As inflation climbs and most Americans struggle to afford the basic necessities, Democrats in the U.S. House are caught in a real pickle. They’re being pushed to oppose bills rolling back Biden’s household appliance regulations. Republicans claim these rules just make everything more expensive, leaving appliances out of reach for the average Joe. So now, Democrats have to decide: stick to their green agenda or finally acknowledge that these regulations might be making things worse for everyone.
Two bills, HR 7700, the “Stop Unaffordable Dishwasher Standards (SUDS) Act,” introduced by U.S. Representative Nick Langworthy (R-NY), and HR 7637, the “Refrigerator Freedom Act,” filed by Rep. Mary Miller-Meeks (R-IL), have progressed out of the Energy and Commerce Committee and are slated for full House votes this week.
Despite being in the minority, House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA) has rallied fellow Democrats to vote against these measures. In a communication to House Democrats, Clark critiqued the bills, which were initially flagged alongside the broader HR 6192 “Hands Off Our Home Appliances Act” in May. These bills seek amendments to the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, aiming to constrain the Department of Energy’s (DOE) authority in issuing energy efficiency standards for dishwashers, refrigerators, and freezers.
Clark emphasized that current DOE standards are already mandated to be cost-effective, technologically feasible, and economically justified. She accused Republicans of proposing redundant requirements that could impede a standards-setting process that typically spans several years.
Clark criticized the bills as lacking specificity on timelines, failing to define crucial terms, and disregarding prior agreements between appliance manufacturers and energy efficiency advocates. She argued that such legislative efforts are redundant following the passage of the Hands Off Our Home Appliances Act, which addresses similar issues across all appliances.
In response, proponents of these bills, such as Rep. Debbie Lasko (R-AZ), argued for the necessity of safeguarding consumer choice against what they perceive as overreach by federal regulators under the Biden administration’s environmental policies. They underscored the bills’ provisions requiring new efficiency standards to be cost-effective and preventing federal bans based on energy usage.
Republicans on the House Energy & Commerce Committee, led by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), echoed concerns over escalating consumer costs due to stringent regulations. They criticized the Biden administration for prioritizing environmental goals over affordability and reliability in household products, including washing machines, dryers, and air conditioners.
While these bills are expected to pass the House, their future in the Democratic-controlled Senate remains uncertain amidst ongoing debates over regulatory impacts on consumer expenses and household affordability.
