Tariffs, opioids and dirty diapers: U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie legislative roundup

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Congress is back in session after its summer break. And while the House's Jeffrey Epstein investigation remains ongoing, representatives are at work on other matters.

Here's a review of some of U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie's recent votes and legislative activity.

Trump tariffs

When President Trump announced his "Liberation Day" tariffs in April, he did so through a 1977 law that allows the president to take emergency action should a foreign entity present an "unusual and extraordinary threat" to national security, foreign policy or economy of the United States.

The Trump administration argues that it considers decades of disastrous trade deals qualifying as such an emergency. Critics argue the tariffs are a breach of power as longstanding American policy positions by definition can't be an "unusual or extraordinary threat."

Lawsuits challenging the tariffs have been fast-tracked to the U.S. Supreme Court; arguments are set for Nov. 5.

But while the executive branch prepares its case before the judicial branch, it's the legislative branch that traditionally controls tariff power. It's Congress's job to set a budget and set taxes, and controlling tariffs is well within its authority.

Don’t expect Congress to delve into the matter anytime soon. Mackenzie joined nearly all other Republicans in passing a rule that prevents the U.S. House from ending the state of emergency until March 31, 2026.

He and most Republicans previously voted in April to block tariff debate until Sept. 30.

The procedural vote passed through the House along nearly partisan lines with all Democrats and three Republicans – Reps. Kevin Kiley, R-California, Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky, and Victoria Spartz, R-Indiana – opposed.

Mackenzie previously voiced an openness to revisit the president’s emergency powers and tariffs.

"If we want to be the ones that are setting a budget and tax rates and revenue generation, if that’s what it’s about, then maybe that’s something that Congress should have. I think it's a very worthy discussion, and I could envision a spot where it's somewhere in between," he said in an April interview.

In an email Monday, Mackenzie said he still stands by those words but added that now is not the time for that talk.

In addition to the court review, the Trump administration is still negotiating terms with some countries after reaching what Mackenzie called significant deals with others. In the meantime, he said, he will advocate for those in his 7th Congressional District who are directly involved with tariffs.

"Having a discussion about tariff policy is a worthy discussion for Congress to have in the longer term," Mackenzie said. "At this moment — and still in the short term and just months after the start of executive action on tariffs — we are seeing a few things continue to play out."

Opioid crackdown

In addition, Mackenzie introduced two amendments to congressional funding packages that would instruct federal authorities to take action on the opioid epidemic.

House members approved a Mackenzie amendment to a State Department reauthorization bill that would require officials to work with foreign governments to crack down on the flow of synthetic drugs and their precursor ingredients.

The amendment singled out China as a source of those drugs and specified the State Department needed to strengthen international monitoring and to develop metrics to gauge their efforts' effectiveness.

While Mackenzie's amendment was added to the legislation, the bill itself has not yet gone before the House for a final vote.

The other amendment would require the secretary of defense to conduct a new study reviewing the prescription of opioids within the military health care system. Studies have found that members of the military are twice as likely as the civilian population to die of an opioid overdose.

“It’s essential that we fully understand the roots of the opioid abuse in our veteran population, whose higher rates of chronic pain make them uniquely vulnerable to this epidemic," Mackenzie said in a news release. "That starts with conducting a review of prescribing practices and ensuring they are in line with expert recommendations."

The opioid study amendment was part of the National Defense Authorization Act, which passed the House. The bill is currently awaiting passage in the Senate.

Changing-table legislation

Mackenzie also co-sponsored a bill that would allow small businesses to claim up to $10,000 in tax credits for adding changing tables to family restrooms.

The tax break, if approved, would allow businesses to recoup the cost of purchasing and installing the stations in bathrooms that can be accessed by men and women.

“As a husband and father to a 1-year-old with another on the way, I understand the challenge of finding safe and accessible changing facilities when my family is on the go,” Mackenzie said in a news release. “Families deserve these accommodations, but many small businesses may struggle with the costs of materials and installation."

Mackenzie joined Reps. Jimmy Gomez, D-California; Rob Menendez, D-New Jersey, and Brittany Pettersen, D-Colorado, in co-sponsoring the legislation.

Since taking office, Mackenzie has often supported matters aimed at assisting young families. He previously introduced a bill that would create tax credits for families growing their families through in vitro fertilization as well as a bill to increase the tax credit for families adopting children.

He also broke from Republican leadership on a deal that would have allowed new parents in the House to vote by proxy; Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, killed that deal in favor of a "vote pairing" agreement.