Grassley finding support for bill to restore Congress authority to set and approve trade policy
WASHINGTON — Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is continuing to find support for his bipartisan bill to restore the constitutionally authorized role that Congress has in setting and approving US trade policy. The legislation would require congressional approval of unilateral tariffs proposed by the executive branch.
Grassley says for years he’s wanted to see this type of bill addressed by Congress. “It probably looks like Trump raises tariffs and I’m introducing my bill because I’m irritated with Trump. Not at all. I’m doing it because he brings the issue up. People are listening to things about tariffs. It gives me a chance to talk about the constitutional responsibilities under Article One of the Constitution, one of the 18 powers for Congress to regulate interstate and foreign commerce.”
Grassley says the bill’s intent is not to reel back in President Trump’s tariff announcements over the last week. “We didn’t want this to be seen as an anti-Trump move. It’s a move to recoup Congress’s constitutional authority to regulate interstate and foreign commerce.”
Grassley’s bill is co-sponsored by Maria Cantwell, a Democrat from Washington state.
