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WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and a bipartisan group of his colleagues today introduced legislation to require congressional approval of tariffs designated under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.
The bill requires the president to submit to Congress any proposal to adjust imports in the interest of national security under Section 232. For a 60-day period following submission, legislation to approve the proposal will qualify for expedited consideration, guaranteeing the opportunity for debate and a vote. The requirement would apply to all Section 232 actions moving forward, as well as those taken within the past two years.
“For too long Congress has ceded important policymaking authority to the executive branch on a wide range of issues,” Sen. Johnson said. “It’s time for Congress to reclaim its constitutional authorities on tariffs to ensure we don’t undermine the significant economic progress we have made over the last 18 months.”
Johnson was joined in introducing the legislation by Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.).
