1. United States
2. Pa.
3. Letter

I am writing as someone who grew up in Pennsylvania farm country, where my family has worked the land for generations. Tariff policies imposed by the administration are not just abstract numbers on a balance sheet — they directly affect people like us, our neighbors, and our communities. Pennsylvania farmers and manufacturers rely on fair and stable access to both domestic and international markets. Increased tariffs on imported metals and industrial components have raised costs for local manufacturers, making it harder to compete and threatening jobs in towns that depend on these industries. Retaliatory tariffs from foreign partners have already reduced demand for American agricultural products, which means farmers like my family are facing lower prices for our crops and less stability in planning for the next season. ("commerce.gov" (https://www.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2025/02/us-trade-impact-reports?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) These policies also hit Pennsylvania consumers. Tariffs act like a hidden tax, raising prices on everyday goods, from equipment to building materials, straining household budgets already stretched by energy, fuel, and housing costs. Families in rural communities feel this acutely — because higher costs on essential goods are harder to absorb in farm country. ("census.gov" (https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2025/price-effects-tariffs.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) Congress has a responsibility to ensure that trade actions support the people who grow, make, and use the products of our communities. Oversight should focus on: - Examining how current tariffs impact Pennsylvania farmers, manufacturers, and families - Assessing whether these trade measures truly achieve intended economic or national security goals - Ensuring policy decisions protect jobs, stabilize local economies, and minimize harm to ordinary citizens As someone with roots in Pennsylvania farms and small communities, I urge you to act. Our livelihoods, our local economies, and our families’ futures depend on fair, thoughtful trade policy — not tariffs that harm the very people the government is supposed to serve.