Kay Hagan: “I rise today to speak in support of the Cantwell-Johnson amendment to the JOBS Act. This amendment, which reauthorizes…”

“I rise today to speak in support of the Cantwell-Johnson amendment to the JOBS Act. This amendment, which reauthorizes the Export-Import Bank through 2015, is a critical step in our job-creation efforts here in Congress. We approved this bipartisan legislation out of the Senate Banking Committee by voice vote in October. It is fiscally responsible, bipartisan, and will allow U.S. businesses to create jobs by leveling the playing field for American exporters. If we do not act with urgency to pass this reauthorization, the Ex-Im Bank will not be able to guarantee new loans starting May 31. As our economy is finally showing some hopeful signs of recovery, now is not the time to let partisanship tie the hands of our small business owners who are ready to expand their companies and export their products. For decades, the Export-Import Bank has supported job creation in America. In fiscal year 2011, the bank supported nearly 300,000 American jobs throughout the country and $41 billion in exports. In North Carolina in 2007, the Ex-Im Bank supported over $1.8 billion in export sales by 169 companies, and 116 of those North Carolina companies are small businesses--the backbone of our economy. The Ex-Im Bank has made small business growth a top priority, and this is not just lipservice on their part.…”