WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representative Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03) slammed House Republicans during a House Natural Resources Committee hearing for wasting time debating on a meaningless bill to rename the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America”, as American families face the threat of another recession due to Trump’s reckless tariff policies. Ansari introduced an amendment to halt the implementation of the bill.
“I find it extremely hypocritical that we are here today debating a meaningless bill that is nothing more than pandering to President Trump as Americans are on the brink of the next recession,” said Rep. Ansari. “If my Republican colleagues truly care about the welfare of the American people, they should stand with us and take real action, starting with voting for my amendment that this bill not take effect until the Secretary of Interior certifies that U.S. trade policies will not increase energy costs for American consumers.”
Click HERE to watch a video of Rep. Ansari’s remarks.
See the transcript below:
Rep. Ansari: “I find it extremely hypocritical that we are here today debating a meaningless bill that is nothing more than pandering to President Trump as Americans are on the brink of the next recession.
I also find it extremely hypocritical that my Republican colleagues have promised over and over again to champion lower energy prices, while at the same time rolling over on President Trump’s tariff policies.
Today, President Trump is implementing tariffs of up to 50% on goods that Americans rely on daily – more now for imports from China. This is the sharpest increase in tariffs the U.S. has enacted in 200 years.
From clothing to electronics to groceries, we’re going to see rising inflation that working-class Americans cannot afford.
We’ve already seen American markets plunge. Roughly $11.1 trillion has been wiped away from the U.S. stock market since President Trump took office – and $6.6 trillion of that was lost just this past Thursday and Friday.
I heard from a constituent just today who has lost $48,000 in their retirement because of the tariffs.
If my Republican colleagues truly care about the welfare of the American people, they should stand with us and take real action—starting with voting for my amendment that this bill not take effect until the Secretary of Interior certifies that U.S. trade policies will not increase energy costs for American consumers.”
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