Give Congress A Say In Trade

Tariffs are taxes. Using the false pretext of "national security" to tax imported steel and aluminum was a misuse of authority and is hurting American consumers and workers, weakening our economy, and eroding our credibility with other nations. I've seen, first-hand, the damage these taxes are causing across Pennsylvania.

These taxes were allowed to come into effect because over recent decades, Congress has ceded to the executive branch too much of its constitutional responsibility to establish tariffs. That's why I'm leading a bipartisan group of senators to reassert congressional authority on trade, and to relieve American consumers of the burdens caused by these taxes. Our legislation is called the Bicameral Congressional Trade Authority Act and it would require the president to secure approval from Congress before imposing any trade actions -- like tariffs and quotas -- in the name of "national security."

I hope all my colleagues will join us in this bipartisan effort. You can read more about this important legislation here.  

The administration recently announced its plans to withdraw American troops from Syria. I have serious concerns about this decision. At the very least, Congress and the American people deserve to see a plan that ensures the destruction of ISIS, reiterates our commitment to our Syrian Kurdish allies, checks Iranian interests in Syria, and prevents further threats against our ally Israel.

This week, Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and I introduced a bipartisan measure that requires the administration to present that plan. It's vitally important a comprehensive strategy is made public because a hasty withdrawal of American troops from Syria could create a power vacuum in the region that ends up bolstering terrorist groups and rogue nations.

If you want to learn more about this bipartisan measure, you can read about it here.

I have long believed that Congress should not be a body of career politicians, but should instead welcome new legislators who have real-world experiences and can bring a fresh perspective to Washington.

This week, I reaffirmed my support for term limits by taking a pledge to support a U.S. Term Limits Amendment that would enact a three-term limit for the House and a two-term limit for the Senate. You can read more about term limits and the pledge I took here.

This week, I met with a group of law enforcement officials from across Pennsylvania to discuss issues impacting our communities. One issue we discussed was the opioid epidemic, and how we can work together to help save lives. Fighting opioid abuse is one area where Republicans and Democrats still work together. I appreciated hearing these leaders' valuable insights about how we can continue to aid in this fight.

I also had an opportunity to discuss the recently enacted First Step Act, which contains provisions to reform mandatory minimum sentences and to increase public safety by reducing recidivism among offenders.

Hearing from local leaders about issues unique to their communities greatly helps to inform my overall approach in Washington. I am grateful for the work these individuals do and look forward to more meetings like this in the future.