Dear Dr. Hassett:
The Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is continuing to conduct oversight of the Administration’s trade policies, including the Administration’s recently announced tariffs on steel and aluminum. According to a recent news report, the White House Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) drafted an economic analysis that found that the Administration’s tariffs “will hurt economic growth in the United States." We write to respectfully request this analysis.
Since March 2018, the Committee has sought specific data and information about the development and justification for the steel and aluminum tariffs, including the relevant economic analyses that the Administration used in developing the tariffs. To date, while the Committee has received some information from the Commerce Department, we are still seeking specific data and supporting documents regarding the tariffs. To better understand the potential consequences of the Administration’s trade policies, we respectfully request that you produce the CEA economic analysis relating to the Administration’s steel and aluminum tariffs and all supporting data and documents.
Please provide this material as soon as possible but no later than 5:00 p.m. on June 27, 2018. When delivering production sets, please produce to Majority staff in room 340 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building and to Minority staff in room 442 of the Hart Senate Office Building.
The Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is authorized by Rule XXV of the Standing Rules of the Senate to investigate “the efficiency, economy, and effectiveness of all agencies and departments of the Government." Additionally, S. Res. 62 (115th Congress) authorizes the Committee to examine “the efficiency and economy of all branches of the Government including the possible existence of fraud, misfeasance, malfeasance, collusion, mismanagement, incompetence, corruption, or unethical practices…."
If you have any questions regarding this letter, please ask your staff to contact Scott Wittmann or Josh McLeod with Chairman Johnson’s staff at (202) 224-4751 or Sarah Garcia with Ranking Member McCaskill’s staff at (202) 224-2627. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Ron Johnson Claire McCaskill Chairman Ranking Member
Source: U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
