Nebraska For Us statement responding to new Bacon-proposed bill that would pause tariffs
“Congressman Don Bacon has introduced a bill with Congressman Jimmy Panetta of California to do the right thing—pause tariffs and help lower prices for hardworking Nebraskans and Americans. What troubles us is that it took our representative more than a year to take this crucial step.
“Gas prices in Nebraska are up about 15% in the last year, while grocery costs continue to rise along with so many other costs. People in our communities are trying to cut corners just to make ends meet. At the same time, our federal leaders have voted to cut SNAP and Medicaid to fund tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy.
“This legislation gets us moving in the right direction, but we need a lot more than this to make life more affordable for all of us. Congress needs to act fast and take the cost-of-living crisis seriously.”
-State Director Angie Lauritsen
“Too many Nebraska farm families are being squeezed out of farming as they face the worst prolonged financial downturn since the farm crisis of the 1980s. Too many farm operating loans have not yet been approved although spring planting is less than a month away. High financial stress calls to the Farm Crisis Hotline continue from farmers still struggling with this year’s financing.
“In addition to drought and historic wildfires, the misuse of tariffs has lost long time export markets, driven up ag input costs by at least 9%, and created hurtful uncertainty in sagging cash flows. It is important for Congress to claw back oversight of trade policy. Congress needs to respond to the crisis Nebraska’s largest single industry is facing. Time is running out for 2026 operating loans needed to secure spring planting inputs.”
-Nebraska Farmers Union President John Hansen
