John James (R-MI)
Tariff Relief for American Development and Employment Act of 2026
A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The bill establishes a tariff-funded program to protect United States manufacturers, workers, farmers, and supply chains from disproportionate economic harm caused by tariffs and foreign retaliation. It creates the Tariff Impact Relief Program to provide financial assistance, loans, and investment credits to eligible businesses that demonstrate actual tariff-related economic injury. The legislation also sets up the TRADE Fund, financed by tariff revenues, to support these relief efforts without harming general revenues. Additionally, the bill includes strict anti-abuse rules, requires public transparency through a database, and mandates periodic audits and reports to Congress. The program is set to sunset five years after enactment unless reauthorized by Congress.
Yes· 3 of 12
- Scored +7
Would business owners be better off under this?
Eligible businesses receive direct financial relief, working-capital loans, and investment credits to mitigate tariff-related economic injuries.
- Scored +6
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
Section 104(e) sets aside at least 35 percent of assistance for small and medium-sized enterprises with streamlined application processes.
- Scored +5
Would farmers be better off under this?
Agricultural producers suffering from retaliatory foreign tariffs are included as eligible beneficiaries for financial assistance.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Financial Relief for Harmed Businesses: Under Section 103, the bill provides refundable tariff impact credits, low-interest working-capital loans, American investment credits, and emergency bridge financing. This helps businesses and workers handle short-term liquidity constraints, prevent facility closures, and avoid substantial layoffs caused by tariffs and retaliatory measures.
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Support for Small and Medium Enterprises: Section 104(e) ensures that at least 35 percent of annual assistance goes to small and medium-sized enterprises. It also mandates an expedited application process, simplified documentation, and technical assistance to make it easier for smaller businesses to get the help they need.
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Protection of American Workers: Section 104(f) gives priority to applicants that retain United States workers, avoid tariff-related layoffs, increase wages, establish skills-based training, or create new manufacturing jobs.
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Strict Anti-Abuse Safeguards: Section 105 explicitly bans the use of assistance for stock buybacks, dividends, capital distributions, or executive compensation increases. It also requires companies to repay assistance if they violate domestic production requirements or relocate production overseas.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Risk of Fraud and Misrepresentation: While the bill includes recapture provisions in Section 105(a), businesses could still attempt to make material misrepresentations to secure government funds. This places a heavy burden on the Department of Commerce and the Inspector General to catch misuse of taxpayer and tariff revenues through audits.
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Administrative and Compliance Burdens: To qualify for assistance, businesses must meet rigorous eligibility and documentation requirements outlined in Section 102 and Section 104. Smaller applicants or critical employers facing acute needs might find the compliance paperwork challenging to navigate, despite intended simplifications.
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Temporary Nature of the Program: Section 107 dictates that the program will sunset five years after enactment unless Congress acts to reauthorize it. This creates uncertainty for businesses and workers relying on this financial bridge for long-term domestic investments and supply chain reshoring.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — Eligible businesses receive direct financial relief, working-capital loans, and investment credits to mitigate tariff-related economic injuries. Would farmers be better off under this? — Agricultural producers suffering from retaliatory foreign tariffs are included as eligible beneficiaries for financial assistance. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Working-age individuals benefit from job retention and creation provisions supported by the tariff impact relief programs. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The bill protects domestic manufacturing jobs and wages, benefiting middle-income households dependent on industrial employment. Would union members be better off under this? — Priority is given to applicants that retain United States workers, avoid layoffs, and increase wages or training. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Agricultural and rural manufacturing operations are eligible for relief, supporting regional economies outside major cities.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Section 104(e) sets aside at least 35 percent of assistance for small and medium-sized enterprises with streamlined application processes. Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill establishes programs and investment credits to help United States businesses retain workers and create new manufacturing jobs. Is this likely to grow the economy? — By providing relief and investment credits for businesses injured by tariffs, the bill encourages domestic investment and supply chain reshoring. Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — The bill finances relief efforts using tariff revenues and establishes strict anti-abuse and protection rules for general revenues.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Section 106 requires a publicly accessible database detailing program recipients, assistance amounts, industries, and employment commitments.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — Agricultural producers and rural processors are explicitly included among eligible beneficiaries for tariff relief and investment credits.
- 10/6/2026
- Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Introduced in House