Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “W.A.R. Act Wartime Anti-Profiteering and Relief Act”.
W.A.R. Act Wartime Anti-Profiteering and Relief Act
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.
Sec. 2 Findings; declaration of emergency
Findings— Congress finds the following:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
Secretary— The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Treasury.
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.
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.
Designated U.S. Israel–Iran war energy emergency period— The term “designated U.S.–Israel–Iran war energy emergency period” means the period—
beginning on the date of enactment of this Act; and
ending on the earlier of—
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
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.