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Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act of 1997

Public Law 105-121 · S. 1026 · 105th Congress · began in the Senate

Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on Nov 26, 1997 · Foreign Trade and International Finance

Sponsor: Sen. Rod Grams (R-MN)

Cosponsors (5): Sen. Alfonse D’Amato,

Passage votes

  • HouseVoice vote
  • SenateUnanimous consent
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act of 1997 - Amends the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 to extend the authority of the Export-Import Bank of the United States through FY 2001. Reauthorizes the Bank's tied aid credit program.

(Sec. 4) Extends from FY 1997 through 2001 Bank authority to provide financing for the export of nonlethal defense articles or services whose primary end use will be for civilian purposes.

(Sec. 5) Revises Bank procedures governing the denial of the extension of credit to foreign countries based on the national interest to: (1) require the President to consult with specified congressional committees before determining that such a denial is in the U.S. national interest; and (2) require written notification to the President of the Bank of such determination, including the applications or categories of applications for credit which should be denied.

(Sec. 6) Directs the General Counsel of the Bank to designate an attorney to serve as Assistant General Counsel for Administration, whose duties shall include oversight of and advice to Bank directors, officers, and employees on personnel and other administrative law matters.

(Sec. 7) Requires the Board of Directors of the Bank to: (1) take prompt measures to promote the expansion of its loan, guarantee, and insurance programs in sub-Saharan Africa; (2) establish an advisory committee to advise it on the implementation of policies and programs to support such expansion; and (3) report annually to the Congress on steps it has taken to implement such policies and programs and any advisory committee recommendations.

(Sec. 8) Revises the composition of the Advisory Committee of the Bank to include the appointment of not fewer than two members from the labor community.

(Sec. 9) Directs the President of the Bank to: (1) enhance the Bank's capacity to provide information about its programs to small and rural companies which have not previously participated in them; and (2) report to the Congress on such activities within one year of enactment of this Act.

(Sec. 11) Includes child labor as a human rights criterion that could serve as the basis for a presidential determination that an application for Bank credit should be denied for nonfinancial or noncommercial considerations.

(Sec. 12) Requires the President, if the Russian military or Government has transferred an SS-N-22 missile system to China and such transfer represents a threat to U.S. security, to notify the Bank as soon as practicable. Directs the Bank Board of Directors to deny any guarantee, insurance, or extension of credit in connection with purchases of Russian goods or services if so directed by the President.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 32 actions.

  1. Nov 26, 1997Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 105-121.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Nov 19, 1997PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Nov 9, 1997Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the conference report Agreed to by voice vote.
  5. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  6. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the conference report Agreed to by voice vote.
  7. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Castle moved to suspend the rules and agree to the conference report, H. Rept. 105-392.
  8. Nov 8, 1997Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report by Unanimous Consent.
  9. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report by Unanimous Consent.
  10. Nov 7, 1997Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report H. Rept. 105-392 filed.
  11. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report H. Rept. 105-392 filed.
  12. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conferees agreed to file conference report.
  13. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference committee actions: Conferees agreed to file conference report.
  14. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference papers: Senate report and managers' statement and official papers held at the desk in Senate.
  15. Oct 31, 1997Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to request for conference. Appointed conferees. D'Amato; Grams; Hagel; Sarbanes; Moseley-Braun.
  16. FloorFloor · Senate disagreed to the House amendment to the Senate bill by Unanimous Consent.
  17. Oct 7, 1997FloorFloor · Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill and House requests a conference.
  18. Oct 6, 1997Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  19. Resolving differencesResolving differences · The Speaker appointed conferees: Leach, Castle, Bereuter, LaFalce, and Flake.
  20. Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House insist upon its amendment, and request a conference Agreed to without objection.
  21. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Castle asked unanimous consent that the House insist upon its amendment, and request a conference.
  22. FloorFloor · A similar measure H.R. 1370 was laid on the table without objection.
  23. FloorFloor · On passage Passed without objection.
  24. FloorFloor · The House struck all after the enacting clause and inserted in lieu thereof the provisions of a similar measure H.R. 1370. Agreed to without objection.
  25. FloorFloor · Mr. Castle asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table and consider.
  26. FloorFloor · Considered by unanimous consent.
  27. Sep 16, 1997FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
  28. Sep 10, 1997CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee
  29. Aug 1, 1997CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee
  30. Jul 17, 1997CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.