On the recordNovember 4, 2015
I thank the gentleman. I agree with most of what the ranking member on Financial Services just said with the exception of the conclusion. Everything that the Export-Import Bank does for small businesses actually is very productive. So here is the question: Why isn't the Export-Import Bank meeting its small-business requirement? Why hasn't it met it? For the last 3 years, it has not met its statutory requirement. One of the things we have not talked about yet, Madam Chairman, is that the amendment also puts a penalty on the Bank for not meeting that target. Right now it is the law that the Bank has to provide a certain level of services to the small-business community. It has failed to do that. As is so often the case, there is no penalty. This amendment would add the penalty. It helps small business, it expands the Export-Import Bank's small- business presence, and it actually puts some teeth in the law for a change. For that reason, I hope that we can support this amendment.
