Senate Failed to Pass Ex-Im Bank Reauthorization on March 20

On March 20, 2012, the Senate voted twice and did not get enough votes to add an Export-Import Bank reauthorization amendment to H.R. 3606, the “Reopening American Capital Markets to Emerging Growth Companies Act of 2011.”¹ The amendment would have reauthorized the Ex-Im Bank through September 30, 2015, required it to promote textile and apparel component exports, banned certain Iran assistance, and reviewed domestic content guidelines.

Senator Reid (D-NV) said on the floor that, as there is no time on the Senate calendar for a stand-alone bill, “[Ex-Im Bank reauthorization] is going to drop to the bottom of the calendar because we have other things we have to do.” The Export-Import Bank reauthorization will expire the end of May 2012 unless it is extended by Congress.

¹H.R. 3606 also known as the “Jobs Bill,” passed the House on March 8, 2012.

(See ITT’s Online Archives 12032039 for summary of the Senate's consideration of the proposed amendment. See ITT’s Online Archives 11060324 for summary of the House Financial Services Committee's approval of the House Ex-Im Bank reauthorization bill (H.R. 2072). Text of H.R. 2072 as reported is available here.)

Senate Amendment 1836 (Ex-Im Bank Reauthorization) can be found here.

Senator Reid’s March 20, 2012 Senate floor statement on the Ex-Im Bank Reauthorization is available here.

March 20, 2012 Senate debate on the Ex-Im Bank Reauthorization is available here.