ARLINGTON, Va. — September 13, 2011 — The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), the
National Cotton Council (NCC), and the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) today
welcomed the successful mark up of the Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act of 2011 by the Senate
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee.
“Today’s successful mark up by the Senate Banking Committee is a welcome step toward
strengthening the U.S. apparel industry’s supply chain throughout the Western Hemisphere,” said
AAFA President and CEO Kevin M. Burke. “By better recognizing the needs of our industry’s global
supply chain, the Export – Import Bank through this reauthorization can help provide greater access
to supply chain financing to address the needs of U.S. companies in a globally competitive
environment and create more jobs here in the United States. I would like to thank Chairman Johnson
(D-SD) and Senator Hagan (D-NC) for their continued leadership on this important issue.”
“The U.S. cotton industry is pleased to see an opportunity for its textile customers to
expand exports of value-added products containing U.S. cotton, with the resulting benefits to our
nation’s farm income and job creation,” NCC President and CEO Mark Lange said.
“NCTO applauds Chairman Johnson (D-SD) and Senator Hagan’s leadership in recognizing the
opportunities that exist for US job creation and investment in the Western Hemisphere,” said NCTO
President Cass Johnson. “The textile and apparel supply chain is in critical need of liquidity in
order to spur new growth, investment, and jobs in the region. This has been the missing piece that
the Hemisphere sorely needs to attract new orders from brands and retailers. Committee approval of
the Ex-Im Reauthorization bill, containing important Bank improvements for the industry takes the
entire supply chain one step closer to addressing this crucial issue.”
To read the June 30, 2011 joint statement submitted the AAFA, NCC, and NCTO to the Senate
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Subcommittee on Security, International Trade, and Finance,
click
here.
American Apparel & Footwear Association
The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) is the national trade association
representing apparel, footwear and other sewn products companies, and their suppliers, which
compete in the global market. AAFA’s mission is to promote and enhance its members’
competitiveness, productivity and profitability in the global market by minimizing regulatory,
commercial, political, and trade restraints.
National Cotton Council
The National Cotton Council of America’s mission is to ensure the ability of all U.S. cotton
industry segments to compete effectively and profitably in the raw cotton, oilseed and
U.S.-manufactured product markets at home and abroad.
National Council of Textile Organizations
The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) is a unique association representing the
entire spectrum of the textile industry. From fibers to finished products, machinery manufacturers
to power suppliers, NCTO is the voice of the U.S. textile industry. There are four separate
councils that comprise the NCTO leadership structure, and each council represents a segment of the
textile industry and elects its own officers who make up NCTO’s Board of Directors.
Posted on September 13, 2011
Source: NCTO
