NEI reports bipartisan support for Ex-Im Bank reauthorization

The Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) announced last Thursday that there is bipartisan support for the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank of the U.S. (Ex-Im Bank) in the House of Representatives.

According to the NEI, a discharge petition was used to bring the reauthorization act to the floor for a vote and to bypass the House Financial Committee.

According to NEI Director of Supplier Programs Ted Jones, there are still challenges ahead including gaining a majority vote in the House and to bring the bill to the Senate floor for a vote.

"Our constituents expect us to fight for them and get the job done, but Congress has failed to even hold a vote to reform and reauthorize the Ex-Im Bank,” Reps. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), Stephen Fincher (R-TN) and Chris Collins (R-NY) said in a joint statement. “We refuse to look any more hardworking Americans in the eye and say, ‘you lost your job because Congress refused to hold a vote.'”

The NEI notes that another possibility would be to add the authorization bill to another bill that is considered to be a “must-pass” piece of legislation. In July, the Senate used a similar tactic to attach a similar reauthorization bill to the long-term Highway Trust Fund bill.

“The outreach to Congress from NEI member companies, their employees and suppliers helped to re-inject momentum in the fight to renew Ex-Im Bank,” Jones said. “It’s truly a watershed moment. However, much work remains to be done and NEI asks companies and their employees to redouble their efforts to contact elected representatives. You can express your appreciation for the help so far, but indicate we are not finished yet.”