Vella, Illinois House Committee to Listen to Experts on Tariff Impact

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Dave Vella, D-Rockford, will lead a House committee hearing Thursday with agricultural, retail and business leaders to discuss the devastating economic impact of
President Donald Trump’s misguided tariffs.

“We’ve seen the market instability caused by these reckless tariffs, but the true pain is still coming,” Vella said. “We’re going to bring in experts who will give us a clear picture of what we’re facing, and why we should choose a more responsible path forward.”

Vella, who chairs the Illinois House International Relations, Tourism and Trade Committee, will lead a joint hearing with the House Revenue and Finance Committee Thursday morning. Members are expected to hear from:

– Rob Karr, Illinois Retail Merchants Association (IRMA) President and CEO,
– Todd Main, Illinois Soybean Association Director of Market Development,
– Doug Jones, Illinois Lumber and Material Dealers Association (ILMDA) Board President and
Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Illinois (HBRAI) 1st Vice President,
– Steve Kitzman, ILMDA Vice President,
– Cory Jobe, Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau President and CEO, and
– Dr. William Ridley, University of Illinois Assistant Professor with a research interest in international trade.

An online broadcast of the hearing is expected to be available at https://ilga.gov/houseaudvid.asp.

For more information, please contact RepDaveVella@gmail.com.

Who: Illinois House International Relations, Tourism and Trade Committee, House Revenue and Finance Committee
What: Hearing regarding the impact of tariffs on Illinois
When: Thursday, April 24; 8 a.m.
Where: Capitol Building Room 114, Springfield, Ill.; Virtually on ilga.gov at https://ilga.gov/houseaudvid.asp.