[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8214 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8214
To provide emergency, targeted relief to middle-income Americans facing
higher costs of living arising from war-related disruptions in global
energy markets caused by the current conflict involving the United
States, Israel, and Iran, and to prevent war profiteering in essential
goods, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 9, 2026
Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide emergency, targeted relief to middle-income Americans facing
higher costs of living arising from war-related disruptions in global
energy markets caused by the current conflict involving the United
States, Israel, and Iran, and to prevent war profiteering in essential
goods, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``W.A.R. Act Wartime Anti-Profiteering
and Relief Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) The ongoing armed conflict involving the United States,
Israel, And Iran (in this Act referred to as the ``U.S. Israel-
Iran conflict'') has contributed to elevated global oil prices
and higher gasoline prices for consumers in the United States,
with national averages rising and forecasters warning of
additional inflationary pressure on transportation and
logistics costs.
(2) Natural gas and liquefied natural gas markets are under
strain because a significant share of global supply transits or
is priced with reference to routes in and around the strait of
hormuz, which are directly affected by the U.S Israel-Iran
conflict, exposing American households to higher heating and
electricity costs.
(3) Increases in energy prices arising from the U.S Israel-
Iran conflict have cascading effects on the costs of housing,
food, and borrowing, disproportionately burdening middle-income
households who are ineligible for many low-income assistance
programs but lack sufficient savings to absorb sustained price
shocks.
(4) Bad actors, including certain market participants in
fuel, home heating, and consumer staples, have both the
incentive and opportunity to engage in unjustified price
increases during the U.S Israel-Iran conflict, exacerbating
hardship for American families.
(b) Declaration of Emergency.--It is the sense of Congress that the
United States is experiencing a war-related energy cost emergency
directly attributable to the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict that warrants
targeted, temporary relief for middle-income households and enhanced
enforcement against price gouging in essential goods, for the duration
of that conflict and its immediate aftermath only.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Treasury.
(2) Middle-income household.--The term ``middle-income
household'' means, with respect to a taxable year, a taxpayer
whose household income is between $80,000 and $160,000.
(3) U.S. israel-iran conflict.--The term ``U.S.-Israel-Iran
conflict'' means the armed conflict beginning on or about
February 2026 in which the United States is materially engaged
in hostilities in support of Israel against Iran and associated
forces, as identified in public determinations by the President
pursuant to the War Powers Resolution.
(4) Designated u.s. israel-iran war energy emergency
period.--The term ``designated U.S.-Israel-Iran war energy
emergency period'' means the period--
(A) beginning on the date of enactment of this Act;
and
(B) ending on the earlier of--
(i) The date that is 365 days after the
effective date of a ceasefire or other
agreement formally terminating active
hostilities in the U.S Israel-Iran conflict, as
certified by the President; or
(ii) The date on which the secretary of
energy and the secretary jointly certify to
congress that energy prices attributable to the
U.S Israel-Iran conflict have materially
normalized.
TITLE I--WAR INFLATION EMERGENCY MIDDLE-CLASS RELIEF
SEC. 101. [___].
(a) Allowance of Credit.--In the case of an eligible individual,
there shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by chapter 1
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for each taxable year beginning in
a designated U.S.-Israel-Iran war energy emergency period an amount
equal to the war inflation credit determined under this section.
(b) Amount of Credit.--The war inflation credit for any taxable
year shall be an amount determined by the Secretary that is reasonably
calculated to offset average increases in commuting, grocery, and
utility costs incurred by middle-income households as a direct or
indirect result of the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict, taking into account
family size and regional cost variations.
(c) Eligibility.--An individual is eligible for the credit under
this section if--
(1) such individual is a middle-income household for the
taxable year; and
(2) neither such individual nor such individual's spouse
(in the case of a joint return) is a nonresident alien
individual.
(d) Refundability; Coordination.--The credit allowed under this
section--
(1) shall be treated as a refundable credit; and
(2) shall be allowed in addition to any other credit
allowed under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, subject to
such coordination rules as the Secretary may prescribe to
prevent duplication of benefits for the same costs.
(e) Automatic Phase-out Tied to Conflict.--
(1) In general.--The credit under this section shall be
reduced ratably and ultimately terminated for taxable years
beginning after the first taxable year that begins after both
of the following conditions have been met:
(A) The president has notified to congress that a
ceasefire or other agreement has formally terminated
active hostilities in the U.S Israel-Iran conflict.
(B) The secretary of energy and the secretary have
jointly certified to congress that average national
retail prices of gasoline and residential electricity
have remained below specified trigger thresholds for
not fewer than 180 consecutive days and that such
normalization is not materially threatened by ongoing
hostilities related to the U.S Israel-Iran conflict.
(2) Public notice.--The Secretary shall publish notice of
any phase-out or termination under paragraph (1) in the Federal
Register and on an appropriate public website.
TITLE II--ANTI-PRICE GOUGING IN ENERGY AND ESSENTIAL GOODS
SEC. 201. PROHIBITION ON PRICE GOUGING DURING U.S.-ISRAEL-IRAN WAR
ENERGY EMERGENCY.
(a) Unlawful Conduct.--During any designated U.S.-Israel-Iran war
energy emergency period, it shall be an unfair or deceptive act or
practice under the Federal Trade Commission Act for any covered entity
to sell or offer for sale covered goods at a price that--
(1) represents a grossly excessive increase over the
average price of such goods during the 60-day period preceding
the date of enactment of this Act; and
(2) Is not substantially attributable to additional costs
incurred, or reasonably anticipated to be incurred, by the
covered entity in connection with the production, distribution,
or sale of such goods, including costs reasonably attributable
to the U.S Israel-Iran conflict.
(b) Covered Entities.--The term ``covered entity'' means any
person, partnership, corporation, or other business entity engaged in
the wholesale or retail sale of--
(1) motor fuel, diesel, or other transportation fuels;
(2) home heating fuels, including natural gas, heating oil,
and electricity; or
(3) essential consumer staples, including food and basic
household necessities, as defined by the Federal Trade
Commission.
(c) Covered Goods.--The term ``covered goods'' means any good
described in subsection (b).
SEC. 202. ENFORCEMENT BY FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION AND DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE.
(a) Federal Trade Commission.--The Federal Trade Commission shall
have authority to enforce section 201 in the same manner, by the same
means, and with the same jurisdiction, powers, and duties as though all
applicable terms and provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act
were incorporated into and made a part of this Act.
(b) Department of Justice.--The Attorney General may bring a civil
action in an appropriate United States district court to enforce
section 201, to seek injunctive relief, civil penalties, and
restitution for affected consumers, and to obtain such other relief as
the court may deem appropriate.
(c) State Enforcement Preserved.--Nothing in this Act shall be
construed to preempt any State law prohibiting price gouging or to
limit the authority of any State attorney general to enforce such law.
(d) Rulemaking.--The Federal Trade Commission may promulgate such
rules as are necessary and appropriate to carry out this title,
including rules further defining ``grossly excessive'' for purposes of
section 201(a), specifically in the context of price effects
attributable to the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict.
SEC. 203. FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION STUDY AND REPORT.
(a) Study.--The Federal Trade Commission (in this section referred
to as the ``Commission'') shall conduct a study of the operation and
enforcement of State and local price gouging laws during the period of
war-related disruptions in energy and essential goods markets caused by
the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict, including--
(1) the extent to which such laws were activated in
response to the conflict;
(2) the types of products and services covered, including
fuel, home heating, and essential consumer staples;
(3) enforcement actions taken by State and local
authorities; and
(4) any observed impacts on consumer welfare, supply
availability, and prices.
(b) Recommendations.--As part of the study under subsection (a),
the Commission shall evaluate whether a permanent Federal baseline
standard governing price gouging during declared emergencies would
promote consumer protection and market stability, taking into account
the diversity of existing State approaches and experience during the
U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict.
(c) Report to Congress.--Not later than 18 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the Committee on
Ways and Means and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Finance and the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report--
(1) describing the results of the study conducted under
subsection (a); and
(2) setting forth the recommendations described in
subsection (b), including any specific legislative or
administrative actions the Commission considers appropriate.
SEC. 204. SUNSET; RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.
(a) Sunset.--All authorities and programs established under this
Act, including the war inflation refundable tax credit under section
101, and the prohibitions and enforcement authorities created by
sections 201 and 202, shall terminate at the end of the designated
U.S.-Israel-Iran war energy emergency period, except as provided in
subsection (b).
(b) Continuing Actions.--Any investigation, enforcement action, or
proceeding commenced under this Act before the date described in
subsection (a) may be continued, and any civil or criminal liability
for violations of this Act incurred before such date shall remain in
effect until satisfied or discharged.
(c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed
to--
(1) limit, impair, or otherwise affect any authority of the
President or any Federal agency under the Defense Production
Act of 1950, the Federal Trade Commission Act, or any other
provision of Federal law to prevent hoarding, accumulation, or
other forms of profiteering during an emergency; or
(2) preempt or displace any State or local law prohibiting
price gouging or other unfair or deceptive practices during a
declared emergency.
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