Davids Highlights Support for Local Small Businesses, Work to Secure Tariff Refunds

PRAIRIE VILLAGE, KS — Today, Representative Sharice Davids visited local small businesses in Prairie Village to discuss the economic challenges of reckless tariffs. She highlighted her efforts in Congress to secure tariff refunds for small businesses, strengthen supply chains, and support small business growth.

“When tariffs hit local favorites like toy stores and craft shops, it’s Kansas families who end up paying the price at the register,” said Davids. “Our local shops shouldn't be forced to choose between raising prices on neighbors or cutting jobs while big corporations with fancy lawyers get easy refunds. I’m pushing to make these refunds automatic for small businesses, so they get immediate relief and can keep prices down for everyone in our community.”

During the tour, Davids met with the owners and employees of The Learning Tree, a local toy and educational store in Prairie Village; Made in KC, a local store showcasing goods from regional artisans and makers; and Casa Ama, a Mexican restaurant in Prairie Village.

Reckless tariff policies have hit Kansas hard, driving up costs for families and threatening small businesses and farmers. According to estimates, average American households will pay roughly $2,500 more this year because of these policies, and small businesses lost 4.5 times more jobs in 2025 than in 2020 during the pandemic. Local industries, including agriculture, manufacturing, and retail have faced higher costs for imported goods, forcing some businesses to raise consumer prices, cut jobs, or close entirely.

Tariff refunds are ongoing, but under the current system, small businesses often lack the resources to reclaim funds, while large corporations can pursue lengthy litigation to recover tariff payments. Davids supports the RELIEF Act, legislation that would provide automatic refunds to small businesses and families forced to pay President Trump’s reckless tariffs. 

The RELIEF Act would:

• Require automatic refunds for all tariffs collected since January 1, 2025 – so small businesses and families don’t have to wait years or hire lawyers to get back the money they were forced to pay.
• Ensure refunds are processed within 90 days of enactment – giving immediate relief to businesses struggling with higher costs and helping keep prices lower for everyday consumers.
• Eliminate the need for individual applications or formal protests – removing bureaucratic hurdles so small businesses and families can actually access the refunds without extra cost, confusion, or delay.

"Small and local businesses are what make communities unique and special, and unfortunately they often get overlooked in macroeconomic policy,” said Keith Bradley, Owner, Made in KC. “Getting to share our experience with our local representatives who have a voice and seat at the larger table is important not only for the health and longer-term viability of small and local businesses but also for our communities which they are tied to." 

Davids has consistently pushed back on the President’s blanket tariffs and supported bipartisan approaches to trade that balance competitiveness with consumer protection. She spoke during a U.S. House Agriculture Committee hearing on the trade disruptions Kansas agricultural producers will face due to these tariffs — a concern echoed by former Kansas Farm Bureau President Joe Newland. She also previously visited The Learning Tree and a manufacturer that are being hit hard by these unstable policies and hosted a press conference on her efforts to push back on tariffs. Most recently, she voted to end President Trump’s reckless tariffs on Canada, which are raising costs for Americans.