Washington, Jan 22 (IANS) A senior House Democrat on Thursday pressed the Republican-led chamber to vote on legislation to end tariffs imposed under a national emergency declared by President Donald Trump, arguing the duties are raising costs for American families.
We should be voting today to end these tariffs and lower costs for everyday Americans,” said Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, making passionate remarks on the House floor demanding action on S.J.Res.88. The joint resolution has already passed the Senate.
He added that the House majority was “paralysed by fear,” calling it one of the least effective in modern history.
Meeks said voters sent lawmakers to Washington to deal with affordability.
“To lower the cost of health care, housing, and groceries,” he said. Instead, he argued, Congress has taken fewer votes in 2025 than in any non-pandemic year this century.
“Apparently, the Majority doesn’t think affordability is important enough to vote on,” he said.
He accused the White House of focusing on distractions rather than prices.
“Instead of focusing on prices, the White House has spent the past week talking about invading Greenland or using your taxpayer dollars to buy an island that isn't for sale,” Meeks said.
Meeks said Trump threatened another round of tariffs that would have raised prices further. He said those threats were later pulled back “after the stock market tanked yesterday.”
The New York Democrat said Congress should act regardless of presidential moves. “We are a co-equal branch of government,” Meeks said. He urged lawmakers to pass resolutions already approved by the Senate to end the tariffs.
He challenged the legal argument offered by House leaders. Meeks said the Speaker claimed the president was using Article II powers to impose tariffs. “Only there’s one problem,” Meeks said.
“The President has no Article II powers to tax or tariff.” He said those powers belong to Congress under Article I of the Constitution.
Meeks accused the Republican majority of shielding the president. He said they were more interested in “providing cover for Donald Trump than honouring their oath to the Constitution.”
The Senate passed S.J.Res.88 on October 30, 2025, by a 51-47 vote. The measure would end the national emergency declared on April 2, 2025. That declaration imposed a 10 per cent tariff on most imports into the United States, along with additional duties on selected trading partners.
Tariffs have been used by U.S. administrations as a trade tool. Critics say they raise consumer prices and disrupt supply chains. Supporters argue they protect domestic industries and strengthen bargaining power in trade talks.
