FORMER SENATOR MAX CLELAND JOINS EX-IM BANK BOARD OF DIRECTORS [Espanol]
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Former U.S. Senator Max Cleland was sworn in yesterday afternoon (Monday, Dec. 15) as a member of the board of directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank). President George W. Bush nominated Cleland for the position on Nov. 21, 2003, for a term expiring January 20, 2007. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on December 9, 2003.
I am excited about the opportunity to take a new step forward in my career in public service, Cleland said. The Ex-Im Bank focuses on good-paying jobs for Americans. That's what the Bank is all about. That's what I'm all about.
Cleland has a long and distinguished career in public service at the state and national levels in both the executive and legislative branches of government.
Recently he served as a Distinguished Adjunct Professor to the American University (AU) Washington Semester Program, and as a Fellow in AU's Center for Congressional & Presidential Studies. He also served on the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, to report findings and recommendations to prevent future terrorist attacks.
Cleland successfully ran for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Senator Sam Nunn in 1995. He served on four Senate Committees: Armed Services; Commerce, Science and Transportation; Governmental Affairs; and Small Business. Previously, Cleland had the distinction of serving as the youngest Secretary of State in Georgia's history, and the youngest member of the Georgia State Senate.
Under President Jimmy Carter, Cleland became the youngest head of the U.S. Veterans Administration. In that capacity, he instituted the revolutionary Vets Center program that, for the first time, offered psychological counseling to combat veterans to heal the emotional wounds of war.
Cleland holds a masters degree in American History from Emory University. He majored in history at Stetson University. Both institutions subsequently awarded him honorary doctorate degrees. Cleland grew up in Lithonia, GA.
Ex-Im Bank is an independent federal agency that assists in financing the export of U.S. goods and services to developing markets around the world, through export credit insurance, loan guarantees and direct loans. In fiscal year 2003, Ex-Im Bank helped to finance approximately $14.3 billion of U.S. exports worldwide.