Bill · S. 4266· Senate(119-S-4266)
Cost-of-living Emergency Act
- Introduced
- 3/26/2026
- Last activity
- 3/26/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
- Sponsored by
- Mark Kelly
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Cost-of-living Emergency Act declares a national emergency regarding the high cost of living in the United States. It directs the Council of Economic Advisers to prioritize analysis of basic household necessities and establish a dedicated emergency office with specialized advisors. The bill creates a Joint Task Force on Consumer Costs to prosecute price gouging and anticompetitive practices. Additionally, it mandates the use of the Defense Production Act to increase the supply of basic necessities. Finally, it establishes a congressional Cost-of-Living Commission to recommend long-term policy improvements.
Yes· 3 of 37
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+9
The bill explicitly prioritizes the affordability of basic necessities for low-income families.
Would middle-income households be better off under this?+8
The bill prioritizes economic pressures impacting middle-income families.
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?+8
Establishes a Joint Task Force to prosecute price gouging and creates a public portal for reporting unfair pricing.
The opposite· 3 of 5
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?-3
The bill creates new offices, task forces, and commissions, increasing federal spending.
Does this leave more decisions to the states?-3
The federal government takes a lead role in price monitoring and enforcement that typically involves state laws.
Would the very wealthiest people be better off under this?-2
Increased scrutiny of large corporations and anticompetitive practices may impact their holdings.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Focused Economic Advice: The Council of Economic Advisers must prioritize analysis on the affordability of basic necessities and pressures on low- and middle-income families (Section 4(1)).
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Direct Public Input: Special Advisors must host regional listening sessions at least three times per year, allowing the public to share concerns about the costs of goods and services (Section 4(3)(B)(iii)).
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Transparency in Regulation: Agencies must produce household costs impact statements for major regulatory actions, detailing effects on average households and whether the action benefits large corporations more than individuals (Section 5).
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Price Gouging Protection: The Joint Task Force on Consumer Costs is established to monitor price increases and prosecute price gouging, price-fixing, and other illegal pricing practices (Section 6(c)).
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Increased Supply of Necessities: The President is required to use Defense Production Act authorities to expand the production and supply of basic household necessities (Section 7(b)).
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Public Reporting Portal: The bill establishes a centralized public portal for consumers and whistleblowers to report unfair or illegal pricing practices (Section 6(c)(6)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Limited Emergency Duration: The declared emergency terminates after 180 days unless a joint resolution is passed to extend it, which may limit the long-term consistency of these efforts (Section 3(b)(1)).
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Corporate Benefit Risks: While the bill requires impact statements, it does not explicitly forbid regulatory actions that provide more benefits to large corporations than to average households (Section 5(b)(4)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Low Income Households+9Good For Middle Class Households+8Good For Retirees+6Good For African Americans+5Good For Hispanic Americans+5Good For Middle Aged+5Good For Native Americans+5Good For People With Disabilities+5Good For Rural Residents+5Good For Seniors+5Good For Union Workers+5Good For Urban Residents+5Good For Young Adults+5Good For Asian Americans+4Good For Children+4Good For Immigrants+4Good For Men+4Good For Students+4Good For White Americans+4Good For Women+4Good For Business Owners+3Good For Farmers+3Good For High Income Households+2Good For Billionaires-2Good For Ultra High Net Worth Individuals-2
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Consumer Protection+8Reduces Inflation+6Improves Small Business Support+5Improves Economic Growth+4Increases Job Creation+3Reduces Government Spending-3Reduces National Debt-2
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Poverty Reduction+6Improves Affordable Housing+5Reduces Homelessness+3
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+7Increases Federal Power+6Increase States Rights-3
- Healthcare
- Reduces Prescription Drug Costs+4Improves Healthcare Access+3
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Reduces Gas Prices+5
- Education And Technology
- Increases Big Tech Regulation+2
- 3/26/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.