Shaheen calls on the Trump Administration to put in place an automatic, streamlined tariff refund process that provides real relief to small businesses and families in New Hampshire and nationwide.
Will advocate for an automatic and swift tariff tax refund process to provide relief for small businesses and families.
Occurrences
They called for an automatic tariff refund process that does not create additional burdens for American small businesses and families. The lawmakers criticized the Trump administration's proposed refund process, the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) system, for placing unnecessary burdens on small businesses and individual importers. They urged the administration to utilize existing CBP records to automatically refund small businesses instead of requiring them to opt-in.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen, along with Senators Wyden and Markey, introduced the Tariff Refund Act of 2026. This legislation requires full refunds of tariffs deemed illegal by the Supreme Court, with interest, to be issued within 180 days. The bill directs U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to prioritize small businesses in the refund process and to coordinate with the Small Business Administration (SBA) to provide information and technical support. It also mandates that importers are not required to take costly administrative steps to receive refunds.
led several Senate Democrats in calling on the Trump Administration to put in place an automatic, streamlined tariff refund process that provides real relief to small businesses and families in New Hampshire and nationwide.
noted her efforts to mitigate tariff harms, including the Speedy Tariff Refund Act
The Speedy Tariff Refund Act "would require that Customs pay refunds automatically within thirty days," uses information CBP already has, and prioritizes refunds to small businesses.
Evidence
On March 27, 2026, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, along with Senators Markey and Wyden, led a group of Senate Democrats in writing to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Rodney S. Scott. They called for an automatic tariff refund process that does not create additional burdens for American small businesses and families. The lawmakers criticized the Trump administration's proposed refund process, the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) system, for placing unnecessary burdens on small businesses and individual importers. They urged the administration to utilize existing CBP records to automatically refund small businesses instead of requiring them to opt-in.
On February 24, 2026, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, along with Senators Wyden and Markey, introduced the Tariff Refund Act of 2026. This legislation requires full refunds of tariffs deemed illegal by the Supreme Court, with interest, to be issued within 180 days. The bill directs U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to prioritize small businesses in the refund process and to coordinate with the Small Business Administration (SBA) to provide information and technical support. It also mandates that importers are not required to take costly administrative steps to receive refunds.
Shaheen said the Speedy Tariff Refund Act "would require that Customs pay refunds automatically within thirty days," uses information CBP already has, and prioritizes refunds to small businesses. The same post says Senate Republicans blocked her attempt to pass the bill by unanimous consent and that CBP's CAPE system "disadvantages small businesses" and "took two months to roll out a partial refund system."
The bill text states that CBP "must pay refunds" of unlawfully collected IEEPA duties, that refunds should be processed "as swiftly as possible" without extra requirements that disproportionately hinder individuals and small businesses, and that the commissioner shall refund duties within 180 days after enactment.
AP reported that the CBP refund system was operating and that the agency expected older claims to be ready by July, but the Justice Department's appeal of the order covering all importers threatened to derail the process.
AP reported that businesses had started receiving tariff refunds, with the first successful applicants paid on May 12, but the Justice Department was preparing an appeal that could slow or halt refunds for importers not covered by lawsuits.
Shaheen joined Senate Democrats in urging CBP to automatically issue tariff refunds using records already in ACE instead of forcing importers to opt in.
The bill introduced by Shaheen and others says CBP should pay refunds of unlawfully collected IEEPA duties as swiftly as possible and without extra requirements that disproportionately hinder individuals and small businesses.
Shaheen said Customs should pay refunds automatically within thirty days using information it already has and pressed the Senate to pass her bill.
Assessments
The promise was to advocate for an automatic and swift tariff refund process, not necessarily to secure final enactment. In 2026, Shaheen co-introduced the Tariff Refund Act, co-led a Senate Democrats letter urging CBP to issue automatic refunds using existing records, and publicly pressed the Senate to pass her proposal. Those actions satisfy the promised advocacy within her current term even though the broader refund system remained partial and contested.
The promise was to advocate for an automatic and swift tariff refund process, not necessarily to single-handedly enact it. In the same term, Shaheen co-led a March 27, 2026 letter pressing CBP to create an automatic refund process, co-introduced the Tariff Refund Act of 2026 on February 24, 2026, and publicly pushed Senate passage on April 21, 2026, including an attempt to pass the bill by unanimous consent. Those actions show sustained, concrete advocacy aimed at the promised policy, even though the full automatic refund system had not been fully implemented.
The promise was framed as advocacy for an automatic and swift tariff refund process, not a guarantee that the refund system would be enacted. During the same federal Senate term, Shaheen co-introduced the Tariff Refund Act of 2026, co-led a CBP letter urging automatic refunds using existing records, and attempted to advance related legislation by unanimous consent. Although the policy outcome was blocked and not fully implemented, her promised advocacy was materially carried out.
Senator Shaheen actively advocated for an automatic and swift tariff refund process for small businesses and families. She co-led a Senate letter to CBP pushing for automatic refunds without additional burden, and co-introduced legislation (Tariff Refund Act of 2026) to require such refunds and prioritize small businesses. However, there is no evidence provided that these efforts resulted in the implementation of the policy or led to an actual change in administrative or legislative outcomes. Thus, the promise was not delivered, but serious legislative and advocacy efforts were made.