1. United States
2. Tenn.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my deep concern over the executive branch's unilateral control of tariffs, as exemplified by President Trump's recent executive order removing tariffs on over 100 products. While this action may provide temporary relief from high consumer prices, it highlights a broader issue: the erosion of congressional authority in matters of taxation and trade. The Constitution grants Congress the power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises. This principle of legislative control over taxation was fundamental to our nation's founding, encapsulated in the rallying cry "No taxation without representation." Yet, the executive branch's ability to impose or remove tariffs at will undermines this core tenet of our democracy. The recent executive order, which removed reciprocal tariffs ranging from 10% to 50% on beef, coffee, bananas, and numerous other products, demonstrates the far-reaching economic impact of these unilateral decisions. While it may affect goods supporting 2.2 million U.S. jobs, according to industry sources, such significant economic policies should not be at the discretion of a single branch of government. The volatility created by this "tariff roller coaster" introduces unnecessary uncertainty into our economy. Businesses and consumers alike suffer from the unpredictability of trade policies that can change overnight without legislative debate or approval. This instability was evident in the recent elections in Virginia and New Jersey, where economic issues were a major concern and contributed to Democratic victories. I urge you to take immediate action to reassert congressional authority over tariffs and trade policy. Introduce or support legislation that limits the executive branch's ability to unilaterally impose or remove tariffs without congressional approval. This will ensure that decisions affecting millions of jobs and billions in trade are subject to proper democratic scrutiny and debate. Our nation's economic stability and the principle of representative taxation demand that Congress reclaim its constitutional role in shaping trade policy. The time to act is now, before the next executive order further erodes legislative authority and economic predictability.