Sponsor
Edward John Markey
Senator · D-MA
Senator · D-MA
The bill creates a dedicated $200 million fund to compensate small, local businesses for documented revenue losses tied to federal immigration enforcement—targeting true small firms and adding fraud checks—while excluding many affected businesses through thresholds, caps, and eligibility cutoffs and imposing verification burdens and a modest taxpayer cost.
Small, local businesses that can document revenue losses tied to federal immigration enforcement can receive direct grants equal to their documented losses (subject to statutory caps).
Congress provided $200 million in dedicated funding available until expended to ensure money is on hand to compensate eligible businesses without an immediate annual expiration.
Built-in fraud and identity checks (EIN/SSN, tax-return verification, database cross-checks) reduce the risk of improper payments and help protect taxpayer funds.
Businesses that experienced revenue declines under the 25% threshold are ineligible, leaving many harmed firms without relief despite still suffering from enforcement-related disruptions.
Per-entity and per-location caps (e.g., $1M per entity, $500K per location) may leave businesses with large documented losses only partially compensated.
A cutoff excluding businesses with more than a set number of locations (e.g., 15) can bar affected local outlets of multi-location firms from receiving aid even if individual locations suffered severe losses.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Establishes an SBA fund with $200M (FY2026) to pay grants up to verified revenue loss for small businesses harmed by Federal immigration enforcement actions, with caps per business/location.
Official title: Establish a Fund to provide grants to businesses affected by Federal immigration enforcement, and for other purposes.
Introduced February 12, 2026 by Edward John Markey · Last progress February 12, 2026
Creates a new Small Business ICE Disruption Fund at the Small Business Administration and provides $200 million in FY2026 to pay grants to qualifying small businesses that can document revenue losses of at least 25% caused by a Federal immigration enforcement action in the prior year. Grants equal the verified immigration enforcement–related revenue loss, are capped at $1,000,000 per business (including affiliates) and $500,000 per physical location, are paid after basic fraud checks, and are only for applicants that have not received other compensation for the same loss.