Political Quotes

“our Nation's small manufacturer exporters are hurting across the Nation. The main city in the district I represent, Rockford, Illinois, has an economy based on 35 percent manufacturing, double the average of most U.S. cities. They already experience thin profit margins from stiff foreign competition, both here at home and in markets abroad. They have a problem with the strong American dollar; and in addition, those who use steel in their production now have to pay up to 30 percent more for the price of this raw material. There are very few banks that extend international finance; and for those that do, credit standards have tightened over the past year. This is on top of the huge regulatory and tax burden that they already face. Ex-Im Bank was one of the few government programs that actually serve small businesses. The number of small business exporters increased by more than three-fold between 1987 and 1999, going from 66,000 to 224,000. I am proud the Committee on Financial Services has greatly enhanced more of these loans that will be going to small businesses. This is not just about money going directly to Boeing to help that company; but when money goes for Boeing aircraft, it goes to 60 subcontractors in the district that I represent that provide $232 million worth of goods and services. That is good news for the employees at Dip Seal Plastics; Wells Manufacturing; Eclipse, Incorporated; and Ipsen International.”