At a House Financial Services Committee hearing on Wednesday, Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) questioned Sec. Scott Bessent about President Trump's tariffs and who pays for it.
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00:00Thank you. Secretary Besset, you have heard from Democrats publicly and I'm
00:06certain you've heard from Republicans privately that this administration's
00:11reckless and chaotic tariff policy is wreaking havoc on our economy. Rather
00:17than delivering stability for our country, this Trump tariff tantrum has
00:26been inconsistent, counterproductive, and disconnected from reality. In my district
00:31in Massachusetts 7th, I'm hearing it from everyone. Small business owners are
00:36reeling from the unpredictable on-again, off-again tariffs. They're holding back
00:40on expansion, delaying hiring, and bracing for the impact. Local and state officials
00:47are telling me about the effect tariffs will have on our state budget.
00:51Simultaneously, Massachusetts will see energy bills increase while revenue from
00:55tourism will decrease. But I want to focus on the constituent outreach that I've
01:01received from everyday families who are just fighting to make ends meet. Yes or no?
01:10Mr. Secretary, do you know what a car seat is? I have two children, yes. I figured as much.
01:20It's correct, you and your husband have two children. So I'm sure you know that car
01:24seats are absolutely essential for families when traveling with babies and toddlers to
01:30school, to worship, to doctor's appointments, just everyday living. But not only are car seats
01:36essential, they are the law of the land. It's the law of the land in 50 states. So there's no
01:42getting around that. Mr. Secretary, what's your estimate of how many babies are born in the United States
01:48I would guess 2 to 3 million? Well, while the number fluctuates, there have consistently been
01:58more than 3.5 million babies born in the United States. That means millions of families in this
02:03country are doing what? Buying a car seat. Because it's essential and it is the law of the land in all 50 states.
02:13But now that cost is going up. Because Trump has announced up to 145% tariffs on Chinese imported
02:22products. Approximately 9 out of every 10 car seats in the U.S. come from China. That's a steep
02:28cost. Steep cost hike for families all over the country. The price is up in Republican districts and in
02:35Democratic districts. And it's not just the car seats that are impacted. We're talking about strollers,
02:40cribs, high chairs. No families exempt from the harm of these. Trump tariffs on essential
02:49baby products. But don't just take my word for it. Mr. Chow would like to enter into the record
02:55a Yahoo Finance article from May 2025 entitled First Year Baby Expenses Already Top $20,000. And tariffs are
03:06adding to the bill as China dominates key imports. Without objection. Look, I support improving
03:16manufacturing in America. But that is not going into effect overnight like these tariffs are. There
03:22needs to be an exemption to help America's families. Trump has used his power for tariff exemptions on
03:27thermoplastics, semiconductors. But what about baby products? Mr. Secretary, do you support an exemption
03:34to tariffs on items that parents need to care for their kids? Yes or no?
03:40Congressman, what you're referring to are... Yes or no?
03:43What you're referring to are... I'm reclaiming my time because I don't want to, I don't want you to
03:47filibuster or give me some macroeconomic answer. Families at home are hurting and they, so just give me a
03:51direct answer. The, uh, I am going to agree with you that they... So yes, you do support an exemption on
03:57tariffs for products that are essential for families for their babies. We are considering exemptions on E4 items,
04:02which... I'm sorry, I have to reclaim my time. I'm reclaiming my time. I am... Mr. Chair, I am
04:07reclaiming my time. Give me my time back. I'm reclaiming my time. I just want a simple yes or no.
04:15Do you support an exemption to tariffs on items that parents need to care for their kids? Because
04:20you all claim you're pro-family. I cannot hear the words you say because I see the things that you do
04:28every day. So clear it up. Yes or no? Do you support an exemption to tariffs on items that parents
04:36need to care for their babies? It is under consideration. Right. Good. I don't know what's
04:42stopping an exemption from going into effect today, so do it now. In Donald Trump's America's price is
04:49not... Yesterday's price is not today's price. Costs are going up. Everyone is suffering, especially our
04:54families with young children. Mr. Secretary, I'm making an appeal to you. On behalf of the people
04:59of this country, please tell Occupant Trump to reverse course and stop hurting America's families.
05:07I yield back.
05:10The gentleman yields back. The gentleman from Pennsylvania, our chair of our Oversight and
05:16investigation subcommittee. Mr. Muser, recognized for five minutes.