Bills · HR 1903
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
House BillHR 1903Foreign Trade and International Finance
Congressional Trade Authority Act of 2025
INTRO MAR 6· LAST ACTION MAR 6
READING
18MIN
COSPONSORS
20
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenThis bill matters because it shifts a significant amount of power over trade policy from the President to Congress. Historically, Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act has allowed presidents to impose tariffs on various goods, from steel and aluminum to automobiles, citing national security concerns. These tariffs can raise prices for consumers, affect U.S. industries that rely on imported parts, and sometimes trigger retaliatory tariffs from other countries.
If this bill becomes law, future presidents would need explicit Congressional approval for any trade restrictions under this national security provision. This could lead to fewer such tariffs being imposed, or at least a more deliberate and transparent process. It reflects a desire by some in Congress to reclaim legislative authority over trade, potentially preventing a president from using broad interpretations of national security to enact protectionist measures without a direct vote from the people's representatives. If it doesn't pass, the President retains broad unilateral authority under Section 232, and the scope of what constitutes a national security threat in trade remains broad.
KEY PROVISIONS
4AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Any presidential action to adjust imports based on national security findings must be approved by a joint resolution of Congress within 60 days.
This prevents the President from unilaterally imposing tariffs or other trade restrictions under national security grounds.
PROVISION 02
The definition of "national security" is narrowed to "protection of the United States from foreign aggression," explicitly excluding "protection of the general welfare."
This limits the grounds on which a President can claim imports threaten national security, likely reducing the scope for tariffs.
PROVISION 03
The types of goods (called "covered articles") subject to Section 232 actions are limited to those related to military equipment, energy resources, or critical infrastructure essential to national security.
This specifies the types of imports that can be restricted, preventing the use of Section 232 on a wide range of consumer or industrial goods.
PROVISION 04
Primary responsibility for Section 232 investigations shifts from the Secretary of Commerce to the Secretary of Defense, and findings must show imports are a "substantial cause" of a threat to national security.
This puts military expertise at the forefront and raises the threshold for justifying trade restrictions.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 20
D· Virginia
YRS IN OFFICE
11
BILLS LED
63
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 0%
DEM 20 REP 0 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSMAR 6
Introduced in House
MAR 6
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
BILL INFO
TypeHouse Bill
NumberHR 1903
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedMar 6, 2025
Last actionMar 6, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED MAR 6, 2025
House BillHR 1903Foreign Trade and International Finance
Congressional Trade Authority Act of 2025
INTRODUCED MAR 6, 2025· LAST ACTION MAR 6, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
18 min
COSPONSORS
20
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
