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U.S. Congressman John LaFalce of New York (D-29th District), a leader on international trade issues and a strong advocate for small and women-owned U.S. businesses, will address the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) Annual Conference May 2 at 9 a.m. at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C.

LaFalce, ranking Democrat on the House Committee on Financial Services, has been a long-time supporter of Ex-Im Bank and its mission to finance U.S. exports and sustain and create U.S. jobs. He has particularly championed the cause of small business exporters.

Ex-Im Bank is the official export credit agency of the United States and provides loans, guarantees and export credit insurance in support of U.S. companies seeking to expand into the global marketplace. In fiscal year 2001, Ex-Im Bank authorized financing to support $12.5 billion of U.S. exports worldwide. Over the past five years, Ex-Im Bank has helped 378 New York State companies in 117 communities export $4.5 billion of goods and services, sustaining thousands of well-paying New York jobs. Nearly half of the companies were small businesses.

LaFalce has been a leading voice within the Democratic Party on the role of labor issues in international trade negotiations. During the 106th Congress, he fought hard and successfully to pass historic legislation on international debt relief and has recently launched an initiative to expand the debt relief program. For his international humanitarian work in Congress, LaFalce has been honored by Bread for the World and Oxfam America, two major global anti-poverty organizations.

At Ex-Im Bank's two-day conference May 2 and 3, small, medium and large U.S. companies can gain valuable information about financing tools to help them expand their businesses in foreign markets. Specialized workshops will brief participants on diverse Ex-Im Bank programs, financing deals in various global regions, the renewable energy marketplace, new trends in asset-based lending, and more.