NENSC Flash | NENSC Letter to Congress Supporting EXIM Reauthorization

On July 17, 2026, NENSC Executive Director Jay A. Tilden sent letters to the leadership of the House Committee on Financial Services and the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs urging Congress to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) and to strengthen the Bank's ability to support strategically important American exports — particularly in the global nuclear energy market.

The letters make the case that EXIM is not simply an instrument of commercial policy, but an essential national security institution. Countries around the world are making decisions today about nuclear power plants they will operate for the next 60 to 100 years. Those projects create decades-long partnerships spanning technology, fuel supply, workforce development, regulatory cooperation, cybersecurity, physical security, and nonproliferation — and the countries that supply them gain enduring strategic influence.

Russia and China treat nuclear exports and export financing as instruments of national power, offering state-backed financing, extended repayment terms, and coordinated packages of technology, fuel, construction, and diplomatic support. American companies compete on commercial terms and cannot independently match financing backed by the resources of foreign governments. A strong and fully operational EXIM closes that gap, allowing the United States to stand behind American technology and American workers while offering partner countries a credible alternative.

Because Congress reauthorizes EXIM only periodically, NENSC urged lawmakers to use this rare opportunity to align the Bank's authorities with the strategic competition the United States now faces. The letters recommend three provisions:

Protect EXIM against the loss of a Board quorum. Past quorum lapses have prevented the Bank from approving major transactions regardless of their commercial merit or strategic importance. Foreign competitors do not suspend their financing offers because of vacancies in their governments' appointment processes.

Reform the statutory default rate cap. The current portfolio-wide framework creates a structural disincentive against large, long-duration infrastructure projects. EXIM should be able to evaluate strategically important nuclear transactions on their individual merits — borrower strength, financing structure, national-interest benefits, and the competitiveness of the U.S. offer.

Preserve the full range of EXIM authorities and the flexibility to compete. Nuclear projects vary substantially in size, structure, ownership, and schedule. Reforms should strengthen — not narrow — the Bank's capacity to support major strategic exports.

Copies of the letters were shared with the full membership of both committees and with the NENSC Expert Council.

Downloads

Download the letter to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs (PDF)

Download the letter to the House Committee on Financial Services (PDF)