Washington, D.C. (March 17, 2025)—Today, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, and Rep. Jerrold Nadler, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust, led Democrats in a hearing examining how Republican policies are exacerbating the affordability crisis in America. The hearing included testimony from Dr. Diana Moss, Vice President and Director of Competition Policy, Progressive Policy Institute; Dr. Richard Sicotte, Professor of Economics, University of Vermont; Erika Douglas, Professor of Law, Beasley School of Law, Temple University; and Tony Rice, Senior Director of Trade Policy, National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the U.S. Dairy Export Council. Americans are being squeezed by an affordability crisis—and the Trump Administration is making it worse. - Ranking Member Raskin said: “President Trump promised to lower prices on day one. What has actually happened since day one and how are American families faring?” Dr. Moss responded: “I think nothing has happened. In fact, things have gone the other way. The promise to lower prices on day one was really lip service to a broader political strategy.”
- Rep. Hank Johnson said: “The rent in America is too damn high. And yes, the price of groceries in America is too damn high. And the cost of gas in America and across the world now is too damn high. The cost of medical care is too damn high.”
The Trump Administration has corrupted the enforcement of our antitrust laws. - Ranking Member Nadler asked Republican witness, Erika Douglas: “We have heard countless stories about reported corruption in the DOJ, and this subcommittee heard testimony from the former second in command of the Antitrust Division, Roger Alford, after he was fired for pushing back against this corruption about how mergers and settlements in the Trump Administration increasingly involve backroom deals, creating a pay to play system. What effect does this kind of corruption of the rule of law have on the market, and what does that mean for consumers?” Ms. Douglas responded: “I am gravely concerned by reports of political influence peddling and antitrust agencies. I work on the rule of law, and I don't think it should ever be displaced by political favoritism in antitrust law or otherwise. And I want to commend the subcommittee from hearing from Roger Alford, and important voices on this issue. And I think that's all that I can say on it for right now.”
Rep. Johnson said: “Costs continue to go up for Americans due to market concentration into the hands of the super wealthy billionaires who were seated behind Trump at his inauguration—same ones who will be frolicking in the new White House ballroom that's being built up to replace the west wing of the White House. They're getting richer and richer, and Americans trying to make an honest day's pay are paying more and more.” Ranking Member Nadler said: “Rigorous enforcement of the antitrust laws could be a powerful tool in the effort to address the affordability crisis, but instead this administration has corrupted the antitrust process—rewarding their political allies, punishing their perceived enemies, and firing the career professionals and other officials who have refused to cater to industry lobbyists or to carry out a toothless enforcement scheme.”
Instead of prioritizing obvious solutions to the affordability crisis, and desperate to avoid having to confront the affordability crisis Trump has created, House Republicans chose instead to focus on a narrow antitrust exemption that affects only one industry. - Rep. Becca Balint said: “I know that this is an issue that we can come together on as Democrats and Republicans. It's one of the reasons why I love being on this subcommittee, where we could actually do some bipartisan work. And I hope that this is something that we will dive into, not just on the shipping industry, but all the industries in which Americans are getting screwed because we're not actually holding their feet to the fire and actually enforcing antitrust law.”
- Ranking Member Raskin said: “Now, in normal times, I might appreciate an examination of this or any other antitrust exemption. But these are not normal times. And this Majority isn’t even prepared to reform the exemption in any event, something I would be open to discussing. But millions of Americans literally cannot afford to eat, get medicine, or pay for housing in Trump’s economy.”
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