Cost-of-living Emergency Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8135
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Housing and Community Development
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-27: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Workforce, Energy and Commerce, the Judiciary, the Budget, and Rules, 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.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-21T14:06:26Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Cost-of-Living Emergency Act (H.R. 8135) declares a national emergency due to high living costs in the United States and mandates short-term government actions to reduce expenses on essential items like food, housing, fuel, healthcare, and utilities for average households (those earning below median income). It aims to coordinate federal efforts, enforce laws against unfair pricing, boost supply, and develop long-term policy recommendations.
Key Provisions
- Emergency Declaration (Sec. 3): Declares a cost-of-living emergency lasting 180 days, extendable only by congressional joint resolution using expedited procedures.
- Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) Actions (Sec. 4):
- Prioritizes advice on affordability of basics, pressures on low/middle-income families, and policy impacts.
- Creates a White House Cost Cutting Council for government-wide cost reduction.
- Appoints six Special Advisors to the President (for grocery, housing, utilities, healthcare, transportation, and wages) who lead task forces, issue weekly reports, hold public listening sessions (3x/year), testify annually, and summarize findings.
- Requires quarterly State of Household Budgets reports on metrics like purchasing power, wage growth, debt burdens, and regional affordability.
- Regulatory Reviews (Sec. 5): Mandates household budget impact statements for major regulations, assessing effects on average households vs. large corporations (non-small businesses), with public disclosure unless security-restricted.
- Anti-Price Gouging Task Force (Sec. 6): Joint DOJ-FTC Task Force on Consumer Costs monitors prices, investigates anticompetitive practices (e.g., gouging, price-fixing), shares data, guides states, and runs a public reporting portal. Uses existing antitrust laws; reports quarterly to Congress; continues investigations post-termination.
- Defense Production Act (DPA) Use (Sec. 7): Requires President to use DPA Title III (loans, guarantees, purchase commitments, subsidies) to increase domestic supply of basic necessities, bypassing "national defense" requirements. Includes strategic plans, supply chain assessments, and certifications that actions will cut costs within 180 days.
- Cost-of-Living Commission (Sec. 8): Bipartisan 12-member congressional panel (6 lawmakers + 6 outside experts per party leaders) holds hearings (at least 6, including field sessions), issues reports/recommendations/legislative text within 180 days (and before emergency ends), with CBO cost estimates. Requires bipartisan majority (≥2 Republicans + ≥2 Democrats) for approvals; public transparency; terminates 30 days after final report.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Expands CEA Role: Adds cost-cutting council, special advisors, and new reporting not in the Employment Act of 1946.
- New Regulatory Tool: Introduces household-focused impact statements beyond standard cost-benefit analysis.
- Enhances Enforcement: Creates dedicated task force for price gouging under existing antitrust laws (e.g., FTC/Sherman/Clayton Acts).
- Broadens DPA: Mandates civilian use (exempt from defense tie) for household goods, with evidentiary requirements for spending.
- Congressional Mechanism: Establishes temporary commission with fast-track, bipartisan processes for emergency policy.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases workload for CEA, OMB, DOJ, FTC, and DPA-delegated agencies via new councils, task forces, reports, and mandatory actions; promotes inter-agency coordination.
- Citizens: Could lower costs for essentials through enforcement, supply boosts, and policy focus on low/middle-income households; provides public input via listening sessions/portals.
- Businesses: Heightened scrutiny on large firms for pricing/regulations; small/medium businesses eligible for DPA aid; potential supply chain interventions.
- International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though DPA actions might affect imports by prioritizing domestic production.
Main Stakeholders
- Average U.S. Households: Primary beneficiaries via cost reductions and affordability focus.
- Low/Middle-Income Families: Targeted through metrics, advisors, and policies.
- Large Corporations: Subject to impact analyses, investigations, and competition enforcement.
- Small/Medium Businesses: Eligible for DPA loans/subsidies.
- Federal Agencies: CEA, OMB, DOJ, FTC, and others bear implementation burden.
- Congress and States: Commission involvement; state AGs receive guidance.
- Consumers/Whistleblowers: Access to reporting portals and hearings.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Leverages National Emergencies Act procedures; expands DPA beyond defense (potentially challenging "national defense" limits); strengthens antitrust without new penalties.
- Constitutional: Bipartisan commission voting/quorum ensures balance; congressional funding/oversight limits executive overreach.
- Political: Temporary (180-day) structure with extension hurdles promotes urgency; requires cross-party approval for recommendations, fostering compromise on cost-of-living issues.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-27: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Workforce, Energy and Commerce, the Judiciary, the Budget, and Rules, 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.
- 2026-03-27: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Workforce, Energy and Commerce, the Judiciary, the Budget, and Rules, 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.
- 2026-03-27: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Workforce, Energy and Commerce, the Judiciary, the Budget, and Rules, 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.
- 2026-03-27: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Workforce, Energy and Commerce, the Judiciary, the Budget, and Rules, 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.
- 2026-03-27: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Workforce, Energy and Commerce, the Judiciary, the Budget, and Rules, 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.
- 2026-03-27: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Workforce, Energy and Commerce, the Judiciary, the Budget, and Rules, 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.
- 2026-03-27: Introduced in House
- 2026-03-27: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Cost-of-living Emergency Act — issued 2026-03-27 — PDF (32 pages)