Tariff refund proposal in House targets independent and family-run businesses

Congress records show that a new bill from U.S. Rep. Steven Horsford has been introduced in the House, proposing economic assistance for independent and family businesses affected by tariffs. The U.S. Congress reported the bill’s details.

H.R.7736 was filed on Feb. 26, 2026, during the 119th Congress’s 2026 session. The summary below relies on the official bill text, with occasional interpretation to clarify its intent.

The proposed legislation instructs the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to issue refunds for tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, covering duties assessed on or after Jan. 1, 2025. Within 90 days of its enactment, the Commissioner is directed to liquidate or reliquidate affected entries and process refunds automatically, requiring no application or protest from importers. The bill highlights that available information will be used to determine and pay owed refunds efficiently. Its goal is to provide economic support for independent and family-owned businesses influenced by these tariffs. The official name is the “Restoring Economic Lifelines for Independent Enterprises and Family Businesses Act,” or the “RELIEF Act.”

Rep. Steven Horsford (Democrat-NV-4th District) sponsored the bill, which also has Rep. Gabe Amo (Democrat-NV-1st District), Rep. Yassamin Ansari (Democrat-NV-3rd District), Rep. Donald S. Beyer (Democrat-NV-8th District), and 41 additional co-sponsors.

This session, Rep. Horsford has put forward 28 other bills, with one successfully enacted.

An associated measure, H.R.7615, was similarly introduced in the House on Feb. 20, 2026. Congressional documentation identifies it as the same in substance as H.R.7736.

Congressional bills may originate in either chamber of Congress, with the exception of revenue-related legislation, which must start in the House. Once introduced, bills proceed to committees for scrutiny, hearings, revisions, and debate before they are put up for a vote in each chamber. Should the House and Senate approve matching versions, the legislation advances to the president, who may sign or veto it. Each Congress operates in two-year increments known as terms, divided into annual sessions. Official records and the legislative process are maintained by Congress and available through Congress.gov.

Steven Horsford represents Nevada and held a seat in the Nevada state senate from 2004 to 2012, serving as majority leader from 2009 to 2012. He joined the U.S. House for the 113th Congress (2013–2015), did not win reelection in 2014 for the following Congress, but returned to serve in the 116th Congress and for the three subsequent Congresses since Jan. 3, 2019.

He completed his B.A. at the University of Nevada, Reno, in 2014 after graduating from Clark High School in Las Vegas.

Details in this article are sourced from the U.S. Congress, with underlying data available here.