Senate defeats GOP’s latest ‘Obamacare’ repeal, votes to revive Export-Import Bank

WASHINGTON, July 26 (UPI) — In a rare weekend session, the U.S. Senate made a couple moves on Sunday to keep President Barack Obama’s signature health care law on the books — and resurrect a federal credit agency after it remained dormant for 30 days.

The Export-Import Bank of the United States operated through June 30, but shut down after that. Sunday’s move in favor of reopening the agency is expected to send the proposal to a far more divided House of Representatives this week.

The Senate voted 67 to 26 on the measure, which was attached to a three-year highway and infrastructure bill expected to pass this week. The Senate, though, still needs to finalize a final version of the proposal reauthorizing the bank’s reopening.

If the bank reopens, analysts believe it will be a major blow to conservative Republicans — who believe the agency is an unnecessary element of the federal government’s fiscal apparatus, the New York Times reported.

“With more than 60 export credit agencies enabling our foreign competitors to seize opportunities away from workers, it’s critical that Congress restores this important tool for American exports,” the National Association of Manufacturers’ President, Jay Timmons, said Sunday.

It wasn’t clear Sunday whether the House would take up the issue, as it may not even bring the proposal to the floor for a vote. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Oh., said last week he is waiting to see what exactly the Senate sends.

The government is trying to renew the Highway Trust Fund — which provides money for roads and transportation-related costs. The fund is expected to run out of money Friday if Congress doesn’t reauthorize it.

Senators also voted Sunday to defeat the GOP’ latest attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act, known colloquially as “Obamacare.”

A total of 49 senators voted to repeal the ACA and 43 opposed it. At least 60 votes were needed to overcome a Democrat-led filibuster, USA Today reported.