The Export-Import Bank of the United States shall constitute an independent agency of the United States and neither the Bank nor any of its functions, powers, or duties shall be transferred to or consolidated with any other department, agency, or corporation of the Government unless the Congress shall otherwise by law provide.
There shall be a President of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, who shall be appointed by the President of the United States by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and who shall serve as chief executive officer of the Bank. There shall be a First Vice President of the Bank, who shall be appointed by the President of the United States by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, who shall serve as President of the Bank during the absence or disability of or in the event of a vacancy in the office of President of the Bank, and who shall at other times perform such functions as the President of the Bank may from time to time prescribe.
There is established a Small Business Division (in this subsection referred to as the "Division") within the Bank in order to-
The President of the Bank shall appoint an officer, who shall rank not lower than senior vice president and whose sole executive function shall be to manage the Division. The officer shall-
The President of the Bank shall ensure that each operating division within the Bank has staff that specializes in processing transactions that primarily benefit small business concerns (as defined in section 632(a) of title 15).
The small business specialists shall be involved in all aspects of processing applications for loans, guarantees, and insurance to support exports by small business concerns, including the approval or disapproval, or staff recommendations of approval or disapproval, as applicable, of such applications. In carrying out these responsibilities, the small business specialists shall consider the unique business requirements of small businesses and shall develop exporter performance criteria tailored to small business exporters.
In an effort to maximize the speed and efficiency with which the Bank processes transactions primarily benefitting small business concerns, the small business specialists shall be authorized to approve applications for working capital loans and guarantees, and insurance in accordance with policies and procedures established by the Board. It is the sense of Congress that the policies and procedures should not prohibit, where appropriate, small business specialists from approving applications for working capital loans and guarantees, and for insurance, in support of exports which have a value of less than $25,000,000.
The Bank shall prominently identify the small business specialists on its website and in promotional material.
The evaluation of staff designated by the President of the Bank under paragraph (1), including annual reviews of performance of duties related to transactions in support of exports by small business concerns, and any resulting recommendations for salary adjustments, promotions, and other personnel actions, shall address the criteria established pursuant to subsection (h)(2)(B)(iii) and shall be conducted by the manager of the relevant operating division following consultation with the officer appointed to manage the Small Business Division pursuant to subsection (f)(2).
Staff recommendations of denial or withdrawal for medium-term applications, exporter held multi-buyer policies, single buyer policies, and working capital applications processed by the Bank shall be transmitted to the officer appointed to manage the Small Business Division pursuant to subsection (f)(2) not later than 2 business days before a final decision.
Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to prevent the delegation to the Division of any authority necessary to carry out subparagraphs (E) and (I) of section 635(b)(1) of this title.
There is established a management committee to be known as the "Small Business Committee".
The purpose of the Small Business Committee shall be to coordinate the Bank's initiatives and policies with respect to small business concerns (as defined in section 632(a) of title 15), including the timely processing and underwriting of transactions involving direct exports by small business concerns, and the development and coordination of efforts to implement new or enhanced Bank products and services pertaining to small business concerns.
The duties of the Small Business Committee shall be determined by the President of the Bank and shall include the following:
The Chairperson of the Small Business Committee shall be the officer appointed to manage the Small Business Division pursuant to subsection (f)(2). The Chairperson shall have the authority to call meetings of the Small Business Committee, set the agenda for Committee meetings, and request policy recommendations from the Committee's members.
Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the President of the Bank shall determine the composition of the Small Business Committee, and shall appoint or remove the members of the Small Business Committee. In making such appointments, the President of the Bank shall ensure that the Small Business Committee is comprised of-
The Chairperson shall provide to the President of the Bank minutes of each meeting of the Small Business Committee, including any recommendations by the Committee or its individual members.
The President of the Bank shall establish in the Small Business Division an office whose sole functions shall be to continue and enhance the outreach activities of the Bank with respect to, and increase the total amount of loans, guarantees, and insurance provided by the Bank to support exports by, socially and economically disadvantaged small business concerns (as defined in section 637(a)(4) of title 15) and small business concerns owned by women.
The office shall be managed by a Bank officer of appropriate rank who shall report to the Bank officer designated under subsection (f)(2).
To the maximum extent practicable, the President of the Bank shall ensure that qualified minority and women applicants are considered when filling any position in the office.
Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), the Bank may use an amount equal to 1.25 percent of the surplus of the Bank during fiscal years 2015 through 2019 to-
In paragraph (1), the term "surplus" means the amount (if any) by which-
The aggregate of the amounts used in accordance with paragraph (1) for fiscal years 2015 through 2019 shall not exceed $20,000,000.
The authority provided by paragraph (1) may be exercised only to such extent and in such amounts as are provided in advance in appropriations Acts.
There is established an Office of Ethics within the Bank, which shall oversee all ethics issues within the Bank.
The head of the Office of Ethics shall be the Chief Ethics Officer, who shall report to the Board of Directors.
Not later than 180 days after December 4, 2015, the Chief Ethics Officer shall be-
The Chief Ethics Officer shall serve as the designated agency ethics official for the Bank pursuant to chapter 131 of title 5.
The Office of Ethics has jurisdiction over all employees of, and ethics matters relating to, the Bank. With respect to employees of the Bank, the Office of Ethics shall-
There shall be a Chief Risk Officer of the Bank, who shall-
Not later than 180 days after December 4, 2015, the Chief Risk Officer shall be-
The duties of the Chief Risk Officer are-
There is established a management committee to be known as the "Risk Management Committee".
The membership of the Risk Management Committee shall be the members of the Board of Directors, with the President and First Vice President of the Bank serving as ex officio members.
The duties of the Risk Management Committee shall be-
12 U.S.C. § 635a
Termination of AmendmentFor termination of amendment by Pub. L. 116-94 see Termination Date of 2019 Amendment note below.
EDITORIAL NOTES
REFERENCES IN TEXTThe Trade Secrets Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(10)(C)(ii)(III), is probably a reference to section 1905 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure.
CODIFICATIONProvisions of subsecs. (b) and (c)(3) of this section, which prescribed the annual compensation of the President, the First Vice President, and other members of the Board of Directors, were omitted to conform to the provisions of the Executive Schedule. See sections 5314 and 5315 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.
AMENDMENTS2022-Subsec. (k)(2)(C). Pub. L. 117-286 substituted "chapter 131 of title 5." for "the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App. 101 et seq.)." 2019-Subsec. (c)(6). Pub. L. 116-94 designated existing provisions as subpar. (A) and added subpar. (B). 2015-Subsec. (g)(3). Pub. L. 114-94, §54002(c), substituted "$25,000,000" for "$10,000,000".Subsec. (j)(1). Pub. L. 114-94, §53002(1), substituted "2015 through 2019" for "2012, 2013, and 2014" in introductory provisions.Subsec. (j)(2)(B). Pub. L. 114-94, §53002(2), substituted "(i) the funds" for "(I) the funds". Subsec. (j)(3). Pub. L. 114-94, §53002(3), substituted "2015 through 2019" for "2012, 2013, and 2014".Subsec. (k). Pub. L. 114-94, §51004, added subsec. (k).Subsec. (l). Pub. L. 114-94, §51005, added subsec. (l).Subsec. (m). Pub. L. 114-94, §51006(a), added subsec. (m). 2012-Subsec. (c)(10). Pub. L. 112-122, §9(a), added par. (10).Subsec. (d)(1)(B). Pub. L. 112-122, §20(a), substituted "State government, and the textile industry" for "and State government".Subsec. (d)(5). Pub. L. 112-122, §20(b)(1), added par. (5).Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 112-122, §19, added subsec. (j).2006-Subsec. (c)(9). Pub. L. 109-438, §15, added par. (9).Subsec. (d)(1)(A). Pub. L. 109-438, §18(a)(1)(A), substituted "17" for "15".Subsec. (d)(1)(B). Pub. L. 109-438, §18(a)(1)(B), inserted "environment," before "production,".Subsec. (d)(2)(C). Pub. L. 109-438, §18(a)(2), added subpar. (C).Subsecs. (f) to (h). Pub. L. 109-438, §6(a), added subsecs. (f) to (h).Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 109-438, §14(a), added subsec. (i).2002-Subsec. (d)(2)(B). Pub. L. 107-189 realigned margins. 1999-Subsec. (c)(6). Pub. L. 106-46 amended par. (6) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (6) read as follows: "A majority of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum." 1997-Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 105-121, §8, designated existing provisions as subpar. (A) and added subpar. (B). Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 105-121, §6, designated existing provisions as par. (1) and added par. (2).1992-Subsec. (d)(1)(A). Pub. L. 102-429 substituted "15 members" for "twelve members".1986-Subsec. (c)(8)(E). Pub. L. 99-472 added subpar. (E).1983-Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 98-81, §614(a), designated first through seventh sentences as pars. (1) through (7), respectively, substituted "The" for "Terms of the directors shall be at the pleasure of the President of the United States, and the" at beginning of par. (5) as so designated, and added par. (8).Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 98-181, §613, amended subsec. (d) generally. Prior to amendment subsec. (d) read as follows: "There shall be an Advisory Committee of nine members, appointed by the Board of Directors on the recommendation of the President of the Bank, who shall be broadly representative of production, commerce, finance, agriculture and labor. The Advisory Committee shall meet one or more times per year, on the call of the President of the Bank, to advise with the Bank on its program. Members, not otherwise in the regular full-time employ of the United States, may be compensated at rates not exceeding the per diem equivalent of the rate for grade 18 of the General Schedule ( 5 U.S.C. 5332 ) for each day spent in travel or attendance at meetings of the Committee, and while so serving away from their homes or regular places of business, they may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by section 5703 of title 5 for individuals in the Government service employed intermittently."Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 98-181, §620(b), substituted "such individual's" for "his" and "such individual" for "he".1968-Subsecs. (a) to (c). Pub. L. 90-267, §1(a), changed name of "Export-Import Bank of Washington" to "Export-Import Bank of the United States".Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 90-267, §1(d), substituted provisions for compensation of members, not otherwise in the regular full-time employ of the United States, at rates not exceeding the per diem equivalent of the rate for grade 18 of the General Schedule for each day spent in travel or attendance at meetings of the Committee, and for allowance of travel expenses, when serving away from home or regular place of business, as authorized by section 5703 of title 5 for individuals in the Government service employed intermittently for former provisions for allowance for attendance at meetings and travel expenses of $50 and $10, respectively.1954-Act Aug. 9, 1954, amended section generally to provide for the independent management of the Bank under a Board of Directors and for the appointment of a President and First Vice President of the Bank.
STATUTORY NOTES AND RELATED SUBSIDIARIES
TERMINATION DATE OF 2019 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 116-94, div. I, title IV, §409(b), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 3026, provided that: "The amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall have no force or effect after December 31, 2026."
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2015 AMENDMENT Amendment by section 54002(c) of Pub. L. 114-94 applicable with respect to fiscal year 2016 and each fiscal year thereafter, see section 54002(e) of Pub. L. 114-94 set out as a note under section 635 of this title.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2012 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 112-122, §9(b), May 30, 2012, 126 Stat. 356, provided that: "The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [May 30, 2012]." Amendment by sections 19-20(b)(1) of Pub. L. 112-122 effective May 30, 2012, see section 25 of Pub. L. 112-122 set out as a note under section 635 of this title.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1954 AMENDMENTAct Aug. 9, 1954, ch. 660, §4, 68 Stat. 678, provided that: "The provisions of this Act for the appointment of a President and a First Vice President of the Bank and the members of the Board of Directors shall be effective upon its enactment [Aug. 9, 1954]. The remaining provisions of this Act shall become effective when the President and First Vice President of the Bank and one other member of the Board of Directors initially appointed hereunder enter upon office, and shall thereupon supersede Reorganization Plan No. 5 of 1953 [set out below]."
TERMINATION OF AUDIT COMMITTEE Pub. L. 114-94, div. E, title LI, §51006(b), Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1766, provided that: "Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 4, 2015], the Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States shall revise the bylaws of the Bank to terminate the Audit Committee established by section 7 of the bylaws."
UNTIED AID Pub. L. 107-189, §10(a), June 14, 2002, 116 Stat. 702, provided that:"(1) NEGOTIATIONS.-The Secretary of the Treasury shall seek to negotiate an OECD Arrangement on Untied Aid. In the negotiations, the Secretary should seek agreement on subjecting untied aid to the rules governing the Arrangement, including the rules governing disclosure."(2) REPORT TO THE CONGRESS.-Within 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act [June 14, 2002], the Secretary of the Treasury shall submit to the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate a report on the successes, failures, and obstacles in initiating negotiations, and if negotiations were initiated, in reaching the agreement described in paragraph (1)."
BOARD OF DIRECTORS; EXCEPTION TO QUORUM REQUIREMENT Pub. L. 106-46, §1(b), Aug. 11, 1999, 113 Stat. 227, as amended by Pub. L. 106-62, §122, Sept. 30, 1999, 113 Stat. 509; Pub. L. 106-85, 113 Stat. 1297; Pub. L. 106-88, 113 Stat. 1304; Pub. L. 106-94, 113 Stat. 1311; Pub. L. 106-105, 113 Stat. 1484; Pub. L. 106-106, 113 Stat. 1485, provided that: "Notwithstanding section 3(c)(6) of the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 [ 12 U.S.C. 635a(c)(6) ], if, during the period that begins on July 21, 1999, and ends on December 2, 1999, there are fewer than three persons holding office on the Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the entire membership of such Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum until the end of such period."
COMPENSATION OF EMPLOYEES Pub. L. 102-429, title I, §117, Oct. 21, 1992, 106 Stat. 2196, provided that: "[(a) Repealed. Pub. L. 102-429, title I, §117(b), Oct. 21, 1992, 106 Stat. 2196.]"(b) SUNSET.-Effective 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 21, 1992], subsection (a) is hereby repealed."(c) REPORT.-Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Export-Import Bank of the United States shall submit a report to the Congress on-"(1) the recruitment and employee retention problems of the Bank;"(2) any relief from such problems afforded by the Office of Personnel Management; "(3) any use of the authority provided in subsection (a); and"(4) the conclusions and recommendations of the Bank with respect to-"(A) whether such problems have been satisfactorily addressed; and"(B) whether or not the authority of subsection (a) should be extended."[ Pub. L. 118-47, 138 Stat. 753, provided in part: "That notwithstanding subsection (b) of section 117 of the Export Enhancement Act of 1992 [ Pub. L. 102-429 set out above], subsection (a) of such section shall remain in effect until September 30, 2024".][Prior to repeal, section 117(a) of Pub. L. 102-429 read as follows: "IN GENERAL.-The Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States may compensate not more than 35 employees of the Bank without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 or subchapter III or VIII of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code."][Prior similar extensions of section 117(a) of Pub. L. 102-429 were contained in the following acts: [ Pub. L. 117-328, 136 Stat. 4997.[ Pub. L. 117-103, 136 Stat. 588.[ Pub. L. 116-260, 134 Stat. 1716.[ Pub. L. 113-235, 128 Stat. 2598.[ Pub. L. 113-76, 128 Stat. 489.[ Pub. L. 112-74, 125 Stat. 1191.[ Pub. L. 111-117, 123 Stat. 3341.[ Pub. L. 111-8, 123 Stat. 859.[ Pub. L. 110-161, 121 Stat. 2290.[ Pub. L. 109-102, 119 Stat. 2173.[ Pub. L. 108-447, 118 Stat. 2969.[ Pub. L. 108-199, 118 Stat. 143. [ Pub. L. 108-7, 117 Stat. 160.[ Pub. L. 107-115, 115 Stat. 2119.[ Pub. L. 106-429, §101(a) [title I], Nov. 6, 2000, 114 Stat. 1900, 1900A-4.[ Pub. L. 106-113, div. B, §1000(a)(2) [title I], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1535, 1501A-64.[ Pub. L. 105-277, div. A, §101(d) [title I], Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681-150, 2681-151.[ Pub. L. 105-118, 111 Stat. 2387.[ Pub. L. 104-208, div. A, title I, §101(c) [title I], Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009-121, 3009-122.[ Pub. L. 104-107, 110 Stat. 705.[ Pub. L. 103-306, 108 Stat. 1623.]
REPORT ON REGIONAL OFFICES Pub. L. 102-429, title I, §118, Oct. 21, 1992, 106 Stat. 2197, directed Export-Import Bank, not later than 1 year after Oct. 21, 1992, to submit a report to Congress on the Bank's plan to establish and operate regional offices.
APPOINTMENT OF MEMBER OF BOARD TO REPRESENT INTERESTS OF SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY Pub. L. 98-181 title I [title VI, §614(b)], Nov. 30, 1983, 97 Stat. 1256, provided that: "In order to carry out the amendment made by subsection (a) regarding section 3(c)(8)(B) of the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 [subsec. (c)(8)(B) of this section], the first member, other than a member who will serve as Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Bank, appointed by the President of the United States to the Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States after the date of the enactment of this section [Nov. 30, 1983] shall be selected from among the small business community and shall represent the interests of small business."
BOARD OF DIRECTORS; ADVISORY COMMITTEE A Board of Directors and an Advisory Committee reestablished for the Export-Import Bank of Washington, see note set out under section 635 of this title.
TERMINATION OF ADVISORY COMMITTEES Advisory committees established after Jan. 5, 1973, to terminate not later than the expiration of the 2-year period beginning on the date of their establishment, unless, in the case of a committee established by the President or an officer of the Federal Government, such committee is renewed by appropriate action prior to the expiration of such 2-year period, or in the case of a committee established by the Congress, its duration is otherwise provided by law. See section 1013 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.
EXECUTIVE DOCUMENTS
TERMINATION OF FOREIGN ECONOMIC ADMINISTRATION Foreign Economic Administration and office of its Administrator terminated by Ex. Ord. No. 9630, Sept. 27, 1945, 10 F.R. 12245. REORGANIZATION PLAN NO. 5 OF 195318 F.R. 3741, 67 Stat. 637Prepared by the President and transmitted to the Senate and the House of Representatives in Congress assembled, April 30, 1953, pursuant to the provisions of the Reorganization Act of 1949, approved June 20, 1949, as amended [see 5 U.S.C. 901 et seq.].THE EXPORT-IMPORT BANK OF WASHINGTON
SECTION 1. THE MANAGING DIRECTORThere is hereby established the office of Managing Director of the Export-Import Bank of Washington, hereinafter referred to as the "Managing Director." The Managing Director shall be appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and shall receive compensation at the rate of $17,500 per annum.
SEC. 2. DEPUTY DIRECTORThere is hereby established the office of Deputy Director of the Export-Import Bank of Washington. The Deputy Director shall be appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall receive compensation at the rate of $16,000 per annum, shall perform such functions as the Managing Director may from time to time prescribe, and shall act as Managing Director during the absence or disability of the Managing Director or in the event of a vacancy in the office of Managing Director.
SEC. 3. ASSISTANT DIRECTORThere is hereby established the office of Assistant Director of the Export-Import Bank of Washington. The Assistant Director shall be appointed by the Managing Director under the classified civil service, shall receive compensation at the rate now or hereafter fixed by law for grade GS-18 of the general schedule established by the Classification Act of 1949, as amended [chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of Title 5], and shall perform such functions as the Managing Director may from time to time prescribe.
SEC. 4. FUNCTIONS TRANSFERRED TO THE MANAGING DIRECTORAll functions of the Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank of Washington are hereby transferred to the Managing Director.
SEC. 5. GENERAL POLICIESThe National Advisory Council on International Monetary and Financial Problems shall from time to time establish general lending and other financial policies which shall govern the Managing Director in the conduct of the lending and other financial operations of the bank.
SEC. 6. PERFORMANCE OF TRANSFERRED FUNCTIONS The Managing Director may from time to time make such provisions as he deems appropriate authorizing the performance of any of the functions of the Managing Director by any other officer, or by any agency or employee, of the bank.
SEC. 7. ABOLITIONThe following are hereby abolished: (1) The Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank of Washington, including the offices of the members thereof provided for in section 3(a) of the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945, as amended [subsection (a) of this section]; (2) the Advisory Board of the Bank, together with the functions of the said Advisory Board; and (3) the function of the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank of Washington of being a member of the National Advisory Council on International Monetary and Financial Problems. The Managing Director shall make such provisions as may be necessary for winding up any outstanding affairs of the said abolished boards and offices not otherwise provided for in this reorganization plan.
SEC. 8. EFFECTIVE DATESections 3 to 7, inclusive, of this reorganization plan shall become effective when the Managing Director first appointed hereunder enters upon office pursuant to the provisions of this reorganization plan.[A Board of Directors was reestablished for the Export-Import Bank of Washington by section 1 of act Aug. 9, 1954, ch. 660, 68 Stat. 677, which amended this section. The Board had previously been abolished and its functions transferred to the Managing Director of the Bank by Reorg. Plan No. 5 of 1953, set out above. The 1953 Reorg. Plan was superseded by sections 1, 4 of act Aug. 9, 1954. See this section and 1954 Amendment and Effective Date of 1954 Amendment notes set out above. The "Export-Import Bank of Washington" was renamed the "Export-Import Bank of the United States" by Pub. L. 90-267, §1(a), Mar. 13, 1968, 82 Stat. 47.]
UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE AND SECRETARY OF COMMERCE AS ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF EXPORT-IMPORT BANK OF THE UNITED STATESFor provisions directing that the United States Trade Representative and the Secretary of Commerce serve, ex officio and without vote, as additional members of the Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, see section 3 of 1979 Reorg. Plan No. 3, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.
- Director
- The term "Director" means the Director of the Bureau.
- State
- The term "State" means any State, territory, or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, American Samoa, or the United States Virgin Islands or any federally recognized Indian tribe, as defined by the Secretary of the Interior under section 5131(a) of title 25.
- person
- The term "person" means an individual, partnership, company, corporation, association (incorporated or unincorporated), trust, estate, cooperative organization, or other entity.