US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) released the following statement on Senate Republicans’ budget:
“This budget is totally irresponsible—it will damage our economy and hurt kids and seniors. President Trump and Senate Republicans are forcing a reckless budget that will cut the services and programs Americans rely on to finance over $4 trillion of tax cuts for Elon Musk and their billionaire friends.”
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia
Today, President Trump announced the rollout of a sweeping set of tariffs that will raise the cost of everyday goods for ordinary Georgians
The tariffs will increase costs on many consumer purchases, including cars and groceries, and risk the loss of Georgia manufacturing jobs
Today’s announcement will directly harm Georgia’s agriculture and manufacturing sectors
Senator Reverend Warnock is the Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness
Senator Reverend Warnock: “Today’s tariffs announcement won’t make Georgians’ lives easier or more affordable, but instead will make life more expensive”
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), ranking member of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness, issued the following statement after President Trump rolled out a sweeping set of tariffs that raise the prices of everyday goods, like groceries.
“I was sent to the Senate to advocate on behalf of Georgians from across the state, to help bring down their everyday costs, to fight to protect their jobs, and to help more people afford things like a car and a home.”
“Today’s tariffs announcement won’t make Georgians’ lives easier or more affordable, but instead will make life more expensive.”
“The chaos of these tariffs will raise the prices of cars, groceries, housing, and so much more, all while putting American farmers, the backbone of our state’s economy, in the middle of an international trade war that will only lead to reduced access to foreign markets and even shuttered farms.”
“Tariffs can be a good tool to protect American jobs and force other nations to play by the rules. But when they are imposed in such an unpredictable, chaotic, and sweeping manner, it is the average American who will bear the brunt in the fallout of these actions.”
“I will continue to fight back on any actions that put Georgia and American families in overwhelmingly burdensome financial situations. These tariffs won’t help anybody and will wreck our economy.”
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia
Senator Reverend Warnock collected and submitted over 250 questions from Georgians to Social Security Administration (SSA) nominee Frank Bisignano about how he would protect Social Security if confirmed
The questions were compiled from over 500 stories sent in from Georgia seniors and family members who are deeply worried about the future of Social Security
Bisignano is required to answer questions before his final confirmation vote out of the Senate Finance Committee
Last week, Senator Reverend Warnock questioned Bisignano during his confirmation hearing in front of the Senate Finance Committee
Senator Reverend Warnock: “Georgians had questions about the Trump administration’s overall disdain and callousness toward people who depend on their social security benefits to live”
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) submitted over 250 questions from concerned Georgians to Social Security Administration (SSA) nominee Frank Bisignano to answer following his confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee. The 261 questions were pulled from over 500 responses from Georgia seniors and family members who have concerns about the future of social security in the state.
“Georgians asked about this nominee’s plans to ensure their benefits are not disrupted by DOGE. They asked about Elon Musk accessing their personal data. They asked about disability wait times and approval backlogs. But by far most Georgians had questions about the Trump administration’s overall disdain and callousness toward people who depend on their social security benefits to live,” said Senator Warnock when submitting the questions for the record.
During last week’s hearing, Senator Warnock questioned Bisignano on his commitment to keep all field offices in the state open for Georgia seniors and increase staffing at Georgia field offices. Several weeks before the hearing, SSA announced it was making access to benefits more difficult for seniors, no longer allowing individuals to apply for benefits or request a direct deposit change over the phone. These and other proposed changes at the SSA could lead to an increase of 7 million visits to field offices per year across the country, and an estimated 200,000 additional visits in Georgia alone. Senator Warnock remains committed to ensuring Georgians can easily and efficiently access their benefits that they have paid into over their lifetime.
Questions submitted to Bisignano are available HERE:
Bisignano’s responses are available HERE:
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)
April 2, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE), issued the following statement after the Trump Administration signed an executive order instituting reciprocal tariffs on foreign nations that conduct trade with the United States:
“President Trump is delivering on his campaign promises to level the playing field and stand up for the American people. Reciprocal tariffs will ensure equal treatment for American businesses. The President is working to reshore jobs lost overseas and secure our supply chains. He is working to open new markets for our nation’s agriculture products. He is demonstrating to foreign adversaries like China that we will no longer be taken advantage of.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (38th District of CA)
WASHINGTON – Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Linda T. Sánchez (D-Calif.) today introduced the Closing the De Minimis Loophole Act, the most comprehensive bill to close a loophole that has harmed American consumers and families and gutted U.S. manufacturing by allowing illicit goods—like fentanyl, counterfeit products, and items made with forced labor—to enter the United States through relaxed import requirements for low-value packages.
Foreign bad actors are exploiting a customs process known as “de minimis” entry, which allows packages valued under $800 to enter the country without tariffs and through a simplified process. As the number of these shipments has surged in recent years, Customs and Border Protection has struggled to identify and block packages containing illicit drugs, counterfeit goods, items produced with forced labor and other illegal products.
“Closing the de minimis loophole is essential to protecting American manufacturing and shielding families from fentanyl and other dangerous products,” said Ranking Member Sánchez. “Countries like China are exploiting this loophole to bypass our trade laws and ship harmful or low-quality goods directly to homes. By closing the loophole, we can level the playing field for American workers, keep families safe from fentanyl, and prevent other dangerous products from entering our communities undetected.”
The Closing the De Minimis Loophole Act is endorsed by the National Council of Textile Organizations, the National Association of Police Organizations, Facing Fentanyl and the United Steelworkers.
“On behalf of the U.S. textile industry, I want to sincerely thank Congresswoman Sánchez for her leadership in introducing critical legislation today aimed at permanently closing the destructive de minimis loophole to commercial shipments from China and notably all countries,” said Anderson Warlick, chairman and CEO of Parkdale Mills. “Over 4 million de minimis packages valued at $800 or less are now entering the United States every day with virtually no scrutiny or inspection – half are estimated to be textile and apparel products. De minimis is a black-market duty-free superhighway of goods hiding forced labor and illegal products and putting our essential industry out of business. Congresswoman Sánchez’s bill would finally stop the abuse of this loophole. This legislation would also help restore a level playing field for the U.S. textile industry, which has lost 27 plants in the past 20 months. We believe the congresswoman’s bill is the strongest, most comprehensive legislation to date that will counter global predatory trade practices and address the de minimis crisis we are all facing. This bill has our strongest support, and we will do all we can to get this bill over the finish line.”
“Facing Fentanyl strongly supports Congresswoman Sánchez’s Closing the De Minimis Loophole Act,” said Andrea Thomas, founder, Facing Fentanyl. “This critical piece of legislation takes a significant step toward closing the dangerous loophole that has allowed deadly fentanyl and other illicit substances to enter the United States undetected, putting our communities and families at grave risk.
“As an organization representing over 200 fentanyl awareness groups and thousands of families who have lost loved ones to fentanyl poisoning, Facing Fentanyl knows firsthand the devastating impact of this epidemic. This bill is a necessary and urgent measure to protect future generations from the same tragic fate. We thank Congresswoman Sanchez for her leadership and urge Congress to act quickly to pass this bill and bring an end to the flow of fentanyl into our communities.”
“Law enforcement is battling the trafficking of illegal narcotics on multiple fronts, including the international mail system. The de minimis loophole is severely exacerbating the opioid crisis by allowing fentanyl and other illegal opioids to enter our country largely uninspected. The closure of this trade loophole is vital to removing significant fentanyl trafficking routes into this country and is essential to any national strategy to end the fentanyl crisis,” said Bill Johnson, executive director of the National Association of Police Organizations. “NAPO supports the Closing the De Minimis Loophole Act and the efforts of Congresswoman Sánchez to ensure the de minimis trade exemption will no longer be a gateway for illicit drugs and goods to cross our borders.”
“As a member of the bicycle industry I strongly support the efforts of Congresswomen Sanchez to close the de minimis loophole,” said Patrick Cunnane, Stoker Strategies, bicycle industry consultant and advisor to Hyper Bicycles. “I learned while CEO of the largest specialty retailer of bicycle products how harmful the de minimis loophole was to my business. Today’s bill levels the playing field for USA based retailers while protecting consumers from counterfeit and unsafe products. At the same time generating revenue by collecting tariffs that all USA based companies must pay.”
The Closing the De Minimis Loophole Act:
Ranking Member Sánchez was joined by supporters of the bill at a press conference earlier today. That press conference can be viewed HERE.
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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (38th District of CA)
WASHINGTON – Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Democrats released the following joint statement in response to President Trump’s 25 percent tariffs against Canada and Mexico that went into effect today:
“President Trump is threatening our economy with these damaging, unnecessary tariffs. He is on the verge of sparking several trade wars that will be fought on multiple fronts, including against some of our closest friends and allies, upending the international trading system the United States worked to create.
“The consequences will be devastating – costs will increase on everything from gas to groceries, making it even harder for American families to make ends meet. At the same time, that he’s raising prices at the supermarket, President Trump is jeopardizing hundreds of thousands of American jobs. President Trump is starting a trade war and American families are caught in the cross-fire.
“Americans simply cannot afford to be caught in endless trade wars. Democrats on the Trade Subcommittee are united in rejecting these irresponsible tariffs designed to increase revenue for more tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy. We also call on our Republican colleagues to work with us to reassert Congress’ role in setting strategic, stable trade policies and to invest in the American economy, instead of abdicating their responsibilities to President Trump and Elon Musk.”
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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (38th District of CA)
WASHINGTON – House Ways and Means Committee members Congresswoman Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.) and Congressman Mike Carey (R-Ohio), along with Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), today reintroduced the Credit for Caring Act, a bipartisan bill that would create a new tax credit of up to $5,000 for working family caregivers.
“Caring for both of my parents after they were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s has given me a personal understanding of the emotional, physical, and financial challenges families face when caring for a loved one,” said Congresswoman Sánchez. “Family caregivers – two-thirds of whom are women – often juggle work, family responsibilities, and the time and financial demands of caregiving. The Credit for Caring Act will ease some of these challenges by providing much-needed financial relief through a tax credit for home care and adult day care.”
“We know that families want to support their loved ones through illness, disability and aging in place. The Credit for Caring Act offers relief to caregivers, allowing them to prioritize their loved ones and worry less about the effects on their family budget,” said Congressman Carey. “This tax credit would offset costs American families have to bear to care for their loved ones and provides flexibility to care for them in the way that works best for their family’s situation. I hope my colleagues join me in the effort to pass it.”
“The Credit for Caring Act is a great tool to help ease the financial burden caregivers face, and I am proud to join with my colleagues in reintroducing this bill that aims to accomplish that,” said Senator Capito. “Like so many Americans, I helped care for both of my parents as they battled Alzheimer’s at the end of their lives, and therefore, I understand the emotional and physical toll it can take on individuals and families. By passing this bill, we can help caregivers focus more on their loved ones and less on how much it will cost them.”
“Family caregivers play a critical role in the lives of their loved ones, often at a significant financial cost to themselves. They have to balance jobs and family responsibilities, and still make ends meet at the end of the month,” said Senator Bennet. “Congress should make things a little easier for them. Our bipartisan bill will help ease the financial burden that many caregivers face in Colorado and across the country, and I’m grateful for the support of my colleagues in both chambers of Congress.”
“America’s family caregivers put family first, helping their parents, spouses and others stay at home,” said Nancy LeaMond, executive vice President and chief advocacy and engagement officer, AARP. “They spend thousands of dollars every year on this care, while juggling work and family responsibilities. We urge Congress to put money back into the pockets of hardworking family caregivers by passing the Credit for Caring tax credit.”
“This crucial legislation offers much-needed financial relief for the invaluable contributions of family caregivers, who often sacrifice their own financial stability to care for loved ones, while juggling work and caregiving responsibilities,” said Jenny Carlson, state director, AARP. “This act also represents a significant step towards supporting our aging population and ensuring that families can continue to provide high-quality care at home. It also benefits employers by reducing the financial strain on employees who balance work and caregiving responsibilities, leading to a more productive and engaged workforce. We urge Congress to pass this vital legislation, which will have a profound impact on the well-being of families, the economy, and the overall health of our communities.”
“AMAC Action, the advocacy affiliate of the Association of Mature American Citizens – with over 2 million members nationwide, proudly supports the Credit for Caring Act because family caregivers are the foundation of our nation’s long-term care system. Millions of Americans selflessly provide care for their loved ones, often at great personal and financial sacrifice. This legislation is a commonsense solution that provides much-needed relief to those who shoulder this responsibility. By easing the financial burden on caregivers, we can help ensure seniors receive the care they need while preserving their independence and dignity,” said Andy Mangione, senior vice president, AMAC Action.
“With over 11 million Americans caring for a loved one living with Alzheimer’s, our nation must take action to help with the staggering financial toll of caregiving,” said Robert Egge, president, AIM and chief public policy officer, Alzheimer’s Association. “Thank you to Rep. Carey and the other lead sponsors for introducing the bipartisan Credit for Caring Act, which will provide real help to family caregivers across the nation. We look forward to working with you to ensure this critical legislation is signed into law.”
BACKGROUND
Caregiving is time-consuming, physically taxing, and it can also be expensive. Currently, family caregivers spend over $7,200 a year, on average, on out-of-pocket on caregiving expenses.
The Credit for Caring Act is supported by a number of groups, including AARP, Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s Impact Movement, Home Care Association of America, AMAC Action, Family Business Coalition and American Seniors Housing Association.
The full text of the bill can be found HERE.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (38th District of CA)
WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez (D-Calif.) released the following statement in response to President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress:
“Between the self-congratulatory nonsense, the hate-filled rhetoric and the outright lies, President Trump didn’t bother to tell the American people how he was going to improve their lives.
“He had the audacity to stand before the country and claim he’s restoring the American dream.’ Are you kidding me? The chaos he’s unleashed since taking office has pushed that dream further out of reach for hardworking families.
“Republicans in the chamber might have cheered as he smugly laid out his plan to gut everything this country stands for, all so the rich can get another tax break. But the American people aren’t buying it.
“Americans have had enough of the empty words, the hollow promises and the constant division. They’re tired of a president who only cares about himself.”
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Source: Office of United States Attorneys
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Jackie Marie Peters, 53, of Mansfield, Texas, was sentenced on March 31, 2025, by United States District Judge G. Murray Snow to 18 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Peters previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Defraud.
From approximately January 2020 through April 2022, Peters’s co-conspirators hacked into an Arizona tax-preparer firm’s computer network and modified in-progress tax documents for more than 40 individuals without their knowledge or the knowledge of the firm. Peters then opened 10 bank accounts at different banks, and numerous tax refunds based upon the modified tax documents were deposited into those accounts. Peters ultimately transferred more than $2.5 million from the accounts that received fraudulent tax refunds to purchase cryptocurrency.
The IRS Criminal Investigation Phoenix Field Office conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-23-00948-PHX-GMS
RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-047_Peters
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Wilson Oswaldo Galvan-Lope, 25, a citizen of Guatemala, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with illegal reentry, which carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas M. Testani, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on March 24, 2025, Homeland Security Investigations special agents were conducting surveillance on an Orange Street residence in Rochester, targeting Galvan-Lope, an illegal alien under investigation for being a found in the United States after being deported. As a truck exited the driveway of the residence, agents noticed that the driver appeared to resemble of the photograph of Galvan-Lope. They conducted a vehicle stop near the intersection of Whitney Street and Lyell Avenue. Through routine questioning of identity documents and record checks, the agents determined that Galvan-Lope and two passengers in the vehicle had no immigration status in the United States. All three were taken into immigration custody. Galvan-Lope was previously ordered deported from the United States in May 2023.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Galvan-Lope made an initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Colleen D. Holland and was ordered detained.
The criminal complaint is the result of of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Source: Office of United States Attorneys
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging seven defendants for their roles in a narcotics conspiracy. Named in the indictment and charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and fentanyl are:
In addition, defendants Woods, McCullough, and Holt are also charged with possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The defendants face a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $10,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Adler, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, between April 2023, and February 2025, the defendants conspired to sell cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl. During the conspiracy, defendants Winnie Taru Woods and Sharron McCullough would purchase bulk quantities of narcotics from cartels in Mexico for later resale by others in Buffalo, New York City, and elsewhere. Gary Sudesh Gosine, Sr. was one of their sources of supply in Mexico. Defendants Holt, Patillo, Dyer, and Shannell Gosine, took numerous trips to and from Texas, New York, and other cities, transporting the narcotics and bulk currency. On May 7, 2024, Holt, while traveling back from Texas, was stopped by the Ontario County, NY, Sheriff’s Office and arrested after being found in possession of nine kilograms of cocaine and 3.5 kilograms of methamphetamine in his trunk.
The defendants have all been arraigned. Defendants Woods, McCullough, Gary Sudesh Gosine, Sr. and Patillo were detained. Defendants Holt, Dyer, and Shannell Gosine were released on conditions.
“This case falls within the parameters of Operation Take Back America,” stated U.S. Attorney DiGiacomo. “The Operation Take Back America initiative focuses resources on the elimination of cartels, such as the ones allegedly involved in this case, in an effort to protect our communities from the members of these criminal organizations.”
HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan stated, “As alleged, the defendants conspired with Mexican cartels to traffic deadly narcotics into the U.S., across the country and into our New York communities. The unified strength and versatility of the U.S. federal law enforcement system, together with our state partners, has once again stopped an allegedly dangerous drug trafficking organization in its tracks. Securing the homeland from dangers posed by foreign organizations and threats is among HSI’s top priorities. We are relentlessly prepared to confront bad actors seeking financial gain by whatever means necessary.”
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
The indictment is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarantino, New York Field Division. Additional assistance was provided by the Ontario County, NY, Sheriff’s Office, the 23rd Judicial Taskforce, Tennessee, as well as Homeland Security Investigations in NY, and Houston and Austin, Texas.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Source: Microsoft
Headline: AI revolutionizes search: Key insights from Microsoft Accelerate
AI took center stage at this year’s Microsoft Advertising Accelerate, our flagship event for advertisers. Held in the vibrant Dominican Republic, industry leaders, digital marketers, and technology enthusiasts gathered to explore the forefront of digital marketing innovations, with this year’s event heavily focused on AI and its transformative impact on the industry. Microsoft Bing’s Fabrice Canel unveiled several transformative strategies designed to enhance AI search capabilities and help marketers deliver more precise, contextually relevant results.
Reflecting on the impact of AI, Fabrice remarked, “AI is fundamentally reshaping search, creating a full-scale disruption that marketers can’t afford to ignore. As traditional SEO practices become obsolete, those who fail to adapt risk falling behind.”
He highlighted how AI-powered experiences are reshaping search behavior, resulting in fewer but more impactful clicks and streamlined conversion paths. Enhanced customer experiences now feature conversational searches, anticipatory decision-making, and the prioritization of authoritative information, effectively reducing misinformation and driving higher conversion rates.
Some of Fabrice’s key highlights from Accelerate include:
Embracing these strategies is essential for staying competitive in the evolving digital landscape. By optimizing for conversions through fast, seamless, and action-driven landing pages, marketers can leverage AI-driven insights to anticipate user needs, deliver hyper-personalized content, and streamline decision-making processes, ultimately improving the quality of clicks and boosting conversion rates.
Stay tuned to the Bing Webmaster Blog for more insights from Fabrice’s presentation at Microsoft Advertising Accelerate and on SEO and GEO in AI search engines.
To further enhance your understanding of AI and how AI-driven chatbots and virtual agents are transforming the customer journey, download “A marketer’s guide to chatbots and agents: from generative AI to ROI.”
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
***TODAY: Senate to vote on a resolution to reverse Trump’s tariffs on Canada—Trump’s trade war with Canada, which has resulted in severe, 25 percent retaliatory tariffs on nearly all goods, is already seriously hurting WA businesses and agriculture industry***
Washington state is one of the most trade-dependent states in the U.S., with 40 percent of WA jobs tied to international commerce
Senator Murray: “Trump’s refusal to accept basic economic realities or listen to the desperate pleas of American businesses, farmers, and families who can’t afford his costly tariffs is risking serious economic catastrophe and pushing our country toward a Republican recession.”
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on President Trump’s reckless and sweeping new tariffs, which are expected to go into effect later today and will raise costs, and severely harm Washington state businesses, agriculture, and our overall economy. A recent analysis found that Trump’s tariffs could raise costs on the average American household by $5,200 a year—and these price hikes on working families are coming at the very same time that Republicans are forcing through Congress massive new tax cuts for billionaires.
The Senate will also vote today on a resolution from Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) that would reverse Trump’s tariffs on Canada by nullifying the emergency declaration issued by President Trump that underpins them. The resolution requires a simple majority to pass in the Senate and would also need to be brought up and passed in the Republican-controlled House in order to go into effect.
“Trump’s ham-fisted, utterly pointless tariffs are a tax that families in Washington state will pay on nearly everything they buy—whether at the grocery store, the car dealership, or your neighborhood coffee shop.
“We have all the data in the world that tells us exactly how these tariffs will hurt American businesses and push up prices—that’s not an opinion, it’s a fact. Trump and his cabinet are choosing to ignore the mountains of evidence we have that tariffs do not work and push ahead because they simply don’t care. They don’t care if small businesses have to close their doors, if farmers lose access to markets, or if prices go up—because it won’t affect Trump and his cabinet full of billionaires.
“Trump’s trade war is an especially deep cut to farmers, fishers, and producers in Washington state—I’ve talked to so many who are absolutely furious that Trump is putting their livelihoods at risk because he cannot seem to grasp the basic fact that they actually rely on international markets to sell their goods. Trump doesn’t have a clue—and businesses in Washington state are already paying the price for his ignorance.
“Today I will vote for Senator Kaine’s resolution to reverse Trump’s disastrous tariffs on Washington state’s largest trading partner, Canada—Trump’s trade war has already forced businesses in Washington state who rely on imported materials and business from Canada to lay off employees and close their doors, and is upending supply chains across the Pacific Northwest.
“Trump’s refusal to accept basic economic realities or listen to the desperate pleas of American businesses, farmers, and families who can’t afford his costly tariffs is risking serious economic catastrophe and pushing our country toward a Republican recession.”
Washington state has one of the most trade-dependent economies of any state in the country, with 40 percent of jobs tied to international commerce and approximately $60 billion in annual exports. Washington is the top U.S. producer of apples, blueberries, hops, pears, spearmint oil, and sweet cherries—all of which risk losing vital export markets due to retaliatory tariffs from key trading partners including Canada. Additionally, more than 12,000 small and medium-sized companies in Washington state export goods and will struggle to absorb the impact of retaliatory tariffs. Trump’s tariffs during his first term were extremely costly for Washington state—as one example, India imposed a 20 percent retaliatory tariff on U.S. apples, causing Washington apple shipments to India to fall by 99 percent and growers to lose hundreds of millions of dollars in exports.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
Murray, Heinrich, and colleagues: “Dissolving contracts, cancelling grants and loans, and reneging on loan guarantees without any intention to execute the laws is not only illegal, but is harmful to the public and energy consumers. Your indiscriminate cancellations of spending will increase energy prices, make our grid less secure, and stop energy innovation”
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray, Vice Chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations, and U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, led 25 Democratic senators in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Christopher Wright demanding that he uphold his commitment to honor existing legal agreements and deliver funds passed into law by Congress.
The letter comes on the heels of recent reports that the Department of Energy is creating a “hit list” of awards, projects, and contracts—many of which have already began construction—it is considering canceling, which would break existing agreements and lead to job losses and reductions in the growth of new energy resources.
The senators detailed their serious concerns about the reports, telling Secretary Wright: “You assured us during your confirmation hearing that you believe that legal agreements should be honored (including managing the financial commitments you have inherited) and that you will follow the law.”
The senators added: “Indiscriminately canceling program funding and executed contracts, and refusing to execute on the funding directives Congress enacted, neither honors existing agreements nor is consistent with the spending laws that have appropriated funding for specific purposes.”
“Dissolving contracts, cancelling grants and loans, and reneging on loan guarantees without any intention to execute the laws is not only illegal, but is harmful to the public and energy consumers. Your indiscriminate cancellations of spending will increase energy prices, make our grid less secure, and stop energy innovation,” the senators continued. “If the Department has a policy disagreement and does not want to spend money on programs Congress has funded, the lawful response is to ask Congress to rescind that funding. The decision ultimately rests with Congress, not with the President, the Department of Energy, or the Department of Government Efficiency.”
The senators concluded the letter by demanding a detailed list and briefing that identifies which grants, loans, or loan guarantees Secretary Wright believes should be rescinded and why he thinks they should be rescinded.
The full text of the letter can be found HERE and below.
Dear Mr. Secretary:
We are deeply troubled by recent news reports that the Department of Energy (Department) is creating a “hit list of clean energy projects” to “wipe out” for being inconsistent with the President’s priorities. This list reportedly includes hydrogen hubs and carbon capture, critical mineral, and battery storage projects that have already received grant and loan funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and annual appropriations bills.
You assured us during your confirmation hearing that you believe that legal agreements should be honored (including managing the financial commitments you have inherited) and that you will follow the law. Indiscriminately canceling program funding and executed contracts, and refusing to execute on the funding directives Congress enacted, neither honors existing agreements nor is consistent with the spending laws that have appropriated funding for specific purposes.
Our Constitution gives Congress the power of the purse and exclusive power to appropriate funds. Once a law is properly enacted, the Constitution requires the President to “take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed.” The President cannot substitute his policy preferences for requirements in law, and that includes refusing to spend funds Congress requires the President to spend.
In this instance, where Congress has authorized and appropriated funds for programs that support clean energy projects, the Department must faithfully execute the law and expend the funds for the purposes provided. For example, programs authorized that have received federal appropriations under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law have requirements on timing of expended funds, purposes, and contractual expectations. An internal Office of Management and Budget guidance document cannot hide the Department’s obligation to follow the enacted law.
Dissolving contracts, cancelling grants and loans, and reneging on loan guarantees without any intention to execute the laws is not only illegal, but is harmful to the public and energy consumers. Your indiscriminate cancellations of spending will increase energy prices, make our grid less secure, and stop energy innovation. If the Department has a policy disagreement and does not want to spend money on programs Congress has funded, the lawful response is to ask Congress to rescind that funding. The decision ultimately rests with Congress, not with the President, the Department of Energy, or the Department of Government Efficiency. Please provide us a detailed list and briefing that identifies which grants, loans, or loan guarantees you believe should be rescinded and why you think they should be rescinded.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
Washington – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) joined Market Day Report on RFD-TV today to discuss the Senate Agriculture Committee’s hearing yesterday on his legislation, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act – a bipartisan bill that would bring back whole and reduced milk to American schools.
Senator Marshall also discussed President Donald Trump’s Liberation Day tariffs and how the president is leveling the playing field for American workers and businesses while also fighting for long-term solutions for farmers and ranchers.
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Click HERE or on the image above to watch Senator Marshall’s interview.
Highlights from the interview include:
On health benefits of consuming whole milk:
“Growing up, my grandfather stopped by our house twice a week with whole milk from our farm… We had a generation of healthy kids. But today… 40% of our children are obese. We have a generation of children now that have not ever [drunk] much milk… They’re going to have osteoporosis, osteopenia, at a decade sooner than previous generations.
“… Whole milk helps absorb vitamins A, D, E and K. It’s very important. There’s good fats in milk. It helps your brain health… Lots of good things about whole milk.”
On whole milk being part of the solution to Make America Healthy Again:
“The big movement with my MAHA moms is whole foods. I think whole milk is equally the same. Rather than breaking it down in its part, God made it whole. Let’s drink it that way. I think it’s much healthier for you, and the benefits outweigh any potential risk.
“The problem with our diets today is about 70% of our calories come from opening a package one way or another. So that’s what we need to change as far as getting the obesity levels down in our nation. Whole milk is not the problem, whole milk is part of the solution.”
On Liberation Day:
“Today is liberation today, and I think about milk products. Right now, Canada has a 200% tariff on cheese and butter going into their country. I just want to remind all your listeners what happened in Trump 45 – that there was a tariff war, a trade war with China. He gave the farmers $28 billion from that tariff money. Just last week, President Trump released $10 billion of emergency economic aid for our farmers because of high input costs and low commodity prices.
“Our farmers trust President Trump, and just like again with Trump 45 he used those tariffs as levers to negotiate really good trade deals with Japan, with South Korea, USMCA, and China Phase One, and we’re still benefiting from those trade agreements. I think the bright spot in agriculture in Kansas anyways, of course, the cattle and beef industry, a lot of that beef is going overseas, to South Korea, to Japan, and China as well.
“We have to give the president a little bit of leeway… This is a national security issue, we want to stop the fentanyl flowing into this country, and the president is using these tariffs as levers on Mexico, Canada, and China to say, stop making fentanyl, stop bringing it into our country.”
On unfair trade practices harming American ranchers and farmers:
“Every time I talk to the president, he asks me, ‘How are my farmers and ranchers doing?’ And I say, ‘Well… you know, we’re struggling.’ He says, well, ‘Tell them I love them, that I’ll take care of them.’ He realizes 90% of rural America voted for President Trump.
“On the other hand, though, farmers and ranchers have been complaining to me since I was a boy, that there’s unfair trade practices. Again, [the] European Union [has] a 50% tariff on most agricultural products. India, 50% to 100% – they use non-tariff barriers as well. And those farmers and ranchers said, we want free and reciprocal trade agreements. We have a president now who’s out here fighting for long-term solutions for our farmers and ranchers, not just the short-term gain. So I understand, I have empathy. There’s going to be some short-term pain. We are the tip of the spear. The president knows that. He’s going to do everything he can to make it right with his farmers and ranchers. So we appreciate them hanging in there with us.
“We’re the patriots. We are the modern-day patriots of our nation, our Republic. We are the backbone of this country. We give our country values and that agriculture is a way of life, so much more. So the president gets that. Give us a little bit of grace, and we’ll make it right.”
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand
Amid Sky-High Grocery Prices, Trump Is Denying Food To Hungry Families
New York Food Banks Receive Tens Of Millions Of Dollars’ Worth Of Food Through Now Slashed Federal Programs
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand held a virtual press conference slamming the Trump administration’s massive cuts to funding for food banks.
Last month, President Trump slashed $1 billion in federal funding used to purchase food for food banks and other organizations that provide meals, like schools and child care centers. Now, he is canceling another $500 million in already approved funding for food banks and other emergency food providers through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). New York receives roughly $30 million through TEFAP each year in regular funding; this supplemental money would have funded additional food purchases at New York’s regional food banks and their partner soup kitchens and food pantries.
Senator Gillibrand was joined by CEO of Hunger Free America Joel Berg.
“Seventy-two days into Trump’s presidency, grocery prices are still sky-high, with no sign of improvement on the horizon,” said Senator Gillibrand. “And as hungry families turn to food banks and soup kitchens for help, Trump is now slashing the funding they rely on. It’s outrageous. Programs like TEFAP have overwhelming bipartisan support. They help serve every community – rural, urban, Democratic, Republican – in every state in times of need. They are not an extraneous expense; they are an investment in healthy kids, healthy families, and healthy futures. I am calling on the Trump administration to provide answers on what plans – if any – it has to keep Americans from going hungry after these cuts, and I will be doing everything in my power to reverse them.”
The full text of Senator Gillibrand’s letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins on cuts to The Emergency Food Assistance Program is available here or below.
Dear Secretary Rollins:
We write regarding the reported cancellation of hundreds of millions of dollars in previously approved funding for food banks and other emergency food providers through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). A cancellation of these funds could result in $500 million in lost food provisions to feed millions of Americans at a time when the need for food shelves is extremely high due to costly groceries and an uncertain economy. If true, this major shift in a program utilized by emergency food providers in every state in the nation will have a significant and damaging impact upon millions of people who depend upon this program for critical food assistance.
In addition, this program consists of purchases of U.S. commodities at a time when America’s growers and producers are struggling due to tariffs, proposed tariffs, animal disease and many other challenges.
According to recent statistics, nearly one in every seven Americans have faced food insecurity. Many of these households turn to community and emergency relief organizations such as food banks and food pantries to help them obtain sufficient nutrition. In 2023 alone, 50 million Americans turned to emergency food providers, according to a report from Feeding America, America’s largest network of food banks. While food banks rely on a variety of sources (including private) to obtain food for distribution through their networks, federally purchased commodities are a key part of how they provide nutritious meals to Americans.
Due to this reported change, a number of us have heard that trucks delivering American-grown foods may not arrive. These trucks represent hundreds of thousands of nutritious meals containing poultry, fruits, vegetables, and dairy. If confirmed, the cancellation of this previously announced funding also comes on top of the cancellation of Local Food for School Program and the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program funding, which also helps farmers deliver nutritious foods to schools and food banks. These cuts will deprive Americans of food assistance, emergency food providers of necessary support to carry out their work, and American farmers of vital domestic markets.
To help us understand USDA’s actions and their impact on communities around the country, we ask that you answer the following questions.
1. Has USDA cancelled previously approved purchases of food provided through TEFAP? If so, what level of funding has been cancelled thus far and when will state agencies be notified of any cancelled TEFAP purchases?
2. Does USDA plan to cancel additional purchases of food provided through TEFAP?
3. Has USDA paused any TEFAP food orders or purchases? If so, what is the current status of those orders or purchases? Does USDA intend to un-pause these funds?
4. Please provide information on what types of funding, by commodity, have been cancelled and the financial impact of those cancellations on producers such as pork, chicken, turkey and dairy farmers.
5. Is the funding announced on October 1, 2024 and detailed in the implementation memo that the Food and Nutrition Service sent to state agencies on December 2 rescinded?
6. Does USDA intend to use Commodity Credit Corporation funds in Fiscal Year 2025 for future purchases that will be distributed through TEFAP?
We ask for a prompt response to these questions by the end of the week.
Sincerely,
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons
WASHINGTON – Yesterday, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) introduced a bill to establish a nonprofit foundation that would support the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) by bolstering public-private collaboration on U.S. technological innovation and competitiveness. This bill was initially introduced in the 118th Congress. Representatives Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) and Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.) introduced a companion bill in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The Expanding Partnerships for Innovation and Competitiveness (EPIC) Act would establish a foundation to help NIST achieve its goal of promoting U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness in science and technology. Congress has established similar foundations to support the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Energy, and other federal agencies. In Delaware, NIST supports the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL), a public-private partnership on the University of Delaware’s campus focused on advancing biopharmaceutical production and developing Delaware’s workforce for the future.
“America’s economic strength depends on technological leadership, and NIST has long been an engine of innovation for our country,” said Senator Coons. “The EPIC Act reflects our ongoing commitment to creating a nonprofit foundation that will mobilize resources to support U.S. leadership on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, biotech, and quantum computing. With strong bipartisan support across both chambers, this legislation represents a critical investment in America’s technological future.”
“Maintaining and encouraging research and development in the U.S. is critical to winning the technological race against China and other adversaries,” said Senator Young. “Our bipartisan legislation will support these efforts by establishing an independent foundation to identify and foster innovative public-private partnerships across the country and strengthen the American economy.”
“Whether it’s AI or quantum computing, the United States is pushing the boundaries of technological innovation on all fronts,” said Senator Hickenlooper. “There are no second chances with technologies this powerful; NIST needs every tool at its disposal to ensure responsible R&D from the start.”
“Our nation’s technological innovation is what keeps us globally competitive,” said Senator Fischer. “To stay ahead of our rapidly advancing adversaries, we must invest in emerging technologies and the metrics that underpin them. The EPIC Act is an effective, bipartisan way to help us generate more resources to do so without additional taxpayer costs.”
“Now more than ever, our federal science agencies need every tool to drive U.S. technology leadership,” said Representative Stevens. “The reintroduction of the EPIC Act ensures that NIST—a vital agency in emerging technology, standards, and manufacturing—has the resources to secure American leadership in the mid-21st century. By establishing the Foundation for Standards and Metrology, this bill will accelerate technology commercialization, strengthen international collaborations, and support NIST’s world-class workforce. I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance this bipartisan, bicameral bill and unleash American innovation.”
“It is vital that America maintains its position as the world leader in science and technology,” said Representative Obernolte. “The creation of the Foundation for Standards and Metrology will assist in ensuring industry, non-profits, and academia receive the resources that they need to establish cutting-edge standards that enhances the economic security and prosperity of the U.S., which is why I’m proud to be a Republican co-lead on this critical legislation.”
Specifically, the EPIC Act would establish a nonprofit Foundation for Standards and Metrology, enabling NIST to:
The EPIC Act is endorsed by four former directors of NIST, as well as SEMI Americas, the Semiconductor Industry Association, NIST Coalition, SPIE, SeedAI, Institute for Progress, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, Center for AI Policy, Telecommunications Industry Association, Institute for AI Policy and Strategy, Carnegie Mellon University, University of Colorado Boulder, Americans for Responsible Innovation, Chainguard, CJW Quantum Consulting, American Physical Society, ACT | The App Association, CivAI, SandboxAQ, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Google, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, SC Quantum, Software Information Industry Association, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 5 Lakes Institute, and the APA Services, Inc.
The full text of the bill is available here.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo
Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and member of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the following statement after Senate Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) released the text of the Senate’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Resolution, which provides a $1.5 trillion instruction to the Senate Finance Committee on a current policy baseline.
“The 2017 Trump tax cuts powered a booming economy, made the United States more competitive, and allowed working families to save more of their hard-earned dollars,” said Crapo. “This budget resolution unlocks the process to permanently extend proven, pro-growth tax policy, ensure Americans can keep more of their hard-earned money, provide additional tax relief to those who need it most, and take long-overdue steps toward getting our fiscal house in order.”
READ: FY 2025 Budget Resolution will Deliver Permanent Tax Relief, Spur Economic Growth and Restore Fiscal Order
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo
Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) introduced the Stop Harassing Owners of Rifles Today (SHORT) Act.
The SHORT Act would end the unconstitutional taxation, registration and regulation of weapons under the National Firearms Act (NFA), including short-barreled rifles and shotguns.
The Biden Administration used the NFA to target American gun owners by claiming that pistols with stabilizing braces were illegal short-barreled rifles. Biden’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) used this argument to ban these firearms and force gun owners to participate in an unconstitutional firearm registry. The SHORT Act would prevent the ATF from enacting future versions of this ban and require the ATF to destroy all records relating to the registration, transfer or manufacture of NFA weapons.
“Those seeking to strip away Second Amendment rights have sought every creative way possible to advance their agenda through legislation, regulation and litigation,” said Crapo. “Burdening law-abiding Americans with additional firearm restrictions is not the answer to safeguarding the public.”
“Democrats’ attempts to undermine the Second Amendment are unconstitutional and must be stopped,” said Risch. “The SHORT Act protects law-abiding Idaho gun owners from unlawful registry, taxation, and regulation of commonly owned firearms.”
“‘Shall not be infringed’ is crystal clear – and the Biden-era abuses of the Constitutionally protected rights of gun owners across the country need to be undone,” said Marshall. “The SHORT Act takes a step toward rolling back nonsensical regulations that the National Firearms Act has placed upon gun owners. I challenge my colleagues in both chambers to pass this legislation and join me in fully restoring and protecting our God-given Second Amendment rights.”
Crapo, Risch and Marshall are joined by U.S. Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Jim Justice (R-West Virginia), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), Katie Britt (R-Alabama), Tim Sheehy (R-Montana) and Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska) in introducing the bill. ?
Source: New Zealand Government
Associate Health Minister David Seymour is welcoming Cabinet’s decision to enable medicines to be approved in less than 30 days if the product has approval from two recognised overseas jurisdictions.
This change is included in the Medicines Amendment Bill (the Bill), which amends the Medicines Act 1981. The pathway will be in operation by early 2026.
The policy will start with Australia, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Singapore and Switzerland, as recognised countries. These are the main countries Medsafe currently recognises.
“Faster access to medicines has always been a priority of mine. For many New Zealanders, pharmaceuticals are life or death, or the difference between a life of pain and suffering or living freely,” Mr Seymour says.
“This change will increase access to medicines for Kiwis by introducing a streamlined verification pathway for medicines. People will access new treatments more quickly. This is committed to in the ACT-National and National-NZ First coalition agreements.
“Cabinet has agreed to give the responsible Minister powers to regulate the Rule of Two. That means I will be outlining the proposed regulatory pathway for industry and the public to feedback on via the Select Committee process. This system should be as straightforward as possible to allow New Zealanders the greatest level of access to innovative medicine possible.
“New cars are acceptable for the New Zealand market if they meet at least one of several foreign standards. We can apply the same principle to medicines, if other jurisdictions have already done the work and can ensure the products’ safety, we don’t need to delay patient’s access by doing the exact same tests,” Mr Seymour says.
“This is a common-sense efficiency that costs nothing. It helps Kiwis in need. It can shave months off the approval process. A perfect example of this was with a treatment for asthma which could have been approved by the end of 2022 under this pathway, but was not approved until 16 months later in May 2024.
“This Government is making medicines access a priority because it leads to better patient outcomes. So far, we have:
Changed Pharmac’s process so it can assess a funding application at the same time as Medsafe is assessing the application for regulatory approval
Allocated Pharmac its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, and a $604 million uplift to give Pharmac the financial support it needs to carry out its functions – negotiating the best deals for medicine for New Zealanders
Made patient voice a crucial consideration in Pharmac’s funding decisions
Put pseudoephedrine back on the shelves of pharmacies
“We’re committed to ensuring that the regulatory system for pharmaceuticals is not unreasonably holding back access. It will lead to more Kiwis being able to access the medicines they need to live a fulfilling life.”
Notes to editors:
Draft criteria for regulatory pathway rules will likely relate to ensuring that:
manufacturing sites associated with product have evidence of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) compliance which is valid to Medsafe’s satisfaction,
if a product is a generic or biosimilar prescription medicine, the innovator or reference product is identical to that approved for New Zealand.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)
Experts Say Trump Tariffs Could Throw U.S. Into a Recession, Increase Annual Costs By Thousands for New Mexico Families
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, issued the following statement on President Trump’s announcement to impose additional tariffs on global trading partners:
“President Trump’s sweeping tariffs are a tax on hardworking New Mexicans. From the cost of groceries, to the price at the pump, to buying a car or building a home, these new tariffs will make daily life more expensive for many New Mexico families and businesses.
“While President Trump should be focused on lowering prices for Americans, he is instigating a trade war and making everyday Americans the casualties. President Trump – who has said that he doesn’t care if costs go up – is creating economic uncertainty, shrinking life savings, putting New Mexico jobs at risk, and driving up costs for working families.
“These tariffs are new and drastic tax increases on New Mexicans and the American people. President Trump is recklessly threatening the American economy – all while working to give the wealthiest few another tax handout and blowing up the national debt.”
What People Are Saying:
Chamber of Commerce: “[T]he imposition of tariffs … will only raise prices for American families and upend supply chains.”
National Association of Manufacturers: “Ultimately, manufacturers will bear the brunt of these tariffs, undermining our ability to sell our products at a competitive price and putting American jobs at risk.”
United Steelworkers: “Our union calls on President Trump to reverse course on Canadian tariffs so that we can focus on trade solutions that will serve working families for the long-term.”
International Association of Machinists: “The 25% tariffs on Canadian goods imported to the U.S., will result in job losses, increased prices, and a variety of other negative impacts.”
National Association of Home Builders: “Tariffs on lumber and other building materials increase the cost of construction and discourage new development, and consumers end up paying for the tariffs in the form of higher home prices.”
American Farm Bureau: “farmers and rural communities will bear the brunt of retaliation. … Tariffs that increase fertilizer prices threaten to deliver another blow to the finances of farm families.”
National Farmers Union: “We are already facing significant economic uncertainty, and these actions only add to the strain. … Without a clear plan, family farmers will once again be left to bear the burden of decisions beyond their control, and eventually, so will consumers.”
Retail Industry Leaders Association: “Stacking tariffs on household goods will also raise costs on American families.”
Food Industry Association: “New tariffs will also drive up the cost of doing business and food prices at a time consumers are extremely concerned about prices.”
National Consumers League: “these tariffs could hurt everyday Americans. … Higher prices on basic goods would make life harder for families across the country, all as a result of these ill-conceived trade policies.”
American Automakers: “Our American automakers, who invested billions in the U.S. to meet these requirements, should not have their competitiveness undermined by tariffs that will raise the cost of building vehicles in the United States and stymie investment in the American workforce.”
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
CONNECT For Health Act Holds Broad Bipartisan Support, Most Comprehensive Legislation On Telehealth In Congress
Current Flexibilities Set To Expire September 30 Without Congressional Action
WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Peter Welch joined U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) in leading a bipartisan group of 60 senators to reintroduce the Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act. The CONNECT for Health Act will expand coverage of telehealth services through Medicare, make COVID-19 telehealth flexibilities permanent, improve health outcomes, and make it easier for patients to connect with their doctors. Current flexibilities are set to expire on September 30 unless Congress extends them.
“The COVID-19 pandemic proved that telehealth not only works, but is essential,” said Senator Welch. “Rural and underserved areas in Vermont and across the country desperately need solutions to address the widening gap in health care access, and increasing telehealth services must be part of the answer. This bipartisan bill takes commonsense steps to help bridge that gap and make sure that our policies adapt to the capabilities of our technology.”
“While telehealth use has rapidly increased in recent years, our laws have not kept up,” said Senator Schatz. “Telehealth is helping people get the care they need, and it’s here to stay. Our comprehensive bill makes it easier for more people to see their doctors no matter where they live.”
“We live in a digital world, and our health services should reflect that. In the past decade, telehealth has made medical care more accessible for patients across the state and country,” said Senator Wicker. “It is time to make telehealth coverage permanent for Medicare recipients so that more Americans, especially those in rural Mississippi, have access to health care.”
“Telehealth services have proven to be a safe and effective form of medical care. Through the expansion of telehealth services in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, more patients have received quality, affordable care. I’m glad to introduce legislation that will make permanent some of these services and ensure Virginians continue to access affordable health care when they need it, and where they need it,” said Senator Warner.
“Even before the pandemic, Mississippi recognized the vital role of telehealth. Across America, rural communities, the elderly, and those with mobility challenges have long struggled to access traditional healthcare,” said Senator Hyde-Smith. “This legislation is essential to delivering affordable, accessible, and quality care that Americans deserve, and I’m proud to continue this years-long effort to expand telehealth services.”
“Telehealth is a critical for rural states like Wyoming,” said Senator Barrasso. “It has given folks access to specialized care no matter where they live. This important bipartisan bill will make it easier for Medicare patients, especially those in remote areas, to continue to have access to the health care they need.”
In addition to Welch, Schatz, Wicker, Warner, Hyde-Smith, and Barrasso, the bill is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Angus King (I-Maine.), Jim Justice (R-W.V.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), and John Boozman (R-Ark.).
Telehealth provides essential access to care with nearly a quarter of Americans accessing telehealth in a month, according to the most recent available data.
The CONNECT for Health Act would:
Permanently remove all geographic restrictions on telehealth services and expand originating sites to the location of the patient, including homes;
Permanently allow health centers and rural health clinics to provide telehealth services;
Allow more eligible health care professionals to utilize telehealth services;
Remove unnecessary in-person visit requirement for telemental health services;
Allow for the waiver of telehealth restrictions during public health emergencies; and
Require more published data to learn more about how telehealth is being used, impacts of quality of care, and how it can be improved to support patients and health care providers.
The CONNECT for Health Act was first introduced in 2016 and is considered the most comprehensive legislation on telehealth in Congress. Since 2016, several provisions of the bill have been enacted into law or adopted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, including provisions to remove restrictions on telehealth services for mental health, stroke care, and home dialysis.
Companion legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Mike Thompson (D- Calif.), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), David Schweikert (R-Ariz.), and Troy Balderson (R-Ohio).
The CONNECT for Health Act has the support of more than 150 organizations including the American Medical Association, AARP, American Hospital Association, National Association of Community Health Centers, National Association of Rural Health Clinics, and American Telemedicine Association.
The full text of the bill is available here.
Source: The White House
TAKING BACK OUR ECONOMIC SOVEREIGNTY: President Trump refuses to let the United States be taken advantage of and believes that tariffs are necessary to ensure fair trade, protect American workers, and reduce the trade deficit—this is an emergency.
REPRIORITIZING U.S. MANUFACTURING: President Trump recognizes that increasing domestic manufacturing is critical to U.S. national security.
ADDRESSING TRADE IMBALANCES: President Trump is working to level the playing field for American businesses and workers by confronting the unfair tariff disparities and non-tariff barriers imposed by other countries.
THE GOLDEN RULE FOR OUR GOLDEN AGE: Today’s action simply asks other countries to treat us like we treat them. It’s the Golden Rule for Our Golden Age.
TARIFFS WORK: Studies have repeatedly shown that tariffs can be an effective tool for reducing or eliminating threats that impair U.S. national security and achieving economic and strategic objectives.
Source: The White House
I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, find that underlying conditions, including a lack of reciprocity in our bilateral trade relationships, disparate tariff rates and non-tariff barriers, and U.S. trading partners’ economic policies that suppress domestic wages and consumption, as indicated by large and persistent annual U.S. goods trade deficits, constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and economy of the United States. That threat has its source in whole or substantial part outside the United States in the domestic economic policies of key trading partners and structural imbalances in the global trading system. I hereby declare a national emergency with respect to this threat.
On January 20, 2025, I signed the America First Trade Policy Presidential Memorandum directing my Administration to investigate the causes of our country’s large and persistent annual trade deficits in goods, including the economic and national security implications and risks resulting from such deficits, and to undertake a review of, and identify, any unfair trade practices by other countries. On February 13, 2025, I signed a Presidential Memorandum entitled “Reciprocal Trade and Tariffs,” that directed further review of our trading partners’ non-reciprocal trading practices, and noted the relationship between non-reciprocal practices and the trade deficit. On April 1, 2025, I received the final results of those investigations, and I am taking action today based on those results.
Large and persistent annual U.S. goods trade deficits have led to the hollowing out of our manufacturing base; inhibited our ability to scale advanced domestic manufacturing capacity; undermined critical supply chains; and rendered our defense-industrial base dependent on foreign adversaries. Large and persistent annual U.S. goods trade deficits are caused in substantial part by a lack of reciprocity in our bilateral trade relationships. This situation is evidenced by disparate tariff rates and non-tariff barriers that make it harder for U.S. manufacturers to sell their products in foreign markets. It is also evidenced by the economic policies of key U.S. trading partners insofar as they suppress domestic wages and consumption, and thereby demand for U.S. exports, while artificially increasing the competitiveness of their goods in global markets. These conditions have given rise to the national emergency that this order is intended to abate and resolve.
For decades starting in 1934, U.S. trade policy has been organized around the principle of reciprocity. The Congress directed the President to secure reduced reciprocal tariff rates from key trading partners first through bilateral trade agreements and later under the auspices of the global trading system. Between 1934 and 1945, the executive branch negotiated and signed 32 bilateral reciprocal trade agreements designed to lower tariff rates on a reciprocal basis. After 1947 through 1994, participating countries engaged in eight rounds of negotiation, which resulted in the General Agreements on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and seven subsequent tariff reduction rounds.
However, despite a commitment to the principle of reciprocity, the trading relationship between the United States and its trading partners has become highly unbalanced, particularly in recent years. The post-war international economic system was based upon three incorrect assumptions: first, that if the United States led the world in liberalizing tariff and non-tariff barriers the rest of the world would follow; second, that such liberalization would ultimately result in more economic convergence and increased domestic consumption among U.S. trading partners converging towards the share in the United States; and third, that as a result, the United States would not accrue large and persistent goods trade deficits.
This framework set in motion events, agreements, and commitments that did not result in reciprocity or generally increase domestic consumption in foreign economies relative to domestic consumption in the United States. Those events, in turn, created large and persistent annual U.S. goods trade deficits as a feature of the global trading system.
Put simply, while World Trade Organization (WTO) Members agreed to bind their tariff rates on a most-favored-nation (MFN) basis, and thereby provide their best tariff rates to all WTO Members, they did not agree to bind their tariff rates at similarly low levels or to apply tariff rates on a reciprocal basis. Consequently, according to the WTO, the United States has among the lowest simple average MFN tariff rates in the world at 3.3 percent, while many of our key trading partners like Brazil (11.2 percent), China (7.5 percent), the European Union (EU) (5 percent), India (17 percent), and Vietnam (9.4 percent) have simple average MFN tariff rates that are significantly higher.
Moreover, these average MFN tariff rates conceal much larger discrepancies across economies in tariff rates applied to particular products. For example, the United States imposes a 2.5 percent tariff on passenger vehicle imports (with internal combustion engines), while the European Union (10 percent), India (70 percent), and China (15 percent) impose much higher duties on the same product. For network switches and routers, the United States imposes a 0 percent tariff, but for similar products, India (10 percent) levies a higher rate. Brazil (18 percent) and Indonesia (30 percent) impose a higher tariff on ethanol than does the United States (2.5 percent). For rice in the husk, the U.S. MFN tariff is 2.7 percent (ad valorem equivalent), while India (80 percent), Malaysia (40 percent), and Turkey (an average of 31 percent) impose higher rates. Apples enter the United States duty-free, but not so in Turkey (60.3 percent) and India (50 percent).
Similarly, non-tariff barriers also deprive U.S. manufacturers of reciprocal access to markets around the world. The 2025 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers (NTE) details a great number of non-tariff barriers to U.S. exports around the world on a trading-partner by trading-partner basis. These barriers include import barriers and licensing restrictions; customs barriers and shortcomings in trade facilitation; technical barriers to trade (e.g., unnecessarily trade restrictive standards, conformity assessment procedures, or technical regulations); sanitary and phytosanitary measures that unnecessarily restrict trade without furthering safety objectives; inadequate patent, copyright, trade secret, and trademark regimes and inadequate enforcement of intellectual property rights; discriminatory licensing requirements or regulatory standards; barriers to cross-border data flows and discriminatory practices affecting trade in digital products; investment barriers; subsidies; anticompetitive practices; discrimination in favor of domestic state-owned enterprises, and failures by governments in protecting labor and environment standards; bribery; and corruption.
Moreover, non-tariff barriers include the domestic economic policies and practices of our trading partners, including currency practices and value-added taxes, and their associated market distortions, that suppress domestic consumption and boost exports to the United States. This lack of reciprocity is apparent in the fact that the share of consumption to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the United States is about 68 percent, but it is much lower in others like Ireland (27 percent), Singapore (31 percent), China (39 percent), South Korea (49 percent), and Germany (50 percent).
At the same time, efforts by the United States to address these imbalances have stalled. Trading partners have repeatedly blocked multilateral and plurilateral solutions, including in the context of new rounds of tariff negotiations and efforts to discipline non-tariff barriers. At the same time, with the U.S. economy disproportionately open to imports, U.S. trading partners have had few incentives to provide reciprocal treatment to U.S. exports in the context of bilateral trade negotiations.
These structural asymmetries have driven the large and persistent annual U.S. goods trade deficit. Even for countries with which the United States may enjoy an occasional bilateral trade surplus, the accumulation of tariff and non-tariff barriers on U.S. exports may make that surplus smaller than it would have been without such barriers. Permitting these asymmetries to continue is not sustainable in today’s economic and geopolitical environment because of the effect they have on U.S. domestic production. A nation’s ability to produce domestically is the bedrock of its national and economic security.
Both my first Administration in 2017, and the Biden Administration in 2022, recognized that increasing domestic manufacturing is critical to U.S. national security. According to 2023 United Nations data, U.S. manufacturing output as a share of global manufacturing output was 17.4 percent, down from a peak in 2001 of 28.4 percent.
Over time, the persistent decline in U.S. manufacturing output has reduced U.S. manufacturing capacity. The need to maintain robust and resilient domestic manufacturing capacity is particularly acute in certain advanced industrial sectors like automobiles, shipbuilding, pharmaceuticals, technology products, machine tools, and basic and fabricated metals, because once competitors gain sufficient global market share in these sectors, U.S. production could be permanently weakened. It is also critical to scale manufacturing capacity in the defense-industrial sector so that we can manufacture the defense materiel and equipment necessary to protect American interests at home and abroad.
In fact, because the United States has supplied so much military equipment to other countries, U.S. stockpiles of military goods are too low to be compatible with U.S. national defense interests. Furthermore, U.S. defense companies must develop new, advanced manufacturing technologies across a range of critical sectors including bio-manufacturing, batteries, and microelectronics. If the United States wishes to maintain an effective security umbrella to defend its citizens and homeland, as well as for its allies and partners, it needs to have a large upstream manufacturing and goods-producing ecosystem to manufacture these products without undue reliance on imports for key inputs.
Increased reliance on foreign producers for goods also has compromised U.S. economic security by rendering U.S. supply chains vulnerable to geopolitical disruption and supply shocks. In recent years, the vulnerability of the U.S. economy in this respect was exposed both during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Americans had difficulty accessing essential products, as well as when the Houthi rebels later began attacking cargo ships in the Middle East.
The decline of U.S. manufacturing capacity threatens the U.S. economy in other ways, including through the loss of manufacturing jobs. From 1997 to 2024, the United States lost around 5 million manufacturing jobs and experienced one of the largest drops in manufacturing employment in history. Furthermore, many manufacturing job losses were concentrated in specific geographical areas. In these areas, the loss of manufacturing jobs contributed to the decline in rates of family formation and to the rise of other social trends, like the abuse of opioids, that have imposed profound costs on the U.S. economy.
The future of American competitiveness depends on reversing these trends. Today, manufacturing represents just 11 percent of U.S. gross domestic product, yet it accounts for 35 percent of American productivity growth and 60 percent of our exports. Importantly, U.S. manufacturing is the main engine of innovation in the United States, responsible for 55 percent of all patents and 70 percent of all research and development (R&D) spending. The fact that R&D expenditures by U.S. multinational enterprises in China grew at an average rate of 13.6 percent a year between 2003 and 2017, while their R&D expenditures in the United States grew by an average of just 5 percent per year during the same time period, is evidence of the strong link between manufacturing and innovation. Furthermore, every manufacturing job spurs 7 to 12 new jobs in other related industries, helping to build and sustain our economy.
Just as a nation that does not produce manufactured products cannot maintain the industrial base it needs for national security, neither can a nation long survive if it cannot produce its own food. Presidential Policy Directive 21 of February 12, 2013 (Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience), designates food and agriculture as a “critical infrastructure sector” because it is one of the sectors considered “so vital to the United States that [its] incapacity or destruction . . . would have a debilitating impact on security, national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination of those matters.” Furthermore, when I left office, the United States had a trade surplus in agricultural products, but today, that surplus has vanished. Eviscerated by a slew of new non-tariff barriers imposed by our trading partners, it has been replaced by a projected $49 billion annual agricultural trade deficit. For these reasons, I hereby declare and order:
Section 1. National Emergency. As President of the United States, my highest duty is ensuring the national and economic security of the country and its citizens.
I have declared a national emergency arising from conditions reflected in large and persistent annual U.S. goods trade deficits, which have grown by over 40 percent in the past 5 years alone, reaching $1.2 trillion in 2024. This trade deficit reflects asymmetries in trade relationships that have contributed to the atrophy of domestic production capacity, especially that of the U.S. manufacturing and defense-industrial base. These asymmetries also impact U.S. producers’ ability to export and, consequentially, their incentive to produce.
Specifically, such asymmetry includes not only non-reciprocal differences in tariff rates among foreign trading partners, but also extensive use of non-tariff barriers by foreign trading partners, which reduce the competitiveness of U.S. exports while artificially enhancing the competitiveness of their own goods. These non-tariff barriers include technical barriers to trade; non-scientific sanitary and phytosanitary rules; inadequate intellectual property protections; suppressed domestic consumption (e.g., wage suppression); weak labor, environmental, and other regulatory standards and protections; and corruption. These non-tariff barriers give rise to significant imbalances even when the United States and a trading partner have comparable tariff rates.
The cumulative effect of these imbalances has been the transfer of resources from domestic producers to foreign firms, reducing opportunities for domestic manufacturers to expand and, in turn, leading to lost manufacturing jobs, diminished manufacturing capacity, and an atrophied industrial base, including in the defense-industrial sector. At the same time, foreign firms are better positioned to scale production, reinvest in innovation, and compete in the global economy, to the detriment of U.S. economic and national security.
The absence of sufficient domestic manufacturing capacity in certain critical and advanced industrial sectors — another outcome of the large and persistent annual U.S. goods trade deficits — also compromises U.S. economic and national security by rendering the U.S. economy less resilient to supply chain disruption. Finally, the large, persistent annual U.S. goods trade deficits, and the concomitant loss of industrial capacity, have compromised military readiness; this vulnerability can only be redressed through swift corrective action to rebalance the flow of imports into the United States. Such impact upon military readiness and our national security posture is especially acute with the recent rise in armed conflicts abroad. I call upon the public and private sector to make the efforts necessary to strengthen the international economic position of the United States.
Sec. 2. Reciprocal Tariff Policy. It is the policy of the United States to rebalance global trade flows by imposing an additional ad valorem duty on all imports from all trading partners except as otherwise provided herein. The additional ad valorem duty on all imports from all trading partners shall start at 10 percent and shortly thereafter, the additional ad valorem duty shall increase for trading partners enumerated in Annex I to this order at the rates set forth in Annex I to this order. These additional ad valorem duties shall apply until such time as I determine that the underlying conditions described above are satisfied, resolved, or mitigated.
Sec. 3. Implementation. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this order, all articles imported into the customs territory of the United States shall be, consistent with law, subject to an additional ad valorem rate of duty of 10 percent. Such rates of duty shall apply with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on April 5, 2025, except that goods loaded onto a vessel at the port of loading and in transit on the final mode of transit before 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on April 5, 2025, and entered for consumption or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on April 5, 2025, shall not be subject to such additional duty.
Furthermore, except as otherwise provided in this order, at 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on April 9, 2025, all articles from trading partners enumerated in Annex I to this order imported into the customs territory of the United States shall be, consistent with law, subject to the country-specific ad valorem rates of duty specified in Annex I to this order. Such rates of duty shall apply with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on April 9, 2025, except that goods loaded onto a vessel at the port of loading and in transit on the final mode of transit before 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on April 9, 2025, and entered for consumption or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on April 9, 2025, shall not be subject to these country-specific ad valorem rates of duty set forth in Annex I to this order. These country-specific ad valorem rates of duty shall apply to all articles imported pursuant to the terms of all existing U.S. trade agreements, except as provided below.
(b) The following goods as set forth in Annex II to this order, consistent with law, shall not be subject to the ad valorem rates of duty under this order: (i) all articles that are encompassed by 50 U.S.C. 1702(b); (ii) all articles and derivatives of steel and aluminum subject to the duties imposed pursuant to section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 and proclaimed in Proclamation 9704 of March 8, 2018 (Adjusting Imports of Aluminum Into the United States), as amended, Proclamation 9705 of March 8, 2018 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States), as amended, and Proclamation 9980 of January 24, 2020 (Adjusting Imports of Derivative Aluminum Articles and Derivative Steel Articles Into the United States), as amended, Proclamation 10895 of February 10, 2025 (Adjusting Imports of Aluminum Into the United States), and Proclamation 10896 of February 10, 2025 (Adjusting Imports of Steel into the United States); (iii) all automobiles and automotive parts subject to the additional duties imposed pursuant to section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended, and proclaimed in Proclamation 10908 of March 26, 2025 (Adjusting Imports of Automobiles and Automobile Parts Into the United States); (iv) other products enumerated in Annex II to this order, including copper, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, lumber articles, certain critical minerals, and energy and energy products; (v) all articles from a trading partner subject to the rates set forth in Column 2 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS); and (vi) all articles that may become subject to duties pursuant to future actions under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.
(c) The rates of duty established by this order are in addition to any other duties, fees, taxes, exactions, or charges applicable to such imported articles, except as provided in subsections (d) and (e) of this section below.
(d) With respect to articles from Canada, I have imposed additional duties on certain goods to address a national emergency resulting from the flow of illicit drugs across our northern border pursuant to Executive Order 14193 of February 1, 2025 (Imposing Duties To Address the Flow of Illicit Drugs Across Our Northern Border), as amended by Executive Order 14197 of February 3, 2025 (Progress on the Situation at Our Northern Border), and Executive Order 14231 of March 2, 2025 (Amendment to Duties To Address the Flow of Illicit Drugs Across Our Northern Border). With respect to articles from Mexico, I have imposed additional duties on certain goods to address a national emergency resulting from the flow of illicit drugs and illegal migration across our southern border pursuant to Executive Order 14194 of February 1, 2025 (Imposing Duties To Address the Situation at Our Southern Border), as amended by Executive Order 14198 of February 3, 2025 (Progress on the Situation at Our Southern Border), and Executive Order 14227 of March 2, 2025 (Amendment to Duties To Address the Situation at Our Southern Border). As a result of these border emergency tariff actions, all goods of Canada or Mexico under the terms of general note 11 to the HTSUS, including any treatment set forth in subchapter XXIII of chapter 98 and subchapter XXII of chapter 99 of the HTSUS, as related to the Agreement between the United States of America, United Mexican States, and Canada (USMCA), continue to be eligible to enter the U.S. market under these preferential terms. However, all goods of Canada or Mexico that do not qualify as originating under USMCA are presently subject to additional ad valorem duties of 25 percent, with energy or energy resources and potash imported from Canada and not qualifying as originating under USMCA presently subject to the lower additional ad valorem duty of 10 percent.
(e) Any ad valorem rate of duty on articles imported from Canada or Mexico under the terms of this order shall not apply in addition to the ad valorem rate of duty specified by the existing orders described in subsection (d) of this section. If such orders identified in subsection (d) of this section are terminated or suspended, all items of Canada and Mexico that qualify as originating under USMCA shall not be subject to an additional ad valorem rate of duty, while articles not qualifying as originating under USMCA shall be subject to an ad valorem rate of duty of 12 percent. However, these ad valorem rates of duty on articles imported from Canada and Mexico shall not apply to energy or energy resources, to potash, or to an article eligible for duty-free treatment under USMCA that is a part or component of an article substantially finished in the United States.
(f) More generally, the ad valorem rates of duty set forth in this order shall apply only to the non-U.S. content of a subject article, provided at least 20 percent of the value of the subject article is U.S. originating. For the purposes of this subsection, “U.S. content” refers to the value of an article attributable to the components produced entirely, or substantially transformed in, the United States. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), to the extent permitted by law, is authorized to require the collection of such information and documentation regarding an imported article, including with the entry filing, as is necessary to enable CBP to ascertain and verify the value of the U.S. content of the article, as well as to ascertain and verify whether an article is substantially finished in the United States.
(g) Subject articles, except those eligible for admission under “domestic status” as defined in 19 CFR 146.43, which are subject to the duty specified in section 2 of this order and are admitted into a foreign trade zone on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on April 9, 2025, must be admitted as “privileged foreign status” as defined in 19 CFR 146.41.
(h) Duty-free de minimis treatment under 19 U.S.C. 1321(a)(2)(A)-(B) shall remain available for the articles described in subsection (a) of this section. Duty-free de minimis treatment under 19 U.S.C. 1321(a)(2)(C) shall remain available for the articles described in subsection (a) of this section until notification by the Secretary of Commerce to the President that adequate systems are in place to fully and expeditiously process and collect duty revenue applicable pursuant to this subsection for articles otherwise eligible for de minimis treatment. After such notification, duty-free de minimis treatment under 19 U.S.C. 1321(a)(2)(C) shall not be available for the articles described in subsection (a) of this section.
(i) The Executive Order of April 2, 2025 (Further Amendment to Duties Addressing the Synthetic Opioid Supply Chain in the People’s Republic of China as Applied to Low-Value Imports), regarding low-value imports from China is not affected by this order, and all duties and fees with respect to covered articles shall be collected as required and detailed therein.
(j) To reduce the risk of transshipment and evasion, all ad valorem rates of duty imposed by this order or any successor orders with respect to articles of China shall apply equally to articles of both the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macau Special Administrative Region.
(k) In order to establish the duty rates described in this order, the HTSUS is modified as set forth in the Annexes to this order. These modifications shall enter into effect on the dates set forth in the Annexes to this order.
(l) Unless specifically noted herein, any prior Presidential Proclamation, Executive Order, or other Presidential directive or guidance related to trade with foreign trading partners that is inconsistent with the direction in this order is hereby terminated, suspended, or modified to the extent necessary to give full effect to this order.
Sec. 4. Modification Authority. (a) The Secretary of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, the Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing, and the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, shall recommend to me additional action, if necessary, if this action is not effective in resolving the emergency conditions described above, including the increase in the overall trade deficit or the recent expansion of non-reciprocal trade arrangements by U.S. trading partners in a manner that threatens the economic and national security interests of the United States.
(b) Should any trading partner retaliate against the United States in response to this action through import duties on U.S. exports or other measures, I may further modify the HTSUS to increase or expand in scope the duties imposed under this order to ensure the efficacy of this action.
(c) Should any trading partner take significant steps to remedy non-reciprocal trade arrangements and align sufficiently with the United States on economic and national security matters, I may further modify the HTSUS to decrease or limit in scope the duties imposed under this order.
(d) Should U.S. manufacturing capacity and output continue to worsen, I may further modify the HTSUS to increase duties under this order.
Sec. 5. Implementation Authority. The Secretary of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, the Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing, the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, and the Chair of the International Trade Commission are hereby authorized to employ all powers granted to the President by IEEPA as may be necessary to implement this order. Each executive department and agency shall take all appropriate measures within its authority to implement this order.
Sec. 6. Reporting Requirements. The United States Trade Representative, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, the Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing, and the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, is hereby authorized to submit recurring and final reports to the Congress on the national emergency declared in this order, consistent with section 401(c) of the NEA (50 U.S.C. 1641(c)) and section 204(c) of IEEPA (50 U.S.C. 1703(c)).
Sec. 7. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
DONALD J. TRUMP
THE WHITE HOUSE,
April 2, 2025.
Source: The White House
COMBATING CHINA’S ROLE IN THE OPIOID CRISIS: President Trump is targeting deceptive shipping practices by Chinese-based shippers, many of whom hide illicit substances, including synthetic opioids, in low-value packages to exploit the de minimis exemption.
KEEPING HIS PROMISE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE: When voters overwhelmingly elected Donald J. Trump as President, they gave him a mandate to seal the border and stop the influx of deadly drugs. That is exactly what he is doing.
Source: US Commodity Futures Trading Commission
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Commodity Futures Trading Commission Acting Chairman Caroline D. Pham today announced Rahul Varma will serve as the Acting Director of the Division of Market Oversight.
“Rahul has ably served the CFTC for more than a decade and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this new role,” Pham said. “I thank Rahul for his continued leadership in DMO.”
Varma joined the CFTC in 2013 as an Associate Director for Market Surveillance in DMO, with responsibility for energy, metals, agricultural, and softs markets. In 2017, he helped start the Market Intelligence Branch in DMO and served as its Acting Deputy Director. In 2024, he took on the role of Deputy Director for the combined Market Intelligence and Product Review branches.
Prior to joining CFTC, Varma held risk management and consulting roles in the private sector. He also worked at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in the Office of Market Oversight and Investigations (predecessor of Office of Enforcement).
Varma has a BTech from IIT Delhi, a master’s degree from Case Western Reserve University, and an MBA from George Washington University.
Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Eric Strikwerda, Associate Professor, History, Athabasca University
During Donald Trump’s first term as president, the United States lurched from the absurdity of his lies to the use of his office for personal financial gain, his schoolyard insults and his utter contempt for critics. His term ended with his irresponsible and dangerous incitement of the assault on the Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021.
This time around, Trump is replying on outdated tools — tariffs, small government, territorial expansion and nationalism — to solve modern problems of globalization, wealth disparities, the decline of manufacturing jobs and exploitative capitalism.
On April 2, he announced a baseline tariff of 10 per cent on all countries that import goods to the U.S., including Canada. Canada has also been hit with a 25 per cent levy on Canadian-made automobiles.
The Trump administration’s current use of 19th-century tools to solve 20th-century problems that are wholly inappropriate for the 21st century threatens to take America back to the 19th century. This is an incredibly dangerous road for the U.S to take.
The 19th century was marked by the rise of the nation-state — a single political entity united by geography, culture and language.
This was, in many respects, the result of the rapidly industrializing world shifting away from monarchical rule and mercantile economics toward limited democratic rule and free-market capitalism.
It was a time of tariffs, small government, territorial expansion and nationalism. It was also a time of mass migration from Europe to North America, where rampant nativism, colonialism and unchecked and exploitative capitalism shaped the landscape.
The prevailing belief at the time was that nation-states should use tariffs, adopt isolationist policies to cut off the outside world and seize territory where possible. These measures, it was thought, would foster national unity and allow capitalism to thrive by letting the “invisible hand” of the marketplace work its magic.
Protective tariffs promised to grow domestic industries, but the economic benefits were not evenly distributed. Wealth disparities grew wider as millions of immigrants arrived on North American shores, only to find deplorable living conditions in the cities and hardscrabble farmland out in the country.
Some newcomers prospered, of course, but they tended to be those who arrived with money already in their pockets. And they fast learned how to exploit the lack of state-directed regulation, patches of corruption amid rapid western expansion and growing nativism and poverty to their own benefit.
Many of the 20th century’s problems flowed from these 19th-century trends.
Following the financial Panic of 1873 and its ensuing economic depression in both Europe and North America, nation-states unleashed tariffs to protect their domestic economies. It was the wrong strategy to pursue, as it slowed trade even more by limiting the free flow of goods and capital. Money, as is now well-known, needs to move to grow.
Working families chafed at the lack of labour protections like bargaining rights, health and safety measures, unemployment insurance and sick benefits. In response, they formed unions and initiated waves of strikes throughout the western industrialized world.
Western North American farmers were furious that tariffs forced them to buy on protected markets while selling on unprotected ones subject to international market prices. They organized, too, by forming farmer co-operatives and backing movements like the Granger movement, populism and progressivism to protect their interests.
Nation-states, warmed by rising nationalist fires, formed military-defence alliances across Europe and its colonial and former colonial holdings, including Canada. In 1914, these alliances led to the First World War, a global and industrial war the likes of which the world had never seen.
By the 1930s, unrestricted and largely unregulated capitalism, together with astonishing wealth disparities and monopolistic tendencies, plunged the world into the decade-long Great Depression.
Many governments’ initial response was to impose tariffs once again, and just as in 1873, they only made the problem worse. The simultaneous rise of fascism, which was largely nationalism run amok, brought the world to war again at the end of the decade, to devastating consequence.
The post-war years saw a concerted international effort at using the nation-state to regulate domestic economies by investing in social services and programs and to rein in runaway capital when its excesses threatened stability.
International bodies like the World Bank, the United Nations and the International Court of Justice were created to promote peace and stability. This new approach wasn’t always successful in its goals, but so far the world hasn’t seen any global hot wars or massive economic depressions.
In 1992, historian Frances Fukuyama infamously declared that the world had reached “the end of history.”
He didn’t mean that time stopped, of course. Instead, he was arguing that the liberal nation-state represented “the end-point of mankind’s ideological evolution and the universalization of western liberal democracy as the final form of human government.”
In his view, the western industrialized world had reached the pinnacle of successful governance and unlimited prosperity.
Yet, even as western liberal democracy was congratulating itself on its own success, these same nation-states, in conjunction with large corporations, were seeking out lower labour costs and greater profit in the developing world.
The result was a hollowing-out of North America’s industrial heartlands, along with rampant exploitation of vulnerable labour in places like Asia, South Asia and South Central America. Once mighty American cities declined. Wages failed to keep up with inflation. Farm debt soared.
This is where the Trump administration re-enters the story — tapping into the frustration and disillusionment of frustrated Americans by promising to restore a “golden age” that never was.
Despite his promises, Trump’s tariffs are unlikely to bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. As history has shown, tariffs do not revive industries that are already gone; instead, they will only make Americans pay more for the things they need.
A return to small government won’t “make America great again,” either. Instead, it risks repeating the 19th-century pattern of making the rich richer and gutting the very social programs millions of people rely on. The Trump administration’s massive and ongoing cuts to the Social Security Administration are already well under way.
Trump’s rhetoric about territorial expansion, including threats to annex Greenland and Canada, won’t make the U.S. more secure. It will just exacerbate the sort of international tensions the world saw in 1914 and 1939.
And with limited resources left to exploit, it’s becoming harder for capital to sustain itself, even as it seeks to wrest whatever is left from our planet, the realities of environmental catastrophe be damned.
Nationalism, meanwhile, won’t foster a sense of national unity. It will only deepen existing divisions based on race and class. And if history is any guide, the consequences could be even more dire this time around, even pushing the world toward a global conflict unlike anything seen before.
Eric Strikwerda does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. Stuck in the past: Trump tariffs and other policies are dragging the U.S. back to the 19th century – https://theconversation.com/stuck-in-the-past-trump-tariffs-and-other-policies-are-dragging-the-u-s-back-to-the-19th-century-253106
Source: US Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06)
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) released the following statement in response to President Trump’s newly announced tariffs:
“President Trump’s on-again, off-again approach to tariffs has created chaos and uncertainty across the country, and today’s announcement only adds more fuel to the fire. Trump’s tariffs could eliminate countless jobs, drastically increase the price of gas and groceries, and send our country spiraling toward an economic crisis. At their core, these are massive taxes that are going to be paid by small business owners and families in Oregon and across America. Whether you’re a winemaker in the Willamette Valley or a busy mom in the Fred Meyer checkout line, working Americans – not foreign countries – will be footing the bill for President Trump’s recklessness.
Once again, I am calling on the Administration to immediately reverse course. If they fail to do so, Congress must take action to reclaim the “power of the purse” as outlined in the Constitution. It is the legislative branch’s job to set tax and trade policies, not the President’s – and we must use every tool at our disposal to protect American workers and families from these disastrous tariffs.”
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US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito
To watch Chairman Capito’s opening statement, click here or the image above.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, led a hearing beginning the development of the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill with the Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation (DOT), Sean Duffy.
In her opening remarks, Chairman Capito detailed her vision for the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill, and welcomed input and collaboration from the Trump administration and Secretary Duffy as the reauthorization effort begins. This hearing serves as the first of a two-part series of hearings on the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill.
Below is the opening statement of Chairman Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) as delivered.
“Thank you for joining us this morning as we begin our work to develop the next Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill. This hearing is the first of a two-part series that we are having to help us guide our work, and I really want to thank Secretary Duffy for being here with us today.
“My vision for this legislation is simple, but important. We want to improve the movement of people and goods.
“Our roads and bridges are what connect us to the people and places that matter most in our lives. They help American businesses, large and small, create jobs and economic opportunities, and enable that competitiveness in the global marketplace. They connect everything around us from Point A to Point B. Every state has transportation needs and stands to benefit from the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill.
“My home state of West Virginia is pursuing important projects, like the Coalfields Expressway, I’m specifically mentioning these in front of the Secretary, because he will be hearing from me on these two, Corridor H also, to better link our communities to essential services and economic opportunity. This legislation provides the funding and establishes the policies and programs that enable the improvement of the surface transportation network that we all so rely on.
“Since the enactment of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the EPW Committee has reviewed and conducted oversight of the existing policies and programs. We’ve learned a lot about what is working and what isn’t. That effort has provided me with three key principles for the next bill. By focusing on these principles, I’m confident that we can work towards bipartisan legislation, as we have in the past, that will deliver results for the American people.
“Principle One: Improving the safety and reliability of America’s surface transportation network with impactful investments.
“In recent years, we’ve seen an increase in the number and scope of federal transportation programs. These programs have often had duplicative purposes, and project availability and eligibility. This leads to an expensive and time-intensive process to get funding out the door that disrupts the focus of federal funding and lessens the impact that the legislation can make.
“As we craft the next Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill we must make investments that instead, optimize the impact of federal funding and give state partners the confidence that they can invest over a longer period of time. We should focus on eliminating duplicative programs that invite regulatory overreach and increase funding for the highway formula programs that our states rely on and have a proven track record of success.
“Principle Two: Reforming and modernizing federal programs and policies to increase efficiency.
“We all know that as currently structured, federal requirements can add red-tape that increases costs and time, and slows down the completion of projects. We all want to deliver transportation benefits faster and save money for American taxpayers.
“To achieve this goal, we need to take a serious look at the federal requirements to determine how to make meaningful improvements to our planning and procurement procedures, our environmental review process for projects, and discretionary grants and loans requirements. By reforming and modernizing these requirements, we can create certainty for the partners who make these projects happen and ensure that the public receives the benefits of these needed investments quickly.
“Principle Three: Addressing the variety of surface transportation needs across all states.
“Obviously, different states have different needs. I wouldn’t expect West Virginia, with our mountainous peaks and valleys, to prioritize the same transportation projects in other states in other parts of the country. By avoiding top-down mandates from Washington, and giving states flexibility to address the individual improvements, I think that is what we need to be looking at. The bill can support our common goals while ensuring that federal regulations, programs, and policies recognize the different needs in our states.
“It will take collaboration from my Senate colleagues, our stakeholders, and the Trump administration in order to complete the bill before the IIJA expires in September of 2026. We must be pragmatic, and work in a bipartisan way, as we have in the past, to develop a Senate bill that sets us up for a productive conversation on this reauthorization effort with our colleagues in the House.
“I am grateful to Secretary Sean Duffy, who is here to share the Trump administration’s priorities for this legislation, and I look forward to learning more about those priorities. The Department of Transportation’s technical assistance and support will be critical parts of this process.
“This is an excellent opportunity ahead of us to make a pivotal impact in our surface transportation network. Each of us knows how important that network is and the role that it plays in keeping our country’s economy and people on the move. I am excited to get to work and continue the EPW Committee’s bipartisan tradition of developing this legislation.”
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito
To watch Chairman Capito’s questions, click here or the image above.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, led ahearing beginning the development of the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill with the Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation (DOT), Sean Duffy.
During the hearing, Chairman Capito asked Secretary Duffy about the importance of bridge funding, the backlog in grant agreements created by the previous Administration, and what hinders the development of transportation projects.
HIGHLIGHTS:
IMPORTANCE OF BRIDGE FUNDING:
CHAIRMAN CAPITO:
“In my state, obviously, we have a lot of rivers and mountains. We’ve got a ton of bridges, and we need your partnership to make sure that we’re going to have the ability to fix, and we’re on the process right now, some major projects, fixing some of our bridges or maintaining them. What can you say about bridges, in terms of what you’ve seen since you’ve been there, on improving our nation’s bridges? What more would we need to do to address the issues with bridge safety and bridge maintenance?”
SECRETARY DUFFY:
“We see that people lose their lives when our bridges aren’t safe, and so I know it’s a top priority for this committee and for the department as well. We will make sure that the grants that have been awarded, we’re expeditiously moving through those grants and making sure we have funding for that which was awarded. But you know, beyond that, I think we have to take a look at the list of priorities, and the oldest and maybe most dangerous bridges, have to be funded first and those projects have to get underway.”
DEPLOYMENT OF DISCRETIONARY GRANTS:
CHAIRMAN CAPITO:
“I have raised concerns about the implementation in the IIJA’s competitive grant programs, and the time it takes, we’re going to see this as a repeating theme, I think, the time that it takes to get that funding out the door. Can you please commit to a timely execution of project grant agreements? We know that there are numerous projects that are still – been promised and are not through the pipeline yet. Promised by the previous Administration, which is fine, but they still didn’t move them through the pipeline. Can you talk about that, and how you think that you can improve that process in your department?”
SECRETARY DUFFY:
“There are 3,200 announced projects at the department that don’t have signed grant agreements – 3,200. We are going to work through those projects. But if you say, ‘where is my project,’ I’m not looking at 10 projects for grant agreements – 3,200. Some of them date back to 2022, so there’s a lot of workload to do to get these projects complete, to get the grant agreements completed, and the money out the door to your states. I’ll just note that, Senator, usually, historically, there was 47 to 107 projects announced between Election Day and Inauguration Day. This last Administration announced around 950 projects in that time frame, almost 1,000% increase. And so everybody wants their projects, and I’m going to do my best to get those projects out the door, but it is a historic number that was announced.”
CAUSE FOR DELAY:
CHAIRMAN CAPITO:
“I’m interested in the 3,200 projects that basically landed on your desk the day you got sworn in that were not completed. Could you just flesh out a little bit why they might not be? It might be that their environmental review, their financing, can you just kind of line out a little of those?”
SECRETARY DUFFY:
“That’s a good point. Some of them are the NEPA work had not been done yet. That’s true. There’s others that would expand capacity, and so if you’re going to expand capacity from, you know, two lanes to four lanes, it’s my understanding there was a set of ideas that they didn’t want to expand the capacity. They would re-do, you know, current capacity, but if it was an expanding capacity, those projects actually sat for a longer period of time. When the announcement goes, I’m going to work for all of you to get these projects out. But I’ve got a lot of complaints, it is a lot of projects that we have to get done to make sure we can meet the commitments that were made in the last Administration.”
Click HERE to watch Chairman Capito’s questions.
Click HERE to watch Chairman Capito’s opening statement.