1. United States
2. Alaska
3. Letter

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the Trump administration’s newly announced tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China, and to urge you to act immediately to rein in this abuse of emergency powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). As a third-generation Alaskan fishing family, we remember all too well the devastating impact of the previous Trump-era trade wars. Retaliatory tariffs severely harmed our fishermen, pushing small businesses and working families to the brink. The revival of this reckless policy is deeply troubling, and this time it comes cloaked in a dangerous and unconstitutional power grab. The U.S. Constitution gives Congress—not the president—the authority to regulate trade and impose tariffs. IEEPA was never meant to serve as a blank check for a president to rewrite trade policy on a whim. The current actions stretch the statute far beyond its intended purpose and fail to meet the required threshold of an “unusual and extraordinary threat.” There is no direct or credible connection between an opioid crisis or immigration concerns and the imposition of tariffs on unrelated goods like seafood, electronics, or automobiles. This attempt to bypass Congress is not just unlawful—it is harmful. Prices on groceries, fuel, clothing, medical supplies, and everyday household goods will rise. Supply chains will be disrupted. Jobs will be lost. Small businesses and middle-class families will bear the brunt. It is your constitutional duty to protect the balance of powers and defend the livelihoods of your constituents. I urge you to: 1. Publicly oppose the misuse of IEEPA for trade policy. 2. Support or introduce legislation to clarify that IEEPA does not authorize tariff powers. 3. Hold hearings and demand accountability from the administration. 4. Stand with Alaska and other states that rely on global trade for economic security. Please do not allow this president—or any future one—to abuse emergency powers and undermine Congress’s constitutional role. Our economy, our rule of law, and our future prosperity depend on your leadership. Thank you for your attention and action. I look forward to your response.