As Prepared for Delivery
A video of these remarks is here.
Mr. President, I rise in opposition to this legislation, but make no mistake, I fully support taking tougher action against Russia. They have waged a deadly, years-long war on Ukraine, and the United States must do more to tighten the screws on Vladimir Putin’s war machine.
Russia’s war of aggression is being propped up by bad actors purchasing oil and gas from Russia. The United States should put tougher sanctions on these bad actors. We should isolate them and cut them off from financial services to deprive Russia of the income it’s using to attack Ukraine.
I am fully in favor of strong sanctions. But this bill—despite its title—is not just a sanctions bill.
It gives Trump massive new tariff authority that he can use to threaten our trading partners and raise prices on the American people.
This bill gives him so much discretion that Trump can ultimately decide what countries to tariff, or what countries to exempt. And he can modify tariffs at his will.
Over the last year and a half, Americans have seen what Trump will do with nearly unfettered tariff authority.
Americans have seen how Trump’s tariffs have raised prices for Americans and their families on everything from food to housing to health care.
Americans have seen small businesses and family farms shut down because they can’t afford massive new taxes on machinery and merchandise.
His tariffs go on again and off again, disrupting supply chains and making it impossible for businesses to plan, invest, and hire.
Our allies—including Canada and the EU—are openly questioning the reliability of the United States and are looking to other countries for more stable trade relationships.
And Donald Trump turns the tariff dial up and down to punish or reward countries as he likes. He is corruptly taxing the American people to settle his personal political scores.
If Congress passes this bill, members will be condoning the tariff chaos of the last year and a half—and inviting more.
This bill gives Trump clear authority to put tariffs up to 100% on the goods Americans buy from major trading partners around the globe.
This includes 100% tariffs on things like food, medicine, machinery, electronics, and toys.
Congress would even be letting Trump put tariffs on allies like Hungary, Slovakia, France, Belgium, and Japan.
Trump can pick and choose even more countries to tariff every 180 days, but there is no mechanism in this bill for Congress to roll back these tariffs.
Trump can increase or decrease tariffs just by notifying Congress of his decision. Trump is not going to be constrained by paperwork. Colleagues, this body has been fighting tooth and nail to stop Trump from abusing the laws already on the books. Trump has shown us repeatedly that he will not be limited by the spirit of the law. He will use any loophole to slap tariffs on our allies and make life more expensive for Americans.
Donald Trump’s tariffs are raising prices, hurting our alliances, and opening the door to corruption.
This bill will further increase the cost of living for American families, while they are already struggling.
It would be a nightmare for the Americans who want to see their government tackle the affordability crisis.
It would be a dangerous mistake to sign our names on a blank check that would give Trump even more power.
A web version of these remarks is available here.
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