A Democratic bill with 14 Democratic cosponsors · See all 14 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
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
This bill, known as the ``Small Business RELIEF Act,'' aims to help small business concerns by exempting them from specific duties. These duties were imposed due to a national emergency declared by the President on April 2, 2025, under Executive Order 14257. The legislation seeks to ensure that these duties do not apply to goods imported by or for the use of small businesses. Additionally, the bill requires the President to provide refunds for any such duties already paid. These refunds must be issued within 90 days of the act's enactment.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +9
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
The act provides direct financial relief to small businesses by exempting them from specific import duties and returning previously paid funds.
- Scored +9
Would business owners be better off under this?
The bill provides direct relief to small business owners through duty exemptions and refunds.
- Scored +8
Does this cut taxes for small businesses?
The bill exempts small business concerns from duties imposed under Executive Order 14257 and mandates refunds for duties already paid.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill requires the government to issue refunds to small businesses, which constitutes a direct outflow of funds.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Duty Exemptions: Duties imposed by Executive Order 14257 would no longer apply to goods imported by or for the use of a small business concern, as stated in Section 2(a).
-
Financial Refunds: The President must refund the amount of any duties paid under Executive Order 14257 on goods imported by or for the use of a small business concern within 90 days of the act's enactment, as stated in Section 2(b).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts are explicitly stated in the provided text.
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.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The act provides direct financial relief to small businesses by exempting them from specific import duties and returning previously paid funds. Does this cut taxes for small businesses? — The bill exempts small business concerns from duties imposed under Executive Order 14257 and mandates refunds for duties already paid. Is this likely to create jobs? — Reducing import costs for small businesses can increase their capital for expansion and hiring. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill requires the government to issue refunds to small businesses, which constitutes a direct outflow of funds.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill provides direct relief to small business owners through duty exemptions and refunds. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Small business owners are often middle-class earners who benefit from reduced operational costs. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Small businesses in urban centers may benefit from the reduction in import costs.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this make trade with other countries easier? — The bill eases the burden of importing goods for small businesses by removing certain duty requirements.
- 9/16/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 9/15/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 9/11/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 10 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Angela AlsobrooksDemocrat · Maryland
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Maria CantwellDemocrat · Washington
Kirsten GillibrandDemocrat · New York
John HickenlooperDemocrat · Colorado
Mazie HironoDemocrat · Hawaii
Martin HeinrichDemocrat · New Mexico
Amy KlobucharDemocrat · Minnesota
Mark KellyDemocrat · Arizona
Gary PetersDemocrat · Michigan
Jacky RosenDemocrat · Nevada
Charles SchumerDemocrat · New York
Jeanne ShaheenDemocrat · New Hampshire
Mark WarnerDemocrat · Virginia