Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) held a virtual press conference to call for a tax rebate for working families who are struggling amid rising prices and working-class job losses due to President Trump’s reckless tariffs. Gillibrand’s Tariff Refunds for Working Families Act would use the billions of dollars in revenue generated by President Trump’s tariffs to provide a tax rebate to working families making $180,000 or less.
“Working families are struggling amid higher prices and substantial job losses due to President Trump’s reckless tariffs,” said Senator Gillibrand. “My Tariff Refunds for Working Families Act would provide American consumers with direct tax rebates, delivering real financial relief to families across New York and putting money back directly into their pockets. This commonsense legislation would return the billions of dollars that the government has collected via illegal tariffs to hardworking families who need relief. I am committed to getting it across the finish line.”
According to a recent report from the Center for American Progress, America has lost nearly 200,000 working-class jobs in industries that are uniquely exposed to tariffs. That includes 89,000 jobs in manufacturing and 123,700 jobs in transportation and warehousing.
President Trump’s tariffs have cost New York families thousands of dollars, squeezing working families’ budgets. According to a report from Governor Kathy Hochul’s office, President Trump’s tariffs are costing New York households an estimated $4,200 annually.
The Tariff Refunds for Working Families Act would provide direct rebates to American families who make $180,000 or less. Specifically, it would:
- Provide a tax rebate of $600 to individual filers making $90,000 or less.
- Provide a tax rebate of $600 to head of household filers making $120,000 or less.
- Provide a tax rebate of $1,200 to joint filers making $180,000 or less.
- Provide an additional tax rebate of $600 for each dependent child.
The text of the Tariff Refunds for Working Families Act can be found here.
Senator Gillibrand has been fighting to deliver relief for working families amidst Trump’s tariffs since their implementation. Last week, she introduced the Small Business Liberation 2.0 Act, which would exempt small businesses from paying Trump’s latest tariffs and prevent price gouging for consumers because of Trump’s new tariff policy. Last year, she joined 14 of her colleagues in introducing the Small Business RELIEF Act to end Trump’s Tariff Tax and refund small businesses their duties paid. She also sent a legal brief with 206 members of Congress emphasizing to the Supreme Court that these tariffs are illegal.
###