Heidi Heitkamp: “In fact, the case is nearly $16 billion worth of American business and American exports that create American jobs will…”

“In fact, the case is nearly $16 billion worth of American business and American exports that create American jobs will languish in the pipeline at the Ex-Im Bank because we foolishly let a charter expire at a time when we are in competition for exports, a competition for commerce throughout the world. When we debated trade promotion--and a lot of us took some tough votes on TPA--we were promised a vote that would be mutually agreed upon here so we could advance the Ex-Im Bank by the end of June. We haven't gotten that vote because today all we did was show--I think rightfully so--that we have tremendous support in this body for the Ex- Im Bank and we shouldn't be held hostage to the narrow ideology of a few.”