Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)
Today, after the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to strike down President Trump’s tariffs, Representative Sharice Davids released the following statement. The Court’s majority held that the Constitution “very clearly” grants Congress the power to impose taxes, including tariffs. “The Framers did not vest any part of the taxing power in the Executive Branch,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote.
“Today’s Supreme Court decision is a win for Kansas families, workers, and small businesses who have been paying the price for reckless tariffs that raised costs at the grocery store, the gas pump, and the farm,” said Davids. “The Constitution is clear: Congress — not any one president — has the authority to set trade policy. I’ll keep fighting for smart, targeted trade enforcement that holds bad actors accountable without forcing hardworking Kansans to shoulder the cost of failed policies.”
Background:
Davids has consistently pushed back on the President’s tariffs and supported bipartisan approaches to trade that balance competitiveness with consumer protection. She spoke during a U.S. House Agriculture Committee hearing on the trade disruptions Kansas agricultural producers will face due to these tariffs — a concern echoed by Kansas Farm Bureau President Joe Newland. She also visited a local toy store and manufacturer that are being hit hard by these unstable policies and hosted a press conference on her efforts to push back on tariffs that are raising prices for hardworking families.
Kansas families are feeling the pinch of Trump’s tariff policies. The Budget Lab at Yale University estimates the average American household will pay $2,400 more annually because of tariffs, with clothing and textiles seeing the biggest spikes. Contrary to claims that tariffs will strengthen the economy, experts warn they will instead lead to higher inflation and slower job growth.
According to Harvard Business School data, tariffs added roughly 0.7 percentage points to inflation in 2025, raising the cost of both imported and domestic goods. Popular items are more expensive, including:
- Clothing accessories: +15 percent
- Jewelry: +8 percent
- Household tools: +6.2 percent
- Appliances: +5.6 percent
- Meat: +6.2 percent
- Fruit: +5.5 percent
- Coffee and tea: +9.2 percent
- Household supplies like toilet paper: +4.7 percent
Many retailers — including Walmart, Dollar General, and major food producers — have announced or implemented price hikes to cover tariff costs. American families are footing the bill for the administration’s reckless trade policies.
These chaotic tariffs have also threatened key industries in Kansas, including agriculture and manufacturing, by increasing the cost of imported equipment and materials and by inviting retaliatory tariffs on exports. This reckless approach to trade policy underscores the need for thoughtful, bipartisan solutions that promote fair trade without harming American consumers and businesses.