Floor SpeechNeutral2026-07-14

IRAN, HORMUZ, INFLATION

EconomyForeign PolicyTradeAgriculture

Context

On 2026-07-14, Representative Marcy Kaptur (D-OH-9) delivered a floor speech titled "IRAN, HORMUZ, INFLATION" in the House.

Full Text

IRAN, HORMUZ, INFLATION

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 114 (Tuesday, July 14, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 14, 2026)] [House] [Page H4465] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] IRAN, HORMUZ, INFLATION (Ms. KAPTUR asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.) Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, today marks the 137th day of President Trump's undeclared war of choice on Iran. He originally said it would last no more than 4 days. It is now day 137, and we are headed toward month 6, one-half of a year, costing taxpayers $1 billion a day. The cost of this war is being borne by hardworking families all across our country, already costing them over $100 billion or more added to the U.S. debt. The war is spreading. The President has blockaded the Strait of Hormuz through which 20 percent of the world's trade flows. He has turned the U.S. Navy into a traffic cop for the strait as his blockade resumed, and the Navy is charged with charging vessels 20 percent, a 20 percent tariff for passing through, which means prices are going up. Gas prices had begun to subside a little bit, but they just went back up. I just paid $4.35 a gallon. Diesel is much higher. One farmer I spoke to last week told me that his fertilizer prices shot up from $90 to $500. This yin-yang is destabilizing. How sad it is that the President says he doesn't think about Americans' finances when he makes his decisions. Mr. Speaker, our people simply cannot afford the latest war in the Middle East. They are telling us that enough is enough. One-half trillion dollars more for war? No. ____________________

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IRAN, HORMUZ, INFLATION Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 114 (Tuesday, July 14, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 14, 2026)] [House] [Page H4465] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] IRAN, HORMUZ, INFLATION (Ms. KAPTUR asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.) Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, today marks the 137th day of President Trump's undeclared war of choice on Iran. He originally said it would last no more than 4 days. It is now day 137, and we are headed toward month 6, one-half of a year, costing taxpayers $1 billion a day. The cost of this war is being borne by hardworking families all across our country, already costing them over $100 billion or more added to the U.S. debt. The war is spreading. The President has blockaded the Strait of Hormuz through which 20 percent of the world's trade flows. He has turned the U.S. Navy into a traffic cop for the strait as his blockade resumed, and the Navy is charged with charging vessels 20 percent, a 20 percent tariff for passing through, which means prices are going up. Gas prices had begun to subside a little bit, but they just went back up. I just paid $4.35 a gallon. Diesel is much higher. One farmer I spoke to last week told me that his fertilizer prices shot up from $90 to $500. This yin-yang is destabilizing. How sad it is that the President says he doesn't think about Americans' finances when he makes his decisions. Mr. Speaker, our people simply cannot afford the latest war in the Middle East. They are telling us that enough is enough. One-half trillion dollars more for war? No. ____________________