Kelly, Deluzio Introduce Bill to Address Cost of Living Emergency in America

Today, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Representative Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17) introduced legislation to address the cost of living emergency that American families are facing as the price of basic goods and utility bills go up and become more unpredictable. The Cost of Living Emergency Actputs the focus on American families, not Wall Street, andmakes it easier to hold corporations that price-gouge accountable, to prevent sudden spikes in household bills, and to provide immediate relief when essential costs rise.

"Families across Arizona are crunching numbers. 'Do we buy groceries or pay the electric bill? Do we fill up the gas tank or cover the kids' school supplies?' These aren't choices any family should have to make in America," said Senator Kelly. "It's time for Washington to stop obsessing over Wall Street and start addressing the real economic pressures crushing working families."

"In Western Pennsylvania and across the country: people are working hard, following the rules, but still cannot afford their lives-and don't get their earned slice of the American Dream," said Congressman Deluzio. "This country is in a cost of living emergency, and it's time that Washington prioritizes it like the top issue it is for hardworking Americans. I am proud to join Senator Mark Kelly to introduce this Cost-of-Living Emergency Act. Let's get the Congress muscling up the American Dream and making life less of a ripoff."

"Our members are working hard, doing everything right, and still struggling to keep up with the rising cost of groceries, housing, and health care. Senator Kelly's Cost of Living Emergency Act recognizes what workers have been saying for years: this is an emergency, and it's time for real action. We support this effort to hold corporations accountable, bring down costs, and give working people and their families a fair shot at getting ahead," said Jim McLaughlin, President of UFCW Local 99 and President of Arizona AFL-CIO.

"I spent years working in a grocery store, and because of my union, I was able to provide for my family. But I also saw firsthand how rising costs impact working families. When people are forced to choose between paying bills or putting food on the table, that's an emergency. Senator Kelly's Cost of Living Emergency Act treats it like one, focusing on real solutions to lower costs and make life more affordable for working people. That's the kind of leadership we need right now," said Fred Yamashita, Secretary-Treasurer and Executive Director of Arizona AFL-CIO.

The AFL-CIO is a supporter of the Cost of Living Emergency Act.

Kelly has been working to lower costs for working families, including the rising costs of food, housing, and health care. He has introduced legislation to suspend the federal gas tax amid rising gas prices driven by Trump's war in Iran and to provide tax cuts for millions of working Americans by raising taxes on millionaires.

Background:

The Cost of Living Emergency Act recognizes that the federal government should respond immediately to bring down costs for the American people. During the period outlined in the bill, the following actions must be taken:

• Restructures the Council of Economic Advisers: Requires the White House Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) to prioritize economic analysis focused on the cost of groceries, housing, utilities, health care, and transportation, as well as on wage growth. The bill requires the Administration to name a special advisor to lead on each of these areas. The special advisors will coordinate interagency efforts to reduce costs, host public listening sessions, and provide reports to Congress.

• Establishes a Cost of Living Emergency Office: Establishes a new office at the White House to coordinate government-wide efforts to lower costs. The office must also produce a quarterly "State of Household Budgets" report to track whether wages are keeping up with regular costs.

• Requires Household Costs Impact Statements: Requires the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs to include a "Household Costs Impact Statement" alongside each new regulation promulgated during the cost of living emergency.

• Mandates Emergency Enforcement of Price Gouging Laws: Establishes a joint task force between the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission to investigate suspected anticompetitive, deceptive, unfair and illegal pricing practices such as price gouging, price-fixing, and price discrimination for essential goods and services.

• Invokes the Defense Production Act: Utilizes the Defense Production Act to identify and mitigate supply chain bottlenecks. Any activity undertaken under this authority must be supported by empirical data that shows it will lower costs.

• Creates a Congressional Cost of Living Commission: This 12-member bipartisan commission will develop legislative proposals for actions to lower costs for American families, which may be considered through expedited procedures.

See text of the bill and summary.