W.A.R. Act Wartime Anti-Profiteering and Relief Act
Sponsored By: Representative Cherfilus-McCormick
Introduced
Summary
War Inflation Credit to offset war‑driven price spikes. This bill would create a refundable War Inflation Credit for middle‑income households to offset higher commuting, grocery, and utility costs tied to the U.S.–Israel–Iran conflict and would ban grossly excessive price increases on fuel and essential staples during a defined energy emergency.
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- Middle‑income families: Households with taxable income between $80,000 and $160,000 could qualify for a refundable credit each taxable year during the designated energy emergency. The Treasury would set credit amounts to reflect average regional increases in commuting, groceries, and utilities, with an automatic phase‑out tied to conflict and price normalization.
- Consumers and sellers: The bill would make it unlawful to sell motor fuels, home heating fuels, or essential consumer staples at prices that are a grossly excessive jump above the 60‑day pre‑enactment average unless driven by real cost increases. Enforcement powers go to the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice while preserving state enforcement.
- Oversight and timing: The Federal Trade Commission must study state and local price‑gouging laws and report within 18 months. The emergency period ends when officials certify price normalization or 365 days after a certified ceasefire, with most authorities sunsetting then.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
War inflation credit for middle incomes
If enacted, the bill would create a refundable War Inflation Credit for each taxable year that begins during the designated wartime energy emergency. You would qualify only if your household income is between $80,000 and $160,000 and neither you nor your spouse (if filing jointly) is a nonresident alien. The Treasury Secretary would set the credit amount to offset average higher commuting, grocery, and utility costs and would take family size and region into account. The credit would be refundable and allowed in addition to other credits subject to coordination rules. It would phase down ratably and would end once the President notifies Congress that active hostilities have ended and Energy and Treasury certify that gas and electricity prices stayed below trigger thresholds for at least 180 consecutive days; the Secretary must publish any phase-out or end in the Federal Register and online.
Ban on wartime price gouging of essentials
If enacted, the bill would make it unlawful during the designated emergency to sell covered goods at a grossly excessive price. A banned price would be one much higher than the average price in the 60 days before enactment and not substantially due to added production, distribution, or sale costs (including costs from the conflict). Covered sellers would include wholesalers and retailers of motor fuels, home heating fuels (like natural gas and heating oil), electricity, and essential consumer staples as the FTC defines them. The FTC could write rules, including what counts as "grossly excessive," and the Attorney General could sue in federal court to stop gouging, seek fines, and get refunds for consumers. State price-gouging laws and state enforcers would remain in force.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Cherfilus-McCormick
FL • D
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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