[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 22 (Monday, February 3, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S532]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          TRUMP ADMINISTRATION

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, 2 weeks. It has been 2 weeks with the new 
President. The inauguration seems so far in the distant past. It is 
hard to believe. What this administration has tried to do during the 
first 2 weeks is almost impossible to describe in a very short period 
of time--so many Executive orders, so many changes, so many speeches by 
the President, so many threats, so many changes in the way this 
government is run--and many of them raising serious questions that even 
go to the heart of the Constitution.
  Since President Trump took office 2 weeks ago, he has sown chaos 
across the Federal Government, but despite his campaign promises, 
something has been conspicuously absent from his agenda: lowering the 
cost of living for Americans. The unprecedented, economically 
questionable tariffs he announced on Friday on three of America's 
largest trading partners--25 percent on Canada and Mexico and 10 
percent more on China--show just that.
  I said to my staff, when they handed me a copy of this speech which 
was written this morning, that there have been some developments during 
the course of the day when it comes to Mexico--at least a postponement 
of the imposition of tariffs on Mexico for a month. Canada is still a 
work in progress, as far as we know. Despite campaigning on a promise 
of lowering prices, these tariffs will not do that. They will do just 
the opposite. American families will find things more expensive.
  Don't take my word for it. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce said that 
tariffs will ``only raise prices for American families and upend supply 
chains.'' That is the Chamber of Commerce.
  The National Association of Manufacturers said:

       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.

  The President himself even admitted that these economic measures will 
cause pain for many American families.
  Trade between my home State of Illinois and Canada and Mexico are 
essential to the strength of our economy. More than 1 out of 10 workers 
in Illinois works for the export market. Illinois is the fourth largest 
exporter State in the Nation. And what are our first and second largest 
export markets? Canada and Mexico.
  As a result of these tariffs the President is proposing, working 
families will feel the pain. These tariffs will drive up costs for 
manufacturers; it will disrupt our supply chain; and they have already 
inspired retaliatory tariffs which American consumers will feel at the 
store. Clearly, our outrage at this senseless policy may be working. 
Today, the President announced he will delay the tariffs with Mexico 
for a month. I am glad to hear that.
  Let's be clear about one thing: Unless you are a tech billionaire or 
you are helping someone to get rich through the crypto market, the 
President does not care about making your life better. He only cares 
about enriching himself at the expense of everyday Americans. So, when 
you wonder why the stock market is dipping and the price of eggs and 
potatoes goes up at the grocery store and when your oil change is 
marked up, know that it was because of the policy of the new President 
who has been in office for 2 weeks.

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