Ex-Im

Ex-Im Bank gets seven-year extension
The $1.37 trillion omnibus bill, which funds the U.S. government through Sept. 30, 2020, provides Ex-Im its longest authorization period ever, though still shorter than what some lawmakers had sought.

UK Export Finance steps up space sector focus
Britain’s export credit agency has long discussed more involvement in the satellite industry, but didn’t have any major deals to show for it until now.

Ex-Im Bank advocates push for 10-year authorizations
Supporters of the Export-Import Bank of the United States told Congress June 4 that the bank’s charter should last 10 years before requiring reauthorization instead of the three to five years normally allotted.

Senate confirms Ex-Im board nominees
Senators voted overwhelmingly to confirm three nominees for the board of the Export-Import Bank May 8, giving the bank the ability to approve large deals, including for the space industry, for the first time in years.

Senate committee blocks controversial Ex-Im Bank chairman nominee
The Senate Banking Committee rejected the White House’s controversial nominee to chair the board of the Export-Import Bank while approving four other board nominees, a step towards allowing it to start financing aerospace deals again.

Senate to hold confirmation hearing on Ex-Im Bank board nominees
For some in the space industry, the confirmation hearing they will be paying close attention to on the morning of Nov. 1 will not be the one by the Senate Commerce Committee to consider the nomination of Jim Bridenstine to be NASA administrator.

Trump nominates two former congressmen to Ex-Im Bank board
The White House announced April 14 that President Donald Trump had nominated to the board of the Export-Import Bank two former members of Congress, one of them a staunch critic of the bank’s lending practices.

U.S. Trade Representative nominee waiting for White House instructions on Ex-Im Bank
Robert Lighthizer told senators it would be up to President Trump to nominate new board members for the bank.

Ex-Im’s satellite-lending lapse didn’t stop Israel’s Spacecom from buying American
Spacecom is buying its newest spacecraft from an American supplier without relying on financial support from the Export-Import Bank of the United States, according to a company official.

Temporary spending bill could end Ex-Im Bank logjam
The Obama Administration is seeking language in a temporary spending bill Congress must pass by the end of September that would allow the Ex-Im Bank to resume approvals of large deals, including those involving commercial satellites.

Orbital targets July for 1st flight of redesigned Antares rocket
Satellite and rocket builder Orbital ATK on May 5 said its re-engined Antares medium-lift launch vehicle likely would make its first flight in July and would be nicely profitable for Orbital even if it wins no other customers beyond its current NASA space station resupply business.

Ex-Im Reauthorization, Budget Deal Herald a (Hopefully) Saner U.S. Congress
After several years of taking legislative dysfunction to new heights, the U.S. Congress has shown signs in recent weeks of a return to some semblance of sanity.

House Passes Ex-Im Bank Reauthorization Bill
The House of Representatives passed legislation Oct. 27 to reauthorize the U.S. Export-Import Bank, but the bill’s prospects in the Senate are uncertain.

Op-ed | Don’t Shoot Down the U.S. Space Industrial Base
Congress should act now to reopen Ex-Im’s doors and stop undermining one of our most dynamic industrial sectors.

Space-Related Bills Await Action By Congress
Congress expects to take up several key pieces of space-related legislation in the next few weeks, from reauthorization of the U.S. Export-Import Bank to the final version of a commercial space bill, two House members said Oct. 21.