SIA Urges Senate to Support Ex-Im Bank and Confirm Board Nominations

Washington, D.C., September 25, 2017 – The Satellite Industry Association (SIA) today announced it was encouraged by the three additional nominations to the board of the Export Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) and urged the United States Senate to confirm the new nominees. The White House announced the nominations of Kimberly Reed to serve as First Vice President of the Bank. Judith Pryor and Claudia Slacik were also nominated to the Bank’s Board of Directors. The new nominees, if confirmed, would restore a quorum to the board and permit the Bank to provide credit support for projects exceeding $10 million.

Although the Ex-Im Bank charter was reauthorized by lawmakers in December of 2015, for more than 18 months it has been virtually closed to the satellite industry as lawmakers have failed to fill the Bank’s vacant board seats and provide the means necessary for Ex-Im Bank to provide credit support for projects in excess of $10 million.

“SIA is encouraged by these three additional board nominations to the Ex-Im Bank and the Association strongly urges the Senate to take the confirmation actions needed to restore the Bank’s financing capabilities,” said Tom Stroup, President of SIA. “In the $14 billion global satellite manufacturing market, government-backed Export Credit Agencies provide foreign manufacturers a competitive advantage when competing with U.S. companies. Ex-Im Bank can level the playing field and permit American satellite manufactures to reinforce their market leadership position.”

About The Satellite Industry Association

SIA is a U.S.-based trade association providing representation of the leading satellite operators, service providers, manufacturers, launch services providers, and ground equipment suppliers. For more than two decades, SIA has advocated on behalf of the U.S. satellite industry on policy, regulatory, and legislative issues affecting the satellite business. For more information, visit www.sia.org.

SIA Executive Members include: AT&T Services, Inc.; The Boeing Company; EchoStar Corporation; Intelsat S.A.; Iridium Communications Inc.; Kratos Defense & Security Solutions; Ligado Networks; Lockheed Martin Corporation; Northrop Grumman Corporation; OneWeb; SES Americom, Inc.; Space Exploration Technologies Corp.; SSL; and ViaSat, Inc. SIA Associate Members include: ABS US Corp.; Analytical Graphics, Inc.; Artel, LLC; Blue Origin: DataPath Inc.; DigitalGlobe Inc.; DRS Technologies, Inc.; Eutelsat America Corp.; Global Eagle Entertainment; Globecomm; Glowlink Communications Technology, Inc.; Hughes; Inmarsat, Inc.; Kymeta Corporation; L-3 Technologies, Electron Devices; O3b Limited; Panasonic Avionics Corporation; Planet; Semper Fortis Solutions; Spire Global Inc.; TeleCommunication Systems, Inc.; Telesat Canada; TrustComm, Inc.; Ultisat, Inc.; and XTAR, LLC. SIA Affiliate Members include: The Aerospace Corporation; COMSAT; HawkEye 360; Wiley Rein LLP

Media and PR Contact: Dean Hirasawa
Satellite Industry Association
Email: dhirasawa@sia.org
Endeavour Communications