DeGette, Colorado Business Leaders Call on Congress to Reauthorize the Export-Import Bank

DENVER – Today, U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (CO-01) and Colorado Business Leaders called on Congress to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank before the charter expires at the end of September.

"The Export-Import Bank is a vital lifeline for businesses and Congress needs to act to support jobs in Colorado and across the nation," said Rep. DeGette. "The Export-Import Bank provides businesses with critical resources to compete in the global economy and increases exports of products made right here at home."

Rep. DeGette is an original cosponsor of H.R. 4950, Protecting American Jobs and Exports Act, which would reauthorize the Export-Import Bank for 7 years. According to the Colorado Business Roundtable, 680,000 jobs in Colorado are tied to exports and imports. In Colorado's 1st Congressional District, the Export Import Bank has supported 17 companies (including 14 small businesses) with close to $100 million in exports since 2007. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. exports have accounted for a third of overall economic growth in U.S. in the last five years and now account for almost 14 percent of our total economy.

Rep. DeGette was joined by:

• Jeff Wasden, President, Colorado Business Roundtable
• Tom Teynor, CEO, Coolerado Corporation
• Ed Johnson, President & CEO, Advanced Probing Systems
• Alan Ziglin, VP and CFO Fiberlok
• Chuck Ward, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce
• Kristy Schloss, President and CEO, Schloss Engineered Equipment and Chair, Rocky Mountain District Export Council

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