WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today Congressman Warren Davidson (R-OH) voted against the partisan United States Export Finance Agency Act (H.R. 4863).

The bill, which passed on a partisan 235 -184 vote reauthorizes the Export-Import Bank for another ten years. The Export-Import Bank equips American companies with the export financing they need to compete in many markets. Other countries provide trade financing to home-grown companies, and without the trade financing provided by the EXIM Bank, American companies are at a competitive disadvantage in the global marketplace.

While this agency helps the U.S. economy by leveling the playing field for American businesses, House Republicans pushed for common-sense restrictions that would limit Chinese-backed companies’ ability to abuse the Bank’s financing and opposed restrictions that arbitrarily restrict American companies that export to the global energy sector.

Congressman Davidson offered an amendment to the bill that could prevent companies in China and Mexico from using EXIM trade credits if they do not cooperate with the U.S. government to limit trafficking in synthetic opioids, especially fentanyl. Unfortunately, Democrats broadly opposed the Davidson amendment.

Upon the bill’s passage, Rep. Davidson said:

"I’m disappointed that my colleagues across the aisle walked away from a thoughtful bipartisan compromise that would promote American competitiveness and prevent foreign abuse. The Export-Import Bank provides a valuable resource to American companies, including numerous businesses in Ohio. By rejecting reasonable measures, such as my amendment to prevent continued opioid trafficking, Democrats are delaying a re-authorization that is essential to growing American exports."

The bill was passed out of the House Financial Services Committee on a purely party-line vote after Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) refused to consider ways to exert better oversight of the bank and stop the Chinese Communist Party from taking advantage of U.S. taxpayers.

Export–Import Bank reauthorization faces an uncertain future, as both Leader McConnell and President Trump have expressed their opposition to the House version. Congressman Davidson supports efforts to reauthorize the bank provided there are reasonable reforms to the manner the bank operates.