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Sens. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and 40 other Senate Democrats last week urged Senate Banking Committee Chairman Richard Shelby, R-Ala., to schedule a vote on the confirmation of Export-Import Bank nominee J. Mark McWatters, currently one of just two NCUA Board members.

"Since 2009, EXIM's Board of Directors has approved and disbursed financing for 478 transactions that have directly supported exports from more than 2,000 different companies, including more than 800 small businesses," the letter stated. "Should the committee fail to move forward with the nomination process, it will have a material, negative impact on jobs at small and large companies alike – as well as up and down the manufacturing supply chain – jeopardizing the livelihood of thousands of hard working men and women across the United States."

McWatters has been on the NCUA Board since 2014 and has said he plans to remain there until the Senate confirms him to the Export-Import Bank post. He was nominated by President Barack Obama to serve on the board of directors of the Export-Import Bank in January.

If McWatters is confirmed, the bank would have its necessary quorum of three out of five members. Morning Consult reported last week that leaders of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers also urged the Senate to move forward with the vote.

McWatters' confirmation and move to the Export-Import Bank's board would leave NCUA with two board vacancies and just one board member, Chairman Rick Metsger. The president has yet to name any nominee to fill the vacancy created this spring with the departure of its former chairman, Debbie Matz.