Political Quotes

“I rise today to discuss two important issues--first, the Export-Import Bank. There is a lot about this place that puzzles me, but one of the things that this year has puzzled me the most is the movement to somehow defund or end the Export-Import Bank. I just don't get it. This is an agency of the Federal Government that has been extraordinarily effective. It creates jobs in the United States. It supports jobs. It supports American businesses. It supports small American businesses. It returns money to the Treasury. It fills a market niche that the private sector has been unwilling or unable to fill. This isn't competition with the private sector. This isn't the government doing something the private sector should do. This is the government filling a niche that has been identified for over 80 years. And it makes a difference. I have visited several small companies in Maine--I think there may be eight or so--that benefit directly from this program, which supports 2 percent of the financing of U.S. exports. We are engaged in intense global competition for the export of goods and services, and to unilaterally disarm by taking away one of the tools our businesses use just doesn't make any sense. I don't understand what the impetus is for this move to undermine this very valuable program that is important to our companies.…”