House Democrats Seek to Reverse Emergencies for Canada, Mexico
Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, the top Democrat on the Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Richard Neal of Massachusetts, the top Democrat on the Ways and Means Committee, and four other Democratic members in the House introduced resolutions March 6 that, if successful, would end the emergencies that President Donald Trump is relying on to hike tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods.
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In order to impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, there has to be a declared emergency the president is reacting to. He says the tariffs are due to illegal immigration and fentanyl smuggling across the northern and southern borders.
Meeks said these are sham emergencies. The resolution must be brought to a floor vote within 15 days.
Neal said in the press release announcing the resolutions: "His trade war is fueling higher costs for the people and raises the question of whether the United States can be trusted to keep its word. ... Reining in the President’s authority is a matter of national security and how [to] put our economy first."