Rep. Jimmy Panetta, who has represented California’s 19th District in the U.S. Congress since 2017, posted a series of tweets on September 18, 2025, addressing agricultural policy and congressional authority over trade.
In his first post at 19:25 UTC, Panetta described a meeting with local industry leaders: “I met with agricultural leaders to discuss priorities on animal health, labor, and trade. Their perspective helps guide my work in Congress to strengthen American agriculture and support the farmers and producers who feed our nation.”
Later that day at 19:44 UTC, Panetta commented on legislative matters before Congress regarding trade authority: “On the House floor, I fought against a rule that gives up Congress’s constitutional authority over trade. Article I of the Constitution makes clear that Congress, not the President, has the power over foreign commerce.” He continued his critique of current federal policy in another tweet at 19:45 UTC: “Yet this Administration’s tariff policy has driven up prices, hurt jobs, shaken markets, and strained our alliances, all while bypassing Congress. Families, small businesses, farmers, and manufacturers in CA-19 and across the country are being crushed by these high costs. They”
Panetta’s recent comments reflect ongoing debates about executive versus legislative powers in setting U.S. trade policy—a matter grounded in Article I of the U.S. Constitution granting Congress authority over foreign commerce.
A member of Congress since replacing Sam Farr in 2017, Panetta was born in Washington D.C. in 1969 and resides in Carmel Valley. He is an alumnus of UC Davis (BA) and Santa Clara University (JD).
