The United States House of Representatives approved a bill Tuesday limiting the Department of Energy’s (DOE) authority to enforce energy conservation mandates for washing machines.
Under HR 7673 — also known as the Liberty in Laundry Act — the DOE would be prevented from enforcing such regulation unless they are (1) are “technologically feasible and economically justified,” (2) do not increase consumers’ net costs, and (3) would result in “significant conservation of energy.”
All Republicans who participated in the vote supported the bill, alongside six Democrats: Reps. Yadira Caraveo (D-CO), Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Donald G. Davis (D-NC), Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX), Mary Sattler Peltola (D-AK), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA).
Consequently, this legislation was approved by a margin of 215 to 200, with 15 representatives not voting.
Earlier this year, the DOE finalized a new set of rules aimed at residential washing machines that gave the industry until March 2028 to comply. Under these regulations, washing machines must meet certain energy and water efficiency ratios, which vary depending upon the style and capacity of the appliance.
Click Here to Read the Full Set of Rules
“I have spent much of my time in Congress fighting back the federal government’s vast overreach into the lives of hardworking Americans,” Rep. Andy Ogles (TN-05) — the bill’s sponsor — said in a statement last week.
“In a slew of woke, ‘environmental’ nonsense rulemaking attempts by the Biden Administration, the Secretary of Energy issued new standards for clothing washers and dryers in March,” Rep. Ogles continued.
“In response, I introduced the Liberty in Laundry Act, which will prohibit the Secretary of Energy from imposing ‘energy conservation standards’ for clothes washers that are not economically feasible and economically justified,” he concluded. “Americans should be able to do their laundry in peace without the input of Big Brother.”
Click Here to Read Rep. Ogles’ Full Statement
House Democrats, however, have pushed back on this effort, suggesting that “absolutely no one” would benefit from preventing the DOE from enforcing standards in this way.
“HR 7673 guts popular energy efficiency standards for laundry machines – standards that save Americans money on their utility bills and reduce dangerous greenhouse gas pollution at the same time,” said Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr., (D-NJ ), according to KPVI.
“These efficiency standards create certainty for manufacturers and they protect consumers from rising costs,” Rep. Pallone said. “And, in the case of these laundry machine standards, they also reduce water use – a benefit that could greatly aid drought-prone regions around the nation.”
Following passage in the House, the Liberty in Laundry Act was sent to the Senate where it was subsequently referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Click Here for More Information on the Liberty in Laundry Act
