NORTH LAS VEGAS — Inside Mario’s WestSide Market, Congressman Steven Horsford traded his suit for a stocker’s apron, stacking shelves and breaking down boxes alongside employees who have watched grocery costs climb steadily over the past year. The scene marks the launch of the “Congressman on the Job” series, a district-wide initiative designed to translate firsthand labor experiences into legislative action.
The Nevada Democrat represents the Fourth District, a swath of Southern Nevada that includes North Las Vegas and parts of the state’s crucial hospitality corridor. His office released the first video installment this week, documenting his shift at the community grocery store that has served local families since 1999. During the visit, Horsford spoke with owner Mario Berlanga about supply chain pressures, specifically pointing to tariff policies as a driver of rising prices on everyday goods.
“Mario’s is a cornerstone of this community, but they’re feeling the real consequences of these tariffs,” Horsford said during the visit. “From supply costs to prices on everyday goods, these policies are making it harder for modest businesses to survive and for families to afford basic necessities.”
From the Floor to the Bill
The video series is scheduled to roll out regularly on the Congressman’s YouTube page and social media channels. Future episodes will take Horsford into local restaurants, bakeries, and bars, where he plans to support staff during service hours. The goal is to engage directly with workers about scheduling, wages, and the impact of declining visitation numbers on the city’s hospitality industry.
Behind the camera, the initiative is tied to specific legislative proposals. Horsford is promoting the Restoring Economic Lifelines for Independent Enterprises and Family Businesses (RELIEF) Act. The bill would require U.S. Customs and Border Protection to automatically refund tariffs and customs duties collected under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) since January 1, 2025.
Before the grocery store visit, Horsford shadowed an AFSCME-represented state worker to understand how recent work requirements for SNAP and TANF programs affect frontline public employees. He too volunteered at Three Square Food Bank, sorting and packing food for distribution. These stops highlight a dual pressure point: rising operational costs for businesses and increasing demand for safety nets among families.
“When you spend time on the job with workers, you see firsthand how higher costs are creating real pressure, and families are doing everything they can to keep up,” Horsford said. He characterized the tariffs as an assault on working families, framing the legislative effort as a commitment to lower costs and raise wages.
Reader Questions
What is the primary goal of the “Congressman on the Job” series?
The series aims to document firsthand challenges facing workers and small businesses in Nevada’s Fourth District. Horsford intends to leverage these experiences to inform legislative efforts, specifically focusing on cost relief and wage support.
How does the RELIEF Act propose to lower costs?
The legislation would mandate automatic refunds of tariffs and customs duties collected under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act since January 1, 2025. The refund mechanism is designed to provide direct relief to small businesses and potentially lower consumer prices.
Which sectors are included in the upcoming visits?
Following the grocery store launch, the series will expand to the hospitality sector, including restaurants, bakeries, and bars. Previous shadowing also included state workers and food bank volunteers to cover public service and food security issues.
As the series progresses, the tangible impact of these visits on actual policy outcomes remains to be seen, leaving observers to weigh the value of symbolic presence against legislative results.