Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) said he would introduce a bill to send rebate checks to working Americans after President Donald Trump floated the idea on Friday.
Trump said the excess tariff revenue could be used to deliver a rebate to the Americans, but also said he still wanted to pay down the government’s debt.
“I will introduce legislation in the Senate to send a rebate check to every working person in America,” Hawley said in a post on X, reacting to Trump’s idea.
The Missouri senator told the Washington Examiner: “Working people deserve to get some tax relief here. And this is a terrific way to deliver it to them. It’s an opportunity to put cash right back in the hands of working Americans.”
Hawley’s office also told the Washington Examiner that he will model the legislation “after the stimulus checks proposal he worked on with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) during COVID.” The pair, both populists, came together to support a second round of $1,200 stimulus checks in 2020.
Trump on tariff revenue: We have so much money coming in, we’re thinking about a little rebate but the big thing we want to do is pay down debt. We’re thinking about a rebate. pic.twitter.com/yFWBlCGdpa
— Acyn (@Acyn) July 25, 2025
Trump responded to a reporter’s question about the rebates earlier Friday, saying, “We are thinking about a rebate because we have so much money coming in from tariffs that a little rebate for people of a certain income level might be very nice.”
The president issued sweeping tariffs earlier this year that he has dialed back at various points, corresponding to either market panic or whether he makes trade deals with certain countries. The tariffs will generate revenue, but experts warned they could raise consumer prices.
Hawley’s bill has yet to be introduced. It’s unclear when the legislation will be introduced or what the details of the rebate check-in will be. The president did not specify how much the rebate would be, just that it would be given to people of “certain income” levels.
TRUMP FLOATS HANDING OUT REBATE CHECKS FROM TARIFF REVENUE
Any nationwide rebate would have to be approved by Congress. Hawley could team with a senator like Sanders to introduce the bill to increase its chances of passing.
Republicans control the House and Senate, making it likely such a rebate bill could pass if it hits the floor for a vote.