U.S. Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) aligned with a bipartisan majority of her fellow legislators in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 27 to pass a measure which would reauthorize the Export-Import Bank until Sept. 30, 2019.

The Export-Import Bank helps Arizona businesses expand their manufacturing capacity and exporting ability, which in turn creates jobs and grows the state’s economy.

The organization’s charter, which expired on June 30, 2015, has garnered support for renewal among many, the Export-Import Bank having supported $1 billion in exports from companies in Arizona and $213 million in exports from companies in Arizona’s 9th District between 2007 and 2015.

Additionally, the Export-Import Bank transferred more than $1 billion into the U.S. Treasury in 2014.

“The Export-Import Bank helps create jobs and grow Arizona’s economy,” said Congresswoman Sinema. “The Export-Import Bank supports Arizona businesses, like ServerLIFT of Phoenix and MarTek Inc. of Tempe, as they increase their global exports and hire more employees. Reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank is a bipartisan solution to keep Arizona businesses competitive and thriving.”

Tucson-born Sinema, the U.S. Representative from Arizona's 9th congressional district and Congress’ first openly bisexual member, embraces environmentalist causes while eschewing the limitations of labels, once stating that Americans deserve “freedom of religion and freedom from religion.” Sinema helped defeat a same-sex marriage ban in Arizona in 2006. She holds M.S.W., J.D. and Ph.D. degrees from Arizona State University.