Relating to A National Emergency By the President on February 2025

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this resolution rejecting President Trump's illegal tariffs on Canada--our friend, our neighbor, and our ally.

The truth of the matter is that the arguments on the other side of the aisle are to distract. The vast majority of fentanyl that comes into the United States comes from China and comes in via boats in our ports of entry.

They want to distract to take away from the real issue, which is that the Constitution is very clear that the power to levy tariffs and regulate trade belongs to the Congress, not to the President. Yet, too many in this body are willing to give up that authority because President Trump demands blind loyalty from them.

The fact is, we already have a trade agreement with Canada. President Trump negotiated it, and this body ratified it. There is a lawful review process that goes into effect next year to find ways to improve it.

That is how responsible governments handle trade disputes, by following the law, not through weird social media tantrums about bridges and hockey trophies or through childish threats to annex a sovereign nation and make it the 51st State.

His daily barrage against Canada does not make him look tough. It is certainly not strategic. It is just reckless. Frankly, it is bizarre.

We are now seeing the consequences of allowing the President's unhinged behavior go unchecked. American families, small businesses, and farmers are paying the price for these endless trade wars.

Trump's tariff tantrums have cost households more than $1,600 a year in higher prices. Families in the United States are paying more for groceries, cars, housing, utilities, the basic necessities. What about the deaths from families that are struggling from food insecurity? Do those not matter?

It is pushing our allies closer to our adversaries. Last month, Canada announced it was lowering its 100 percent tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. Those tariffs were imposed in coordination with the United States during the leadership of the Biden administration.

That cooperation strengthened our position against China.

Now, because of this administration's chaotic trade policies, that progress is unravelling. Rather than target the real bad actors, the President is picking fights with our friends. Instead of standing up for their constituents and defending Congress' constitutional authority over trade, most Republicans in this Chamber are surrendering it to the President choosing blind allegiance to him over the people that they are supposed to represent.

I commend the few Republicans who have the courage to break with the President and join with Democrats to force this vote. Reasserting our constitutional authority over trade should never have been a partisan issue.

I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. Let's restore sanity and stability to our American trade policy.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source