[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 184 (Wednesday, December 11, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H6805-H6806]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       PRESIDENT TRUMP'S TARIFFS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Nickel) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. NICKEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the impact of 
President-elect Donald Trump's proposed 20 to 25 percent tariffs will 
have on raising costs for my constituents in North Carolina.
  I want to be absolutely clear. I find it ridiculous, shortsighted, 
and irresponsible to impose price hikes on working North Carolinians, 
and that is exactly what the Trump plan will do.
  To North Carolinians who are planning to build a home project with 
lumber and other materials: You can expect to pay a whole lot more. 
Remember to thank President-elect Donald Trump.
  To North Carolinians who want to pay to pack healthy school lunches 
for their kids: You can expect to pay a whole lot more. Remember to 
thank President-elect Trump.
  Congress has constitutional authority to raise and lower tariffs, but 
Trump's plan to circumvent Congress is what he would do, and he wants 
to do it himself.
  Why is he doing that?
  It is because he knows that if he asks Congress to pass a law, they 
would tell him that it was a terrible idea.
  I am here to get bipartisan work done, Mr. Speaker, and a 25 percent 
hike on tariffs would never get enough Republicans or Democrats on 
board to pass this Chamber. Trump will abuse his power to get what he 
wants. That is why I cosponsored the Prevent Tariff Abuse Act. I am 
pushing for this legislation to prevent the President-elect from 
abusing emergency powers to impose reckless tariffs.
  Mr. Speaker, 20 to 25 percent tariffs are little more than a national 
sales tax on working families across the country. North Carolina's 
working families can't afford that, and our country can't afford 
Trump's abuse of power.


                         civil nuclear exports

  Mr. NICKEL. Mr. Speaker, this week I am proud to have introduced the 
Civil Nuclear Export Act along with my colleague, Congressman  Jim 
Clyburn of South Carolina.
  Our bill will boost U.S. competitiveness in the global civil nuclear 
exports market and bolster U.S. national security.
  As Russia and China aim to corner the market and exert their 
influence around the world by financing nuclear projects, this 
legislation could not be more timely.
  That situation is intensifying rapidly, and it is time for the U.S. 
to step up.
  The Civil Nuclear Export Act would reduce other countries' dependence 
on Russia and China for technology and financing. This would be a win 
for our national security, a win for economic growth and more jobs, and 
a vital step toward a more sustainable energy future.


                        Hurricane Helene Relief

  Mr. NICKEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because North Carolina working 
families deserve action from their elected leaders. They deserve action 
on needed relief for Hurricane Helene victims. They deserve action on 
lowered grocery costs, childcare costs, and healthcare costs. They 
deserve to have faith and trust in our government systems and to know 
that their leaders are acting in their best interest.
  Unfortunately, North Carolina Republicans in the general assembly are 
not acting in the best interest of North Carolina's working families. 
They are acting to consolidate their own power for personal gain. Under 
the guise of providing relief for Hurricane Helene victims, Republican 
leaders in the North Carolina General Assembly are using disaster aid 
as a smokescreen to push a brazen power grab.
  I am talking about North Carolina Senate Bill 382, a bill which 
weakens our democratic institutions and punishes voters for electing 
Democrats up and down the ballot in North Carolina.
  Despite needing $3.9 billion in the State of North Carolina for 
recovery funds outlined by Governor Cooper earlier this year, 
Republicans are sending just a fraction, 6 percent, of what is needed 
for western North Carolina. What is worse, buried in this 131-page bill 
are provisions designed to strip Governor-elect Josh Stein's control 
over our elections, to restrict Attorney General-elect Jeff Jackson's 
ability to fight to protect consumers and to create judicial positions 
to be handpicked by the legislature instead of elected by the people.
  They are rushing through this bill because North Carolinians just 
elected Democrats to those State offices. They are changing the rules 
to suit themselves, not the people of our State.
  My constituents in North Carolina sent me to Congress because they 
believe in bipartisan work. They want

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legislators who work across the aisle to get things done. Until my term 
ends, I am doing everything I can to restore their trust in our 
systems, to stand up for them against rogue politicians, and to fight 
back against bills like SB 382.
  My constituents deserve better, and the American people deserve 
better.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to refrain from 
engaging in personalities toward the President-elect.

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