12 U.S.C. § 635a
Management of Bank
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
The Chief Ethics Officer shall serve as the designated agency ethics official for the Bank pursuant to chapter 131 of title 5.
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.
For termination of amendment by Pub. L. 116–94, see Termination Date of 2019 Amendment note below.
The 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.
Provisions 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.
2022—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
Pub. L. 116–94, div. I, title IV, § 409(b),
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.
Pub. L. 112–122, § 9(b),
Amendment by sections 19–20(b)(1) of Pub. L. 112–122 effective
Act Aug. 9, 1954, ch. 660, § 4, 68 Stat. 678, provided that:
Pub. L. 114–94, div. E, title LI, § 51006(b),
Pub. L. 107–189, § 10(a),
Pub. L. 106–46, § 1(b),
Pub. L. 102–429, title I, § 117,
[Pub. L. 119–75, div. F, title VI,
[Prior to repeal, section 117(a) of Pub. L. 102–429 read as follows:
[Prior similar extensions of section 117(a) of Pub. L. 102–429 were contained in the following acts:
[Pub. L. 118–47, div. F, title VI,
[Pub. L. 117–328, div. K, title VI,
[Pub. L. 117–103, div. K, title VI,
[Pub. L. 116–260, div. K, title VI,
[Pub. L. 113–235, div. J, title VI,
[Pub. L. 113–76, div. K, title VI,
[Pub. L. 112–74, div. I, title VI,
[Pub. L. 111–117, div. F, title VI,
[Pub. L. 111–8, div. H, title VI,
[Pub. L. 110–161, div. J, title II,
[Pub. L. 109–102, title I,
[Pub. L. 108–447, div. D, title I,
[Pub. L. 108–199, div. D, title I,
[Pub. L. 108–7, div. E, title I,
[Pub. L. 107–115, title I,
[Pub. L. 106–429, § 101(a) [title I],
[Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(2) [title I],
[Pub. L. 105–277, div. A, § 101(d) [title I],
[Pub. L. 105–118, title I,
[Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, § 101(c) [title I],
[Pub. L. 104–107, title I,
[Pub. L. 103–306, title IV,
Pub. L. 102–429, title I, § 118,
Pub. L. 98–181, title I [title VI, § 614(b)],
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.
Advisory committees established after
Foreign Economic Administration and office of its Administrator terminated by Ex. Ord. No. 9630,
18 F.R. 3741, 67 Stat. 637
Prepared by the President and transmitted to the Senate and the House of Representatives in Congress assembled,
There 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.
There 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.
There 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.
All functions of the Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank of Washington are hereby transferred to the Managing Director.
The 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.
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.
The 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.
Sections 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
For 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.