will be put at risk—and broader U.S. national interests, too. When the Ex-Im Bank’s activities were recently hobbled due to the lack of a board quorum, the National Association of Manufacturers estimated that manufacturers in America lost $119 billion in output, which translated into 80,000 fewer American manufacturing jobs in 2016 and 2017 alone. With the Ex-Im Bank now fully functioning for the first time in more than four years, we simply cannot allow another harmful lapse to occur again.

Access to foreign markets is critical to creating and sustaining good, high-paying jobs in our communities and growing productive and competitive American industries. Yet, workers and industries throughout the United States would again face unprecedented challenges in accessing those markets if the Ex-Im Bank were to lose its ability to function again. From China, Russia and Brazil to France, Germany and Canada, more than 90 governments around the world have recognized the importance of having well-functioning export credit agencies of their own and are actively deploying substantial export financing tools to support their own domestic industries and workers—at the expense of ours.

To remain competitive in the global market, workers and industries throughout America need long-term certainty that the Ex-Im Bank will be able to continue serving as a vital “lender of last resort” when U.S. exporters are unable to obtain financing or related export services from commercial banks. For these exporters, whether a small business or a large company and its many suppliers, the Ex-Im Bank is often the difference between winning and losing a deal, growing a business or shutting its doors, hiring workers or risking jobs. Since 2000, the Ex-Im Bank has facilitated nearly $450 billion in exports from thousands of U.S. companies and supported at least 2.5 million American jobs.

Congress has the opportunity to move forward quickly to ensure American competitiveness and prosperity through the long-term and robust reauthorization of the Ex-Im Bank. We ask that you seize it because time is of the essence for our nation’s workers and job creators.

Sincerely,