S. 1293 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Apr 3, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryCongress must approve presidential tariffs
Right now, the President has significant power to impose tariffs (taxes on imported goods) on their own authority. This bill would change that by requiring the President to get Congress's approval before imposing any tariff. The President would have to submit a proposal explaining why the tariff is needed, and Congress would have to pass a joint resolution approving it before the tariff could take effect.
How it affects you
This affects people who buy imported goods or work in industries that rely on imports, since tariffs can change prices and business costs. It also shifts power over trade policy from the President to Congress as a whole, which could affect how quickly the government can respond to trade situations. The change would apply across different laws that currently give the President tariff authority.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Apr 3, 2025)
No Taxation Without Representation Act of 2025
This bill requires the President to receive congressional approval in order to impose a duty (i.e., tariff) on articles imported into the United States.
Specifically, the President may impose a duty on an article imported into the United States only if (1) the President submits to Congress a proposal to impose the duty that includes a rationale for imposing the duty, and (2) a joint resolution of approval is enacted into law.
The bill applies to specified statutory authorities, such as the Tariff Act of 1930 and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), and other provisions of law (e.g., trade agreements).
Therefore, for example, the bill requires the President to receive congressional approval before imposing tariffs under IEEPA. (IEEPA provides the President with broad authority to regulate various economic transactions following a declaration of a national emergency. In 2025, President Donald J. Trump invoked IEEPA to impose tariffs on imports from almost all U.S. trading partners. Several lawsuits challenging the President's legal authority to impose tariffs under IEEPA are ongoing.)
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionS. 1293
A BILL
No Taxation Without Representation Act of 2025
Sponsor: Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) · Introduced Apr 3, 2025 · Foreign Trade and International Finance · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Apr 3, 2025: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.”