Ahead Of Holidays, Scholten Introduces Bill To Expose How Trump’s Tariffs Are Hitting Small Businesses And Families
WASHINGTON – Ahead of the holidays, U.S. Representative Hillary Scholten (MI-03) introduced the Trump Tariff Transparency Act, legislation to highlight the devastating impact President Trump’s illegal trade war is having on Michigan’s small businesses and families. The bill would direct the Small Business Administration (SBA), in coordination with the U.S Bureau of Economic Analysis, to produce a quarterly report on how much Trump’s tariffs are costing America’s consumers and small businesses. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) and Representative Haley Stevens (MI-11) co-lead the legislation. This bill adds to Scholten’s True Cost of Tariffs bill, introduced this summer, demonstrating her commitment to tariff transparency for the American people.
“Michigan families and small businesses shouldn’t have to pay the price for President Trump’s chaotic, reckless tariffs - especially around the holiday season,” said Rep. Scholten. “Tariffs are a tax on working families and a burden on our small businesses. As prices continue to skyrocket on everything from beef to coffee to appliances to stocking stuffers, we deserve to know exactly how big that tax is. As a working mom and a member of the House Small Business Committee, I am proud to be introducing this commonsense legislation to study the true toll of this administration’s catastrophic economic policies and work towards finding real solutions for Michigan families and small businesses.”
As families begin to shop in preparation for the holiday season, many consumers say they have noticed higher than usual prices for holiday gifts, with overall spending going down from previous years. Many popular holiday items have been especially impacted by tariffs, including toys, personal care products, small appliances, clothing accessories, jewelry, and household tools. Research also shows that tariffs have driven up prices for domestically manufactured and everyday goods, including groceries and other household essentials.
Rep. Scholten is a champion for lowering costs and fighting back against this administration’s chaotic and reckless economic policies. This year, she founded the Lowering Costs Caucus, which aims to support legislation that delivers meaningful economic relief for hard-working families, prioritizing kitchen table issues over tax giveaways for the ultra-wealthy. The caucus has endorsed a slate of legislation that would lower costs on everything from baby products to health care.
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