Sponsor
Jasmine Crockett
Representative · D-TX
Representative · D-TX
The bill trades faster, targeted consumer relief from tariff-driven price increases and greater congressional oversight for higher federal administrative costs, legal complexity, and potential limits on executive flexibility in emergency trade responses.
Consumers — especially low- and middle-income households — would receive refunds that offset tariff-driven price increases on imported goods, reducing household costs.
Lower-income and geographically hard-hit households would get refunds adjusted by income and location, directing relief to those hit hardest by tariff pass-through.
Refunds would be paid quickly and with less effort via automatic direct deposit or refundable tax credits, and people without bank/IRS records get a streamlined application route to claim payments.
Taxpayers would face higher government costs — both from processing refunds and potentially large payout obligations — increasing administrative spending or requiring reallocated funds.
Businesses, importers, and taxpayers could face legal uncertainty and litigation over which tariffs qualify as 'covered' and who is eligible, delaying payments and raising legal costs.
Estimating tariff pass-through to consumers is methodologically difficult, so the program may over- or under-compensate households and businesses who actually bore the cost.
Based on analysis of 6 sections of legislative text.
Requires Treasury to calculate and deliver refunds to consumers for price increases caused by Presidential tariffs later found to lack congressional authorization.
Official title: To direct the Secretary of the United States Department of the Treasury to refund American consumers for increased costs resulting from tariffs imposed without congressional authorization, and for other purposes.
Introduced February 23, 2026 by Jasmine Crockett · Last progress February 23, 2026
Provides a Treasury-run process to repay U.S. consumers for price increases caused by certain Presidential tariffs found to lack congressional authorization. The Treasury must publish a consumer-refund formula within 120 days, issue refunds automatically when possible using existing payment systems, create a simple application route for others, and report to Congress on obligations and timelines; GAO must review implementation.