[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 37 (Wednesday, February 25, 2026)]
[House]
[Page H2300]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 0910
CREATE TARIFF POLICY THAT SUPPORTS U.S. ECONOMY
(Ms. DEAN of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to address
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
Ms. DEAN of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, Article I, Section 8 of the
Constitution grants Congress, and Congress alone, the ``power to lay
and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises.''
As Chief Justice John Roberts correctly noted last week, the Framers
were explicit: The executive has no given power to reach into the
pockets of the people to impose taxes and tariffs.
The Supreme Court has now confirmed two truths that we have known:
Tariffs are a tax on consumers, on you and me; and number two, the
President's disastrous, on-again-off-again tariffs are not just
illegal, they are also unconstitutional. I am thankful to the Court for
so clearly recognizing and rooting their opinion in our Constitution.
Now we must turn our focus to those who unjustly suffered because of
this President's economic chaos. The Treasury Department must
immediately issue refunds for the $134 billion stolen from American
families and businesses.
I call upon all of my colleagues in Congress, Republicans and
Democrats, let's work together to create tariff policy that supports
U.S. economic objectives, laws that give businesses the security and
time needed for investments, and that bring costs down for consumers.
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