W.A.R. Act Wartime Anti-Profiteering and Relief Act

Key Points

• The bill creates a new refundable tax credit for middle-income households earning between $80,000 and $160,000 to offset rising costs of commuting, groceries, and utilities caused by the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict. The exact credit amount would be set by the Treasury Secretary based on actual cost increases, family size, and regional differences.
• The bill makes it illegal for companies to charge grossly excessive prices on fuel, heating, electricity, food, and basic household goods during the emergency period. Price hikes are only allowed if they reflect actual increased costs tied to the conflict.
• Both the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice can enforce the anti-price gouging rules, with the power to seek injunctions, civil penalties, and restitution for consumers. State price gouging laws are preserved and not overridden.
• All programs created by the bill are temporary and tied to the conflict. They end either 365 days after a ceasefire or once energy prices return to normal, whichever comes first.
• The bill targets middle-income families specifically because they often fall through the cracks: they do not qualify for low-income assistance but also lack the savings to handle sustained price shocks from war-related inflation.