The members called attention to how Trump’s policies are raising prices for parents
WASHINGTON — Today, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-03), and Congressman and Congressional Dads Caucus Chair Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) held a press conference on how President Trump’s policies are placing a “baby tax” on parents and raising costs on essentials. The members were joined at the press conference by consumer advocate Angela Hanks and baby products small business owner Elizabeth Mahon.
This press conference comes as today, Walmart, the world’s largest retailer,announced their stores will begin raising prices on some items in direct response to increased tariffs.
Watch the press conference HERE
As Trump’s tariffs – and subsequent reversals and exemptions – create uncertainty and confusion, parents are paying higher prices for essential baby and children’s products than they did before the tariffs were announced. Meanwhile, President Trump has referred to the costs of items like strollers – or “the thing you carry babies around in” as he calls it – as “peanuts,” and Congressional Republicans are advancing legislation to slash taxes for the wealthiest while raising costs for working families.
For Senator Gallego, this isn’t just political – it’s personal. With two kids and another one the way, Senator Gallego and his family are seeing these price hikes firsthand.
“We’re putting together the nursery. […] So I know what some of these dads and moms are dealing with. We’re lucky enough to be able to afford some of these [price] swings, but there’s a lot of families out there that don’t. I certainly grew up in that type of family,” said Senator Gallego.
Senator Gallego also stressed the direct impacts of Trump’s chaotic trade war on working families’ wallets: “Who ends up paying for it are working families. Once you start adding up a stroller, a car seat, a crib – start adding a bunch of other stuff like that, you’ve moved the cost for one family easily up to close to $1,000 if you start adding it all up together. And in this time and this age, they can’t afford it.”
Gallego concluded with a clear message to President Trump:
“Instead of thinking about these working families and giving an exemption to the tariffs for these essential child products, [Trump] is giving it for other products and other friends of his,” said Senator Gallego. “So our message is very simple: take the baby tax away, exempt child car seats. Truly think about what the effects of something like this are. We’re not anti-tariffs, but we certainly are anti-taxing families, especially the baby tax.”
As small businesses struggle to stay afloat under rising tariffs, large corporations with significant market power are exploiting the uncertainty created by Trump’s trade policies to hike prices far beyond actual cost increases.
While the Trump Administration shuts down efforts to hold corporate price gougers accountable, yesterday, Senator Gallego led 35 Senate and House colleagues indemanding the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigate and prosecute individuals and companies using tariffs as an excuse to price gouge American consumers.
5/15/25