Maria Cantwell
Senator for Washington · Democratic · United States
“There is nothing, in my mind, innovative about using a computer to tell seniors they can't get the care their doctors prescribe. Unfortunately, this model that is now in six States is being tested, but the administration has made it clear it expects to expand this nationwide.”
“In a time when our country continues to face an opioid crisis with more than 50,000 overdose deaths annually, we should be making it easier for patients to access these nonopioid treatments, and we should not enable a system where contractors have financial incentives to delay or deny care. That is not efficiency.”
“More than 700,000 Washingtonians and 28 million Americans have chosen the Medicare program because they want their healthcare decisions made by their doctor. If they don't, you can choose Medicare Advantage. Medicare Advantage is different.”
“His neurosurgeon recommended a nonopioid--a nonopioid--treatment, an epidural steroid injection, to manage this serious and severe chronic pain. But what did the AI app WISeR tell him? Nope. System delayed.”
“I do believe AI has enormous potential to improve in healthcare and healthcare research. I do think it is going to help us find some new things. But technology should not be used today, on programs that are guaranteed for our citizens, to now be interrupted and delayed by an AI model instead of allowing them to talk to their doctor.”
“I am hearing every day from my patients, from patients in my State-- including the two I mentioned--who have been negatively impacted by this WISeR model. I brought this up at an important Senate Finance Committee with the Secretary of HHS and have said: This has to stop.”
The complete record
Every one of 59 lines we hold for Maria Cantwell, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 1 of 2.
“There is nothing, in my mind, innovative about using a computer to tell seniors they can't get the care their doctors prescribe. Unfortunately, this model that is now in six States is being tested, but the administration has made it clear it expects to expand this nationwide. If you don't represent a State where it is being deployed, I encourage you to get up to speed on this. The Senate, in this last vote, just had a chance to stop it, but we didn't. So I am asking my colleagues to please get educated on how devastating this can be for individual lives and ask yourselves if you believe in traditional Medicare and the doctor-patient relationship. If you do, I guarantee you we will force this administration to stop using this AI tool to deny care for our seniors. I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Budd). The majority leader.”
“I am hearing every day from my patients, from patients in my State-- including the two I mentioned--who have been negatively impacted by this WISeR model. I brought this up at an important Senate Finance Committee with the Secretary of HHS and have said: This has to stop. I do believe AI has enormous potential to improve in healthcare and healthcare research. I do think it is going to help us find some new things. But technology should not be used today, on programs that are guaranteed for our citizens, to now be interrupted and delayed by an AI model instead of allowing them to talk to their doctor. Again, private insurance can do whatever it wants. Medicare Advantage can do whatever it wants. But traditional Medicare should not be subject to an AI model denying people things that the doctor wants to order.”
“These treatments provide patients with critical alternatives to addictive medicines, and we need to continue to get them to our constituents. In a time when our country continues to face an opioid crisis with more than 50,000 overdose deaths annually, we should be making it easier for patients to access these nonopioid treatments, and we should not enable a system where contractors have financial incentives to delay or deny care. That is not efficiency. These concerns are not just coming from me; they are coming from seniors, physicians, and healthcare organizations. Organizations like AARP and the American Medical Association have warned that the impact of this program on aging Americans is real.”
“But, again, the WISeR model put in his treatment and said it was denied. As a result, this once-active man had to significantly scale back even his daily life all because of an AI model telling him he was denied. Michael and Keith are not isolated cases. At the University of Washington Medical Center alone, our report found that more than 100 patients were waiting for similar approvals. What makes this even more concerning is that many of the procedures included in the WISeR model are nonopioid pain treatments. That means we are trying to get off of the opioids, not prescribe them. There are alternatives. But this AI model for Medicare, even though your doctor might have said otherwise, ``go ahead and do it,'' is now denying you or taking weeks and weeks and weeks and weeks to get you the approval.”
“His neurosurgeon recommended a nonopioid--a nonopioid--treatment, an epidural steroid injection, to manage this serious and severe chronic pain. But what did the AI app WISeR tell him? Nope. System delayed. He went on for weeks and weeks living in constant pain, which a doctor--if he was talking to a doctor--would have just said: I approve this treatment. But, no, he was forced into an AI app approval process that took longer and longer and longer to get this coverage. [[Page S4132]] Another constituent Keith Magnuson of Seattle who used to be an extremely active man who could regularly walk 6 miles a day, now, because of a lumbar spinal stenosis, he can barely walk 100 yards without severe pain. His doctor recommended a minimally invasive procedure called MILD which is commonly used by physicians covered by Medicare.”
“In April, with the help of the Washington State Hospital Association, my office released a report examining the impacts of this application on seniors in my State. What we found was deeply troubling. Washington patients are waiting up to four times longer to complete procedures covered by this model. Procedures that took approximately 2 weeks to get taken care of are now taking months. In Washington alone, more than 18,600 people receive services now subject to this WISeR, and people in the Nation, it is about 1.1 million. That is 1.1 million people who could face delays or denials for care. Michael Edgerly is a 78-year-old from Cle Elum in Washington, who spent 22 years serving his community as a mail carrier. He left his job with scoliosis and degenerative joint disease.”
“More than 700,000 Washingtonians and 28 million Americans have chosen the Medicare program because they want their healthcare decisions made by their doctor. If they don't, you can choose Medicare Advantage. Medicare Advantage is different. But on January 1 of this year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services launched an application--driven by AI--euphemistically called the Wasteful and Inappropriate Services Reduction Model, known as WISeR. WISeR is an AI-driven prior authorization program being piloted in six states: Arizona, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, and in my home State of Washington. This model inserts a black box computer algorithm into the decisions that should be being made by a physician and the patient. It puts a layer of bureaucracy between seniors and the care their doctors have recommended.”
“But in this case, there are those in the Trump administration who are trying to change that obligation. Instead of having your doctor tell you what you need, they are trying to push an AI-driven software program that will tell you in advance--in advance--you don't even get that treatment. So, instead of relying on your doctor's advice, instead they are telling you, you do not get to hear what the doctor ordered. This is very troubling because this might be the way private insurance works; and many Americans know what it is like to be on the phone with an insurance company telling you they are going to deny your benefits. But they certainly don't, for traditional Medicare, want an AI app telling you in advance you don't even get the Medicare that you have paid into.”
“Mr. President, today, we are faced with a critical choice here in the U.S. Senate and across the country about the future of traditional Medicare. We had an opportunity to protect Medicare, the thing that seniors care about most, and they wanted to hear from us that we were going to do that. I am not sure that is what transpired. People don't want to have corporations or insurance companies tell them about traditional Medicare. They want that relationship to be about the doctor-patient relationship. If you are on Medicare, you go to your doctor; you ask them what he thinks should be done; he basically tells you; and then you receive your Medicare treatment. Well, Medicare is a promise. And that promise is made when we pay into that, as taxpayers, and we expect to get the care that we need.”
“If you don't represent a State where it is being deployed, I encourage you to get up to speed on this. The Senate, in this last vote, just had a chance to stop it, but we didn't. So I am asking my colleagues to please get educated on how devastating this can be for individual lives and ask yourselves if you believe in traditional Medicare and the doctor-patient relationship. If you do, I guarantee you we will force this administration to stop using this AI tool to deny care for our seniors. I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Budd). The majority leader. ____________________”
“I do believe AI has enormous potential to improve in healthcare and healthcare research. I do think it is going to help us find some new things. But technology should not be used today, on programs that are guaranteed for our citizens, to now be interrupted and delayed by an AI model instead of allowing them to talk to their doctor. Again, private insurance can do whatever it wants. Medicare Advantage can do whatever it wants. But traditional Medicare should not be subject to an AI model denying people things that the doctor wants to order. There is nothing, in my mind, innovative about using a computer to tell seniors they can't get the care their doctors prescribe. Unfortunately, this model that is now in six States is being tested, but the administration has made it clear it expects to expand this nationwide.”
“In a time when our country continues to face an opioid crisis with more than 50,000 overdose deaths annually, we should be making it easier for patients to access these nonopioid treatments, and we should not enable a system where contractors have financial incentives to delay or deny care. That is not efficiency. These concerns are not just coming from me; they are coming from seniors, physicians, and healthcare organizations. Organizations like AARP and the American Medical Association have warned that the impact of this program on aging Americans is real. I am hearing every day from my patients, from patients in my State-- including the two I mentioned--who have been negatively impacted by this WISeR model. I brought this up at an important Senate Finance Committee with the Secretary of HHS and have said: This has to stop.”
“At the University of Washington Medical Center alone, our report found that more than 100 patients were waiting for similar approvals. What makes this even more concerning is that many of the procedures included in the WISeR model are nonopioid pain treatments. That means we are trying to get off of the opioids, not prescribe them. There are alternatives. But this AI model for Medicare, even though your doctor might have said otherwise, ``go ahead and do it,'' is now denying you or taking weeks and weeks and weeks and weeks to get you the approval. These treatments provide patients with critical alternatives to addictive medicines, and we need to continue to get them to our constituents.”
“But, no, he was forced into an AI app approval process that took longer and longer and longer to get this coverage. [[Page S4132]] Another constituent Keith Magnuson of Seattle who used to be an extremely active man who could regularly walk 6 miles a day, now, because of a lumbar spinal stenosis, he can barely walk 100 yards without severe pain. His doctor recommended a minimally invasive procedure called MILD which is commonly used by physicians covered by Medicare. But, again, the WISeR model put in his treatment and said it was denied. As a result, this once-active man had to significantly scale back even his daily life all because of an AI model telling him he was denied. Michael and Keith are not isolated cases.”
“In Washington alone, more than 18,600 people receive services now subject to this WISeR, and people in the Nation, it is about 1.1 million. That is 1.1 million people who could face delays or denials for care. Michael Edgerly is a 78-year-old from Cle Elum in Washington, who spent 22 years serving his community as a mail carrier. He left his job with scoliosis and degenerative joint disease. His neurosurgeon recommended a nonopioid--a nonopioid--treatment, an epidural steroid injection, to manage this serious and severe chronic pain. But what did the AI app WISeR tell him? Nope. System delayed. He went on for weeks and weeks living in constant pain, which a doctor--if he was talking to a doctor--would have just said: I approve this treatment.”
“WISeR is an AI-driven prior authorization program being piloted in six states: Arizona, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, and in my home State of Washington. This model inserts a black box computer algorithm into the decisions that should be being made by a physician and the patient. It puts a layer of bureaucracy between seniors and the care their doctors have recommended. In April, with the help of the Washington State Hospital Association, my office released a report examining the impacts of this application on seniors in my State. What we found was deeply troubling. Washington patients are waiting up to four times longer to complete procedures covered by this model. Procedures that took approximately 2 weeks to get taken care of are now taking months.”
“This is very troubling because this might be the way private insurance works; and many Americans know what it is like to be on the phone with an insurance company telling you they are going to deny your benefits. But they certainly don't, for traditional Medicare, want an AI app telling you in advance you don't even get the Medicare that you have paid into. More than 700,000 Washingtonians and 28 million Americans have chosen the Medicare program because they want their healthcare decisions made by their doctor. If they don't, you can choose Medicare Advantage. Medicare Advantage is different. But on January 1 of this year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services launched an application--driven by AI--euphemistically called the Wasteful and Inappropriate Services Reduction Model, known as WISeR.”
“If you are on Medicare, you go to your doctor; you ask them what he thinks should be done; he basically tells you; and then you receive your Medicare treatment. Well, Medicare is a promise. And that promise is made when we pay into that, as taxpayers, and we expect to get the care that we need. But in this case, there are those in the Trump administration who are trying to change that obligation. Instead of having your doctor tell you what you need, they are trying to push an AI-driven software program that will tell you in advance--in advance--you don't even get that treatment. So, instead of relying on your doctor's advice, instead they are telling you, you do not get to hear what the doctor ordered.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 116 (Thursday, July 16, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 116 (Thursday, July 16, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S4131-S4132] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] Medicare Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, today, we are faced with a critical choice here in the U.S. Senate and across the country about the future of traditional Medicare. We had an opportunity to protect Medicare, the thing that seniors care about most, and they wanted to hear from us that we were going to do that. I am not sure that is what transpired. People don't want to have corporations or insurance companies tell them about traditional Medicare. They want that relationship to be about the doctor-patient relationship.”
“Through that leadership, he strengthened the voice of Tribal nations at the national level and helped secure protections and opportunities that continue to benefit Native families and communities today. It is my honor to join the Colville Tribes, the people of Washington State, and all those throughout Indian Country in congratulating Mel Tonasket on this remarkable milestone. Mel, we wish you the best of luck in your retirement and hope you can create more memories in this next stage of your life. ____________________”
“Mel's impact extended well beyond his reservation. From 1973 to 1976, he served for 4 years as president of the National Congress of American Indians, the largest and oldest national Tribal organization in the United States. While President, he helped mobilize national support for landmark legislation, including the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, and the Indian Child Welfare Act. Between breaks serving on the Colville Business Council, Mel worked for the Indian Health Service and retired from Federal service as the CEO of the Colville Service Unit, which provides healthcare to citizens of the Colville Tribes. Over the course of his career, Mel served in numerous leadership roles and has represented Tribal governments in national and international forums.”
“Navy, Mel worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs for 8 years before being elected in 1970 to the Colville Business Council, the governing body of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. Mel would continue to serve on the Colville Business Council as a representative of the district serving Omak, WA, at various times for the next 55 years, which concludes with his well-earned retirement. Mel helped lead the Colville Tribes and Indian country during one of the most consequential periods in modern Tribal history. He was part of the generation of Native leaders who sought to reverse the Federal policy of termination and fought to preserve the rights and future of Tribal communities. That work helped protect the sovereignty of the Colville Tribes and contributed to a broader movement that reshaped Federal Indian policy.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 115 (Wednesday, July 15, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 115 (Wednesday, July 15, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S4104] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] TRIBUTE TO MEL TONASKET Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, I rise today along with my colleague Senator Murray to join many in the Pacific Northwest community and Indian country to honor Mel Tonasket, a leader and member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. Mel retired last week after more than 55 years of service to his Tribe, community, and country. After serving the Nation in the U.S.”
“Through that leadership, he strengthened the voice of Tribal nations at the national level and helped secure protections and opportunities that continue to benefit Native families and communities today. It is my honor to join the Colville Tribes, the people of Washington State, and all those throughout Indian Country in congratulating Mel Tonasket on this remarkable milestone. Mel, we wish you the best of luck in your retirement and hope you can create more memories in this next stage of your life. ____________________”
“Mel's impact extended well beyond his reservation. From 1973 to 1976, he served for 4 years as president of the National Congress of American Indians, the largest and oldest national Tribal organization in the United States. While President, he helped mobilize national support for landmark legislation, including the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, and the Indian Child Welfare Act. Between breaks serving on the Colville Business Council, Mel worked for the Indian Health Service and retired from Federal service as the CEO of the Colville Service Unit, which provides healthcare to citizens of the Colville Tribes. Over the course of his career, Mel served in numerous leadership roles and has represented Tribal governments in national and international forums.”
“Navy, Mel worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs for 8 years before being elected in 1970 to the Colville Business Council, the governing body of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. Mel would continue to serve on the Colville Business Council as a representative of the district serving Omak, WA, at various times for the next 55 years, which concludes with his well-earned retirement. Mel helped lead the Colville Tribes and Indian country during one of the most consequential periods in modern Tribal history. He was part of the generation of Native leaders who sought to reverse the Federal policy of termination and fought to preserve the rights and future of Tribal communities. That work helped protect the sovereignty of the Colville Tribes and contributed to a broader movement that reshaped Federal Indian policy.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 115 (Wednesday, July 15, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 115 (Wednesday, July 15, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S4104] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] TRIBUTE TO MEL TONASKET Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, I rise today along with my colleague Senator Murray to join many in the Pacific Northwest community and Indian country to honor Mel Tonasket, a leader and member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. Mel retired last week after more than 55 years of service to his Tribe, community, and country. After serving the Nation in the U.S.”
“(2) Report.--If the Secretary makes a determination pursuant to paragraph (1), not later than 3 days after the date on which such determination is made, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report that includes the data and analysis used by the Secretary in making such determination. ______”
“(b) Limitation.-- (1) In general.--No funds may be obligated or expended for the port infrastructure development program pursuant to subsection (a)(9) to make a grant to be used for the purchase of fully automated cargo handling equipment that is remotely operated or remotely monitored with or without the exercise of human intervention or control, if the Secretary of Transportation determines such equipment would result in a net loss of jobs within a port or port terminal.”
“661a(5)) of loan guarantees under the program; and (B) $3,700,000 may be used for administrative expenses relating to loan guarantee commitments under the program. (9) For expenses necessary to provide assistance to small shipyards and for maritime training programs authorized under section 54101 of title 46, United States Code, $355,000,000. (10) For expenses necessary to implement the port infrastructure development program, as authorized under section 54301 of title 46, United States Code, subject to the limitation under subsection (b), $550,000,000, to remain available until expended. (11) For expenses necessary to establish and maintain a workforce development and innovation program, $100,000,000.”
“(6) For expenses necessary to maintain and preserve a United States flag merchant marine to serve the national security needs of the United States under chapter 531 of title 46, United States Code, $390,000,000. [[Page S3828]] (7) For expenses necessary to maintain and preserve a United States flag merchant marine to serve the national security needs of the United States under chapter 534 of title 46, United States Code, $122,400,000. (8) For expenses necessary for the loan guarantee program authorized under chapter 537 of title 46, United States Code, $33,700,000, of which-- (A) $30,000,000 may be used for the cost (as such term is defined in section 502(5) of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C.”
“(4) For expenses necessary to support Maritime Administration operations and programs, $105,500,000, of which-- (A) $15,000,000 shall be for the maritime environmental and technical assistance program under section 50307 of title 46, United States Code; (B) $15,000,000 shall be for the United States marine highway program, including to make grants authorized under section 55601 of title 46, United States Code; (C) $2,000,000 shall be for the Office of Environment and Compliance, including to assist in the environmental review of grant and permit programs administered by the Maritime Administration; and (D) $73,500,000 shall be for headquarters operations expenses. (5) For expenses necessary for the disposal of obsolete vessels in the National Defense Reserve Fleet of the Maritime Administration, $6,000,000.”
“(2) For expenses necessary to support the State maritime academies, $58,800,000, of which-- (A) $4,800,000 shall be for the Student Incentive Payment Program; (B) $13,000,000 shall be for direct payments for State maritime academies; (C) $12,000,000 shall be for training ship fuel assistance; (D) $4,000,000 shall be for offsetting the costs of training ship sharing; and (E) $25,000,000 shall be for maintenance and repair of State maritime academy training vessels. (3) For expenses necessary to support the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel program, including funds for construction and necessary expenses to construct shoreside infrastructure to support such vessels, $110,000,000.”
“(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Transportation for fiscal year 2027, for programs associated with maintaining the United States Merchant Marine, the following amounts: (1) For expenses necessary to support the United States Merchant Marine Academy, $701,500,000, of which-- (A) $101,500,000 shall be for Academy operations; (B) $50,000,000 shall be for facilities maintenance and repair and equipment; and (C) $550,000,000 shall be for the development of a design- build plan for the phased rehabilitation, modernization, and construction of facilities and infrastructure at the United States Merchant Marine Academy in accordance with the Campus Modernization Plan required by section 51329 of title 46, United States Code.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S3827-S3828] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 6626. Ms. CANTWELL submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the appropriate place, insert the following: TITLE __--MARITIME ADMINISTRATION SEC. ___. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR MARITIME ADMINISTRATION.”
“And while we have seen America on a roller coaster the last couple of days, I think it also is a reminder that we need to continue to play this oversight role. If you want to have the ability not to have the roller coaster ride we have been on, the best way to do that is to make sure that Congress continues to play a role in this very important policy. So I appreciate all my colleagues, and I appreciate my House colleagues for their leadership.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 64 (Wednesday, April 9, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 64 (Wednesday, April 9, 2025)] [Senate] [Page S2504] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] Tariffs Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, I come here today to urge my colleagues to vote no on the nomination of Mark Meador to be the FTC Commissioner. But before I do that, I did want to take a moment and talk about today's actions that happened when the President created a 90-day pause on the tariffs, taking the temperature down a bit. I definitely want to thank my House colleagues Representative Bacon and Gottheimer for introducing legislation similar to the Trade Review Act of 2025 that we have introduced here in the Senate.”
“Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The Senator from Washington.”
“We must reassert Congress's role over trade policy and ensure that a rules-based trade system is based on transparency, consistency, and the benefits of the American public. ______”
“This important reassertion of Congress's constitutional role is important so we have a strong voice in trade policy. This legislation, as I said, modeled after the War Powers Act, says that a President must notify Congress within 48 hours of imposing or raising tariffs, provide an explanation of why they are warranted, and an assessment of their likely impact on American businesses and consumers. Our legislation, though, protects that constitutional authority by also saying these tariffs should be reviewed by Congress for approval or disapproval, and doing so is in the best interest of our country. I can't tell you how challenging I think competition in a fast-moving information age global economy is. We can't afford a trade war that lasts for 2 or 3 years, leaving our product off the shelves.”
“Senator Grassley and I are trying to do the same thing today by introducing the Trade Review Act of 2025. Trade wars--which frequently trigger sharp price increases, foreign retaliation, and huge shock impacts to our economy--could affect the livelihood of workers, supply chain manufacturers, and hard-won markets that American exporters have wanted to see continue to be open. I want to thank Senator Grassley for his leadership over many years for American farmers, for the people of Iowa, and for our country. I want to thank him for working with me on the introduction of the Trade Review Act of 2025 that ensures that Congress plays its constitutional role in making sure that, as our Founding Fathers intended, we set the duties and regulate foreign commerce.”
“Businesses rely on certainty and transparency from a rules-based trading system. So how has Congress done on these issues? Well, it is time, I believe, for Congress to reassert ourselves in our constitutional duties. Article I of the Constitution also gave Congress the power to declare war. The Founding Fathers wanted to prevent any single individual from unilaterally committing our Nation to war. The Founding Fathers wanted to ensure that we had a strong check and balance. I believe the same check and balance needs to exist now as it relates to protecting our commerce activities and any Presidential overreach that is not a rules-based approach. Congress, in the War Powers Act, decided to reclaim its authority because they thought a President had overreached.”
“Constitution gave Congress--gave Congress--the explicit authority to impose duties and regulate commerce, given the far-reaching impact to our national economy that I just mentioned. As ranking member of the Commerce Committee, and my colleague from the Senate Finance Committee, we both know how much our Nation needs to continue to have interstate commerce and to have foreign commerce. Since the 1930s, Congress has enacted or directed the President to negotiate trade deals, including authority to negotiate the agreements and impose or adjust tariffs. But I think these Presidents have used this authority correctly by opening up markets, lowering tariffs, and establishing a rules-based trading system. The current approach, I believe, is creating uncertainty and certainly raising costs unnecessarily.”
“I want us to have a robust export opportunity for the excellent U.S. manufactured and grown products. Our trade agreements have ensured that the U.S. remained the second largest exporter of manufactured goods in the world--$2.06 trillion in 2024. And it is clear today, the United States must be competing hard to win in the race for emerging technologies like AI and quantum. Our foreign adversaries and our competitors are in this global race too. So that is why economic disruption puts America at risk. Straining ties with trade alliances also put us at a security risk. Trade wars have lasting consequences. Trade wars devastate Americans working families and small businesses and manufacturers. Article I, section 8 of the U.S.”
“That means the global middle class includes almost 4 billion people. Those are markets for American businesses, for farmers to reach to grow and prosper. According to the World Bank, in the recent decade, trade has lifted 1 billion people out of poverty. My colleagues here, who have worked on deals in the past that opened up markets in places like Chile, Peru, Singapore, the Central America Free Trade Agreement, the update of the USMCA, all know that this hard work created economic opportunity. Our trade agreements helped American farmers export $176 billion in agricultural products last year. They helped ensure that the United States is the world's largest agriculture exporter, with soybeans and corn leading the way as the top export. I want to return to trade agreements. I want to open up more markets.”
“When you establish clear rules- based mechanisms, you can also resolve trade disputes and encourage more investment and more trade. Businesses need this certainty to move forward with deals, to reach new markets, and grow. But now we are seeing a barrage of tariffs on at least 185 countries. We cannot have arbitrary policies create chaos and uncertainty. These kinds of chaos and uncertainty kill business investment and make for very challenging stock market assessments of investments for the future based on predictability. The current approach, in my opinion, is outside the predictable, rules-based system. It is arguable that the current approach is literally a misconstruction of statutory authorities. But what we know today for sure is that 95 percent of the world's consumers are outside of the United States.”
“Inflation and high costs are a threat to stability and prosperity of American [[Page S2174]] businesses of all size, to our farmers, and to our consumers. We live now in an interconnected world--a global economy--and advances in technology and transportation have brought that world closer and closer together. We have a global economy. That is why it is so important to have rules-based trading systems that have been in place since World War II, and it is the bedrock of a global economy. That is to have rules. Rules-based trade is essential to have predictable and stable trade and promoting economic growth and development and global cooperation. No doubt, opening up markets has grown the pie, not just for those economies, but for the U.S. economy.”
“Congress has a duty to ensure that our country remains competitive and leads in the global marketplace. American families rely on our economy for goods and to make ends meet and to provide shelter. American manufacturers rely on an economy to maintain resilient supply chains, keep production lines open--and that means aircraft from Everett, WA, or cars and trucks from Detroit, MI. American farmers rely on our economy to keep fields planted-- production in eastern Washington and northern and central Iowa depend on the cost of fertilizer, seed, and equipment. Small business owners across the country depend on consumer confidence in our economy so that they can keep sales and stay afloat. Sharp increases propose a major threat to that economy.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 60 (Thursday, April 3, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 60 (Thursday, April 3, 2025)] [Senate] [Pages S2173-S2174] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] By Ms. CANTWELL (for herself, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Moran, Ms. Klobuchar, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Warner, Mr. McConnell, and Mr. Bennet): S. 1272. A bill to provide for notification to, and review by, Congress with respect to the imposition of duties; to the Committee on Finance. Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about the important role that Congress plays in ensuring our economy remains strong, and very important for the American people, to lower costs. That is why today I am inducing legislation by myself and Senator Grassley.”
“Our legislation, though, protects that constitutional authority by also saying these tariffs should be reviewed by Congress for approval or disapproval, and doing so is in the best interest of our country. I can't tell you how challenging I think competition in a fast-moving information age global economy is. We can't afford a trade war that lasts for 2 or 3 years, leaving our product off the shelves. We must reassert Congress's role over trade policy and ensure that a rules-based trade system is based on transparency, consistency, and the benefits of the American public. ______ By Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Ms. Duckworth, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Padilla, and Mr. Schatz): S. 1276. A bill to prioritize funding for an expanded and sustained national investment in basic science research; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.”