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- [00:00]
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- [00:37]
Jonathan
Here'S the latest this morning. The president threatening House Republicans taking a stand against his tariff agenda. The president posting on Truth Social There will be consequences after six GOP lawmakers cross party lines to rebuke the President's levies on Canada. The Republican Congressman French Hill voting against the measure to override President Trump's tariffs. And he joins us now for more. Congressman Hill, welcome to the program. Sir, your reaction to what happened on the Hill yesterday and why you voted the way you did?
- [01:03]
Congressman French Hill
Well, good morning, Jonathan. Look, I think we should handle the tariff discussion in a more comprehensive way and not take votes every week on the floor. That turns the House floor over to the Democratic Party. That's why I believe that standing with Speaker Mike Johnson on this maintains Republican control of the floor. So this is a very important strategic issue in a parliamentary body like Congress with a very narrow majority. What we should be doing about trade is urging the president to renew USMCA with Canada and Mexico, which is under review for its five year review this summer. It's a very important trade arrangement for the three countries. Progress is being made in working with the Canadians and the Mexicans. So that's number one. It's not to be connected, in my judgment, to the vote last night, which is did the president have the right to put tariffs on Canada under IA because of the fentanyl matter? You get my point. Let's stick with the big picture here, which is growing America's exports, growing America's influence, using tariffs as a tool to change trade behavior of other nations. Number one on that list, of course, is China.
- [02:16]
Jonathan
Congressman, you mentioned usmca. Our team down in Washington, I'm sure you're familiar with the work of Josh Wingrove wrote just yesterday that the president is privately musing about exiting the North American trade pact. That according to people familiar with the matter. When you read a story like that, do you just consider that part of the negotiation for the upcoming negotiations, or does that concern you?
- [02:35]
Congressman French Hill
Yeah, no I do because of the way President Trump is responsible for dramatically improving the North American Free Trade agreement from the 1992, 1993 timeframe in creating USMCA in his first term. And it worked quite well. But there's more to be done on Canadians on dairy or Canadians on softwood lumber or how the automotive business works back and forth between the two countries or now the role of it we have. We live in an ever changing economy with ever changing priorities. But let's face the reality that 30% of GDP in my home state of Arkansas is connected to cross border trade with Mexico and Canada. So the agreement is important. And it's also important for you to note in that comment that President Trump has, you know, does not impose additional tariffs on USMCA compliant goods. So we are living by the agreement.
- [03:29]
Lisa
Congressman, there's a tradeoff here and I think a lot of people would be sympathetic with the idea of trying to get certain trade partners to change behaviors and thinking particularly of China. On the other hand, there's a real affordability crisis and this is a real issue for a whole host of representatives who are coming up for election later this later this year. I just wonder how much influence you think that Republicans on the Hill have over President Trump's negotiations around tariffs to potentially either abstain from putting additional ones on or rolling some of the existing ones back.
- [04:00]
Congressman French Hill
Well, what you've seen him do is fine tune the efforts with individual countries or regions like the eu, uk, jap, for example. I want to see the consolidate the wins from those agreements that he's done over this first year in the first place. Secondly, you've seen him roll back some tariffs on commodities that we don't make here in the United States, but we need to use whether it's a fruit or vegetable or, or a coffee, for example. I think that makes sense. You don't want to burden the consumer as you're attempting to change trade policies in other, other countries or compel them to follow Americans lead on transnational drug cartel countering those drug cartels. But on the affordability side, Lisa, I think the most important thing we can do is stay focused on the supply side. The one big beautiful bill last year signed into law by President Trump will see real wage increases this year for American families in Arkansas. We expect some $10,000 in benefit to a family of four from the increased child tax credit, the lower taxes on tips, the use of the standard deduction, lower taxes on senior Social Security. So on that supply side, combined with what we're doing on Regulations and the proposal I made for housing in the 21st century housing act. We got 390 votes on the House floor for that this week.
- [05:24]
Lisa
I personally would like to boost consumption by taking a flight to a number of places in the next week. And I'm just wondering if TSA is going to be in operation. Is the government going to shut down tomorrow night, Congressman?
- [05:36]
Congressman French Hill
Oh, Lisa, I hope not. I just, I just, look, it was so hard on my TSA agents and Little Rock and up in the tower at Little Rock National Airport, the air traffic controllers. That was a bad 42 days. That's not how to run the government. President Trump has used Tom Holdman as a leader to consolidate both ICE and CBP operations in Minneapolis. Bring transparency to the operation, streamline it, make sure the training is in place, make sure the operation is consistent with federal law. They're using body cams. Let's take that as the right direction and keep our government funded in Homeland Securities. So important to so many people.
- [06:16]
Jonathan
Congressman, it just feels messy down in Washington. But you pointed out the housing for the 21st century Act. We can get things done. We can find support on both sides. Congressman, what was actually achieved down in Washington and how important is that to you?
- [06:30]
Congressman French Hill
Well, it's very important. You know, Jonathan, on the, on the priorities I've had to have conservative center right policy on redirecting regulation and policy for people's investment opportunities, more crowdfunding, more public offerings, community banking, making community banking great again by lowering the regulatory burden on small banks that make 60% of the home loans in this country. And now 21st century housing. We got 300 votes for those policies, as we did for our digital assets and crypto work last year that shows that Republicans and Democrats when it comes to economic policy can get on the same page and pass legislation that President Trump should sign into law that will make people's lives better. Costs will be brought down, supply chain, supply side capital will advance and community banking will thrive in this country. And those are all good things.
- [07:22]
Jonathan
Final question, Congressman, I've got about 20 seconds. Are you happy you don't have to chair the House Judiciary Committee? Because that was wild yesterday.
- [07:31]
Congressman French Hill
Well, I had a pretty wild hearing last week with my ranking member and Mr. Bessant's testimony, so. I know, I know. Wild, but it was. But that's what happens on Capitol Hill. We bring the public and their elected representatives together to try to find solutions. And it can get spicy sometimes.
- [07:46]
Jonathan
Congressman, appreciate your time. Thank you, sir. Congressman French Hill. Thank you, sir. Down in Washington D.C.