Crapo Convenes Hearing on Export-Import Bank Nominees

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, today delivered the following remarks during a full committee hearing on the nominations of The Honorable Scott Garrett, of New Jersey, to be President of the Export-Import Bank; Ms. Kimberly A. Reed, of West Virginia, to be First Vice President of the Export-Import Bank; The Honorable Spencer Bachus III, of Alabama, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank; Reappointment as a Member of the Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank; Ms. Judith Delzoppo Pryor, of Ohio, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank; Ms. Claudia Slacik, of New York, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank; Reappointment as a Member of the Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank; and Mr. Mark L. Greenblatt, of Maryland, to be Inspector General of the Export-Import Bank. 

The text of Chairman Crapo’s remarks, as prepared, is below.

“This morning we will consider six nominations for the Export-Import Bank, or EXIM. 

“The Honorable Scott Garrett to be President of the Export-Import Bank; Ms. Kimberly Reed to be First Vice President of the Export-Import Bank; The Honorable Spencer Bachus the Third to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank; Ms. Judith Delzoppo Pryor to be a member of the Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank; Ms. Claudia Slacik to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank; and Mr. Mark Greenblatt to be Inspector General of the Export-Import Bank. 

“Welcome to all of you, and congratulations on your nominations. 

“I see friends and family behind you and I welcome them here today, as well. 

“President Trump has expressed his support for EXIM, noting it can help small businesses and U.S. competitiveness. 

“Congressman Garrett has echoed this sentiment, assuring that, if confirmed, he will carry out the President’s vision with regard to EXIM. 

“He is a longtime public servant, who will bring transparency and efficiency to the Bank’s operations. 

“Congressman Garrett has committed to pursue regular EXIM Board meetings to transparently and thoroughly review the Bank’s transactions. 

“He has also committed that under his leadership, the Bank will remain fully functional, operating in a fair manner to support American jobs and provide maximum value to the U.S. taxpayer. 

“We also have four other highly-qualified nominees for the Board to consider today.  

“Each has a wealth of relevant government and private sector experience, including my good friend, former Representative Spencer Bachus. 

“Spencer and I were elected to the House of Representatives in the same term and worked closely together in the House for a number of years. 

“He is a pragmatic conservative, and has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to promoting economic opportunity. 

“His experience and demeanor will be an asset to the Bank’s Board. 

“Ms. Reed, who is nominated to serve as First Vice President, has been Senior Advisor to former Treasury Secretaries Paulson and Snow, has served on several Congressional committees, and has held impressive leadership positions in the private sector. 

“Ms. Slacik is a seasoned finance professional with a breadth of trade finance, commercial lending, and risk management experience, most recently serving as Chief Banking Officer and Senior Vice President of Export Finance at EXIM. 

“Ms. Pryor has spent the majority of her career working with international businesses, most recently serving as the Vice President of External Affairs at the Overseas Private Investment Corporation. 

“The Office of the Inspector General, for which Mr. Greenblatt is nominated, is independent and plays an important role of promoting efficiency in EXIM programs and detecting fraud, waste, and abuse. 

“Mr. Greenblatt has extensive senior-level experience in the Inspector General and oversight community, including serving in two Cabinet-level offices of Inspector General. 

“He also has more than five years conducting oversight in the U.S. Senate.  

“Together, this diverse slate of nominees is well-poised to move the Bank forward in a positive manner. 

“I look forward to hearing each of the nominees’ ideas and goals for helping address opportunities and challenges facing the Bank, supporting small business exports, and protecting taxpayers by prudently managing the Bank’s portfolio. 

 “Congratulations on your nominations, and thank you and your families for your willingness to serve.”

###