{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2026/8/sen-rick-scott-leads-fight-to-codify-president-trump-s-america-first-trade-agenda", "Sen. Rick Scott Leads Fight to Codify President Trump\u2019s America First Trade Agenda", "2026-08-06", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "FL", "Rick Scott", "S001217", "www.rickscott.senate.gov", "rickscott", "https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/press-releases/", "page_html", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Rick Scott introduced the Trade Deficit Elimination Act to codify President Trump\u2019s efforts to address decades-long trade deficits that have allowed foreign countries to take advantage of working American families while protecting their own domestic markets through unfair trade practices.\n\nU.S. Senators Kevin Cramer and Tim Sheehy cosponsored this legislation.\n\nSenator Rick Scott said, \u201cPrevious generations of Americans gave us an economic superpower; it\u2019s our job to preserve what they built and to leave America better than we found it for our children and grandchildren. That means we can\u2019t let other countries rip us off. In recent years, our trading partners have taken advantage of access to American markets while unfairly crowding American products out of their own countries. Decline is a choice, and President Trump is taking action to restore American prosperity. I'm proud to introduce this legislation to give President Trump the tools he needs to level the playing field, protect American workers, and put America First.\u201d\n\nSenator Kevin Cramer said, \u201cTrade should be fair, not one-sided, and it\u2019s refreshing to have a president who isn\u2019t afraid to hold our trading partners accountable. This bill gives President Trump and Ambassador Greer tools to address trade deficits, keep critical supply chains intact, and achieve better trade agreements for American farmers, ranchers, manufacturers, and workers.\u201d\n\nSenator Tim Sheehy said, \u201cFor too long, America has tolerated massive trade deficits that hollow out our manufacturing base and put American workers at a disadvantage. This bill puts American producers first, strengthens our industrial base, and ensures our trade relationships work for the hardworking men and women of this country - not against them.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nThe Trade Deficit Elimination Act creates a congressional framework authorizing tariffs to address bilateral trade imbalances in goods. Each year, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) must identify which trading partners run a trade deficit with the U.S. and publish this list of \"trade deficit economies.\u201d\n\nWithin 15 days, the USTR may adjust tariffs on these countries' imports as needed to close the gap, in addition to any tariffs already in place.\n\nThe legislation allows exemptions for products critical to national security, essential supply chains, and goods that cannot reasonably be produced in the United States.\n\nThe bill also authorizes the USTR to negotiate trade agreements with these countries to shrink the imbalance through commitments to reform trade practices, buy more American goods, or limit exports.\n\nFull text of the bill can be found HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-07T06:11:19Z", "2026-08-07T06:12:42Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2026/8/sen-rick-scott-leads-fight-to-codify-president-trump-s-america-first-trade-agenda"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7479609921574593, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}