Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR‑05) introduced new legislation on February 20, 2026, aimed at refunding tariffs paid by small businesses under the Trump administration’s trade policies. The bill, known as the Restoring Economic Lifelines for Independent Enterprises and Family Businesses (RELIEF) Act, was announced following a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision limiting the scope of presidential tariff authority. Details of the announcement were reported by KOIN, and confirmed in Bynum’s official press release on February 20, 2026, available via her congressional website.

According to the press release, the Supreme Court held that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not authorize broad-based tariffs. While the ruling addressed legality, it left no automatic mechanism for businesses to recover money already paid. The RELIEF Act would require U.S. Customs and Border Protection to refund any tariffs collected under IEEPA since January 1, 2025, with refunds issued within 90 days of enactment. A concurrent release from Rep. Steven Horsford (NV‑04), available on his official website, similarly emphasized the intent to provide immediate financial relief to small and independent businesses.

The proposed refunds would apply broadly to importers across the region, including those operating along the I‑5 corridor in Southwest Washington. Small import‑dependent businesses—common in distribution, automotive parts, specialty retail, and manufacturing support sectors in Longview and Kelso—could see direct impacts if the measure becomes law. Local firms that bring in components or finished goods affected by earlier tariff schedules may be positioned to recoup costs that, according to federal lawmakers, were imposed without proper statutory authority.

Bynum’s release characterized the Trump‑era tariffs as economically harmful and disproportionately burdensome for small firms that lack the financial capacity to pursue multi‑year litigation to recover duties. The legislation seeks to remove that burden by eliminating the need for individual refund petitions and formal protests. While the measure adds to a broader slate of tariff‑related refund proposals circulating in Congress in recent months, the RELIEF Act is tailored specifically to the window of duties linked to IEEPA‑based authorities now under judicial scrutiny.

Why this matters

For many small businesses in Cowlitz County, tariff‑driven cost increases have contributed to higher retail prices, thinner margins, and delayed expansion plans. A refund mechanism could provide short‑term fiscal relief and help stabilize operations, particularly for firms operating with low inventory turnover or dependent on specialized imported goods. If enacted, the RELIEF Act may reduce uncertainties created by ongoing federal litigation and offer clarity to importers who have struggled to budget around shifting trade policies.

At this stage, the legislation remains a proposal. Further action in Congress will determine whether refund procedures move forward and how quickly regional businesses might expect to see repayment.

Sources

KOIN: Bynum introduces bill for small business refunds after Trump admin’s ‘reckless’ tariffs

Rep. Janelle Bynum: Press release on RELIEF Act

Rep. Steven Horsford: Press release on RELIEF Act