Sponsors
Introduced March 26, 2026 by Mark Edward Kelly · Last progress March 26, 2026
The bill creates a fast-moving, transparent federal framework to identify and address household cost pressures—potentially lowering prices for many—but does so by expanding administrative activity, using budgetary subsidies and emergency powers that risk rushed decisions, higher taxes or deficits, and exclusion of some struggling households.
Low- and middle-income households will get more frequent, data-driven analysis and actionable recommendations aimed at lowering costs for groceries, housing, utilities, health care, transportation, and wages.
Consumers and taxpayers gain greater transparency about how federal rules affect household budgets because major rules must include estimated dollar impacts on average U.S. households and comparisons of benefits to households versus large corporations.
Federal enforcement will be better coordinated against price gouging, price‑fixing, and other anticompetitive conduct during an emergency, with a centralized portal for consumer complaints and guidance for state attorneys general to improve consistency.
Households just above the prior‑year median could be excluded from programs even if they are struggling, because the Act ties 'average U.S. household' to the prior‑year Census median.
Fixing necessity categories to BLS classifications as of January 1, 2026 may prevent recognition of new or evolving household needs, reducing flexibility to address changing cost drivers.
Implementing the Act's frequent reporting, new offices, enforcement activities, and Commission staffing will raise federal administrative costs and likely increase spending paid by taxpayers (including use of DPA funds and subsidies).
Based on analysis of 8 sections of legislative text.
Declares a 180-day national cost-of-living emergency and directs federal analysis, enforcement, DPA production actions, and a Congressional commission to lower basic household costs.
Declares a 180-day national emergency to address high household costs and directs a coordinated federal response to lower prices for basic household necessities. It requires the Council of Economic Advisers to create a Cost-of-living Emergency Office and appoint six Special Advisors to lead weekly Cabinet-level coordination and frequent reporting; forces agencies to include a household-costs impact statement for major regulations; creates a temporary DOJ–FTC Joint Task Force to investigate price-gouging and anticompetitive conduct; authorizes use of Defense Production Act Title III authorities (with a waiver of the usual national-defense restriction) to boost domestic supply; and forms a bipartisan Congressional commission to recommend short- and medium-term policies. The emergency automatically ends after 180 days unless Congress extends it by joint resolution under expedited procedures. Many actions are time-limited to the emergency period, include public reporting requirements, and require empirical certification before use of certain procurement or financing authorities.