Tariffs are costing Nebraska families $1,700+ a year. There's a bill to return some of that money directly to working families. Nebraska's senators haven't signed on. Here's everything you need to know and what to do about it.
The bill
S. 4093 would send direct payments to every working family in Nebraska using tariff revenue already collected by the federal government.
Introduced March 12, 2026 by Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM). Currently in the Senate Finance Committee. Nebraska's senators — Fischer and Ricketts — have not cosponsored it.
Read S. 4093 on Congress.gov ↗A family of four earning under $180K would receive $2,400. A single parent with two children would receive $1,800. Payments are funded directly from tariff revenue already collected — not new spending.
Politically connected corporations are getting tariff exemptions, meaning they never pay in the first place. Apple received a full chip tariff exemption tied to a $600 billion investment commitment. No Nebraska family can make that kind of deal.
An academic study of exemptions during Trump's first term found that companies with higher Republican political contributions had significantly better odds of receiving exemptions. The process is opaque, with no required public justification for individual decisions.
Fischer and Ricketts are Republicans, and no Republicans have cosponsored S. 4093 yet. But that's not written in stone. Elected officials respond to constituent pressure. When offices get flooded with calls and emails from real people back home, it gets noticed.
These senators work for Nebraskans, not party leadership. $2,400 back in the pocket of a Nebraska family of four is not a partisan issue. Make them hear it from enough constituents and the calculus changes.
Not in Congressional District 2? Find your representative ↗
What to say
"I'm a Nebraska constituent. Tariffs are costing my family real money every month. I'm asking you to cosponsor S. 4093, the Tariff Refunds for Working Families Act, which would return some of that tariff revenue directly to working families. Please support this bill."
Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE)
Response to constituent contact on S. 4093
Thank you for contacting my office about trade policy.
Trade allows Americans to compete globally and provide more prosperity to our communities. Good competition requires everyone to compete with the same rulebook, and for too long, some countries have taken advantage of generous American policies. Tariffs, a monetary charge levied on imported goods and services, are an important tool to make sure Americans get to compete on a level playing field.
In his first administration, President Trump effectively used tariffs to protect domestic industries from bad actors, advance foreign policy goals, and reduce trade deficits with other countries. For example, Trump applied tariffs to pressure Communist China to buy more of our agricultural products.
During the last Administration, the U.S. average weighted tariff was 1.4%, while the global weighted tariff was almost 6%. We have to level the playing field with our trading partners. Our country must combat Communist China's existential threat to our security, freedoms, and domestic jobs. We need Mexico and Canada to do their part in helping secure our borders and prevent the flow of dangerous narcotics into our communities. After four years of weak trade policy, President Trump will continue his work to ensure U.S. citizens remain safe and American business is competitive on the global stage.
My primary mission as your United States Senator is to make government work with proven Nebraskan solutions that are ready for America. To better inform my decision-making, it is important that I hear the ideas, concerns, and opinions of all Nebraskans. I appreciate the time and effort you took to provide input on trade policy and will keep it in mind as the U.S. Senate considers this issue.
Sen. Ricketts' response defends tariffs as a policy tool but does not mention S. 4093 or address whether tariff revenue should be returned to Nebraska families.
Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE)
Constituent contact sent
Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE-02)
Constituent contact sent
This page will be updated as responses arrive.