the chair: the gentlewoman is recognized. mrs. lesko: the biden administration has waged a war on american energy. and this war has made its way into americans' homes. president biden and the

department of energy secretary granholm have sacrificed appliance affordability and reliability in their pursuit of a radical rush to green agenda. in the name of energy efficiency, the biden administration has issued rules on home appliances that would drive up costs and make these popular products less reliable and available to the american families. the biden administration's new rules do not save a significant amount of energy and are not cost-effective. the biden administration's rules discourage the use of natural gas in favor of the electtrification of appliances regardless of the cost, reliability, or availability. just look how they tried to ban gas stoves before my save our gas stoves legislation and public outcry dialed it back.

house republicans are leading to protect americans from federal mandate that increase costs, fail to result in significant energy savings, and are not practical and eliminate the performance features of product choices. my legislation, h.r. 6192, the hands off our home appliances act fights back against the biden administration's radical agenda and will preserve the affordability, availability, and quality of the household appliances americans rely on every day. enacted in 1975, the energy policy and conservation act, also called epca, provides specific criteria the department of energy must follow in order to propose a new appliance

efficiency standard. it is supposed to result in a significant conservation of energy, technologically feasible, and economically justified. the problem is that current law doesn't define the parameters for these criteria. so the biden administration has ignored these critical consumer protections by proposing and finalizing standards that violate the statute. my bill will define how much energy or water has to be saved. my bill will define that any additional up-front costs to install a new appliance that has new mandated energy efficiency standards will be recuperated with an -- within a reasonable period of time. h.r. 6192 will protect

affordability by requiring the department of energy to consider the full lifecycle costs of appliances when determining if the new standard is economically justified. the bill requires a three-year or less payback to the consumer and requires consideration of the costs for low-income households. no longer will the biden administration be able to say a savings of 12 cents per month is economically justified as they have done before. no longer will they be able to have to hold -- will a customer have to hold on to their appliance for eight to 10 or longer years just before they see any cost savings. the bill establishes a minimum threshold for energy or water savings that must be achieved

before imposing new standards. the bill requires that any new standard must achieve at least a 10% reduction in energy or water usage. the bill prohibits the secretary of energy from banning products based on what type of fuel the product uses. so there can be no more natural gas bans. the bill requires that any new standard cannot affect the duty cycle, charging time, and run time of the covered product or the life span of the products. you know, americans want their appliances to work. the bill will allow the department of energy to amend or revoke prior standards if they don't save the consumers money, and if the abaselines doesn't work -- appliance doesn't work. last week, i asked secretary

granholm in committee some very basic questions about the energy policy and conservation act. i asked her, yes or no, do you agree that appliance regulations should be technologically feasible? secretary granholm said yes. yes or no, do you agree that appliance regulation should not increase net cost for consumers? secretary granholm said yes. yes or no, do you agree that appliance regulation should save a significant amount of energy? secretary granholm said yes. i stated to her that efficiency mandates increase the up-front cost of appliances which can really hurt low-income families and renters who do not have the luxury of waiting years for the

energy savings to break even. so i asked her, yes or no, do you agree that three years is a reasonable payback period for efficiency regulations? you know what? secretary granholm said, she thought the payback should be done within one year. thus, folks, secretary granholm is on record supporting every key element of my bill. in january of this year, the fifth circuit court found that the department of energy has abused the law. in their opinion they said the department of energy failed to adequately consider appliance performance substitution of effects and record of evidence that department of energy's conservation standards a are causing americans to use more energy and water rather than less. it's time to reform the energy

policy and conservation act. like our law sets speed limits to determine at what speed we are breaking the law, it is time to define what economically justified and technologically feasible means. it is time to fight back against the radical agenda set by the biden administration. it is time for our energy efficiency laws to actually save americans money. actually save energy and water. and actually preserve americans' consumer choice. i ask both i ask both republicans and democrats to support my bill, h.r. 6192, and i reserve the balance of my time. the chair: the gentlewoman reserves. for what purpose does the -- the gentleman from new jersey is recognized. mr. pallone: thank you. mr. speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume.

the chair: the gentleman is recognized. mr. pallone: i rise in strong oppositon to h.r. 6192, legislation that would actually -- should be titled the republicans raising energy bills on american families act. because that's exactly what this bill does this. bill is just the latest in the republicans' polluter over people agenda that will drive up annual energy costs on hardworking american families. this bill is a blatant attempt by house republicans to derail the successful and effective energy conservation program, energy efficiency standards save americans money on their energy bills, they boost innovation by modernizing appliances for the future and they reduce greenhouse gas pollution and our ongoing efforts to combat the climate crisis. american family, mr. speaker, are already saving up to $500 a year on utility bills thanks to the energy efficiency standards already in place. the biden administration has

been busy with additional actions to collectively save americans $1 trillion over the next 30 years. $1 trillion. setting energy efficiency standards is something that the department of energy is required by congress to do. the biden administration has been busy acting because the previous trump administration refused to doits job and neglected to finalize 25 appliance efficiency standards. now h.r. 6192 takes an ax to energy conservation standards. it slows down the standards setting process. it allows future administrations to revoke existing standards and bans states from setting their own conservation standards. if this bill were to become law, manufacturers would be faced with market uncertainty and regulatory about face every time the government changes hands. and that's problematic for future innovation, particularly considering that many of the efficiency stan -- efficiency

standards finalized by the department of energy were reach through the consensus recommendations made by appliance manufacturers and efficiency advocates there's a robust process for setting efficiency standards and this sproases works. all standards must be economically justify and technologically feasible. and let me be clear because we're likely to hear a lot of fear mongering and misinformation today from my republican colleagues. energy efficiency standards are not bans and do not impact existing apliepses in american's homes. this legislation is nothing more than an attempt to scare consumers to republicans can protect their polluter friends. instead of legislating on important, pressing issues, republicans today are pushing a bill that will increase energy prices for american families. this republican congress is the least productive of any congress since the great depression. this bill is only being brought to the floor because republicans can't assemble the votes to

actually accomplish anything for the american people. and they talk about freedom for appliances but refuse to consider any legislation that would give women freedom over their reproductive health. so mr. speaker, i urge my colleagues to oppose this legislation, because it will raise energy costs on american family, it'll stifle american innovation and it'll exacerbate the climate crisis. it's time that republicans stop wasting our time on partisan messaging bill that was no chance of becoming law. with that, mr. speaker, i reserve the plans of my time. the chair: the gentleman reserves. the gentlewoman from arizona is recognized. mrs. lesko: thank you, mr. chairman. i yield two minutes to the gentleman from south carolina, mr. duncan, who is the chair of the energy subcommittee. the chair: the gentleman is recognized. mr. duncan: thank you, mr. chairman. i rise in support of h.r. 6192, the hands off our home appliances act. i want to thank congresswoman lesko for leading this effort and many others in this congress. throughout hearings in this

congress, the house energy and commerce committee has heard countless times how the biden administration's energy policy puts special interests over affordability and reliability for americans. through the department of energy appliance standard program, the biden administration has abused their authority by setting aggressive standards on a variety of home appliances. americans don't be food aboutthis this effort by the biden administration isn't about saving american consumers money. it's solely about ending american's use of natural gas. period. they started with gas stoves. and now they have announced plans to impose burdensome regulations that will raise the cost and reduce the performance of dish washers, air conditioners, refrigerators, clothes washers, clothes dryers and several other products that americans rely on every day. this is part of their whole government approach to pursuing climate policy over all else.

secretary granholm said in our budget hearing last week, quote, we're obsessed with reducing the amount of energy americans use. unquote. this administration hates fossil fuels and anything that uses fossil fuels. that's their solution. to reduce emissions and preserve energy reliability instead of harnessing the abundant resources we have in this country they want to reduce the quality of life in americans by telling thepg how to cook your food, wash your clothe, how much water you can use, what type of car you can drive. congresswoman lesko's bill puts affordability and reliability ad of the dark money climate lobby this administration is beholden to. this reforms the standard setting process to clarify the regulatory authority and tribute toes -- prohibits new standards that are not economically feasible or technologically possible. because of this administration, the cost of everything is increasing in the united states of america. he dhas -- the last thing that

they should be doing is making home aplains americans rely on more expensive. i urge my colleagues to support this commonsense bill and thank congresswoman lesko for again leading this important issue. i yield back. the chair: does the gentlewoman reserve? mrs. lesko: i reserve. the chair: the gentlewoman reserves. the gentleman from new jersey is recognized. mr. pallone: thank you, mr. speaker. i yield five minutes to the gentlewoman from florida who is the ranking member of our oversight and investigation subcommittee, ms. castor. the chair: the gentlewoman is recognized. ms. castor: i rise in opposition to h.r. 6192, a republican bill that will burden american families with higher costs. this is not a serious bill, mr. speaker. but it is emblematic of the least productive congress in morned times. rather than focus on improving the lives of our neighbors back

home and lowering cost, maga extremists have been embroiled in shutdowns and showdowns, a tiresome soap opera. so they bring an unserious bill like this to distract from their dysfunction. i've heard members on the other side of the aisle make excuses for not getting anything done. they say this is a closely divided congress. but you know, mr. speaker, that was true in the last congress when the democrats were in control and we passed a host of important new laws that solved problems and cut costs for the folks we represent back home. we focused on bringing down the cost of living and putting more money back in the pockets of american families. like the pact act. that expands v.a. health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, agent orange and other toxic substances. provides generations of veterans and their survivors with the care and benefits they've earned about 4,000 veterans in my

district alone have filed claims. we passed the american rescue plan to help america boost back and build the strongest economy in the world after the pandemic. we passed a historic infrastructure law to -- that's rebuilding our roads and bridges, delivering clean water, cleaning up pollution, and expanding access to high speed internet. we passed the safer communities act, and we passed the very important historic inflation reduction act. that truly is putting money back into the pockets of families back home. remember, that's the law that capped insulin at $5 per month. i have 74,000 people in my district with diabetes and thousands of my neighbors are saving about $440 per month. more people have affordable health insurance. because of the tax credits in the inflation reduction act. about -- over 100,000 of my neighbors will save about $520 in premiums this year under the a.c.a. that's a law that now allows

medicare to negotiate drug prices for the highest drugs, it caps out of pocket costs for our older neighbors who rely on medicare. what a godsend. the i.r.a. is also lowering the cost of energy and reducing pollution, unleashed a major clean energy manufacturing boom across america, over 500 new clean energy project, all across the country. well over 250,000 new jobs. the key to delivering all of these cost savings to the american people is putting people over politics. but instead, maga extremists keep america stuck in the politics of chaos all the time. where nothing gets done. so the g.o.p. what do they do? they default to another bill that helps the oil and gas industry. that's what this is all about. because energy efficiency standards are popular. three out of five americans support making them stronger. american families want

innovative, efficient appliances. why? because they save money. and they save energy. take the refrigerator, for example. compared to refrigerate yofers the 1970's, when the first efficiency standard was proposed, refrigerators today are cheaper up front and they do a better job of keeping groceries cold. and they use about 75% less energy. and they save american families hundreds of dollars a year. on their electricity bills. thanks to the innovation spurred by energy efficiency standards. the department of energy and the biden administration have collaborated with industry to develop strong energy efficiency standards as congress already has directed. this means huge cost savings for american families, money back into their pockets at the time -- at a time when they really need it. so i urge my colleagues to side with the people and their pocketbooks rather than politics or the polluters' best interests. please vote no on this

republican bill and let's get back to work. i yield back my time. the chair: does the gentleman reserve? the gentleman reserves. the gentlewoman from arizona is recognized. mrs. lesko: thank you, mr. chairman. i yield two minutes to the gentlewoman from the state of washington, the chair of the energy and commerce committee, ms. rogers. the chair: the gentlewoman is recognized. mrs. rodgers: thank you, mr. speaker. i rise in support of h.r. 6192 and i'd like to start off by thanking the sponsor, ms. debbie lesko of arizona, and the members of the energy and commerce committee, for advancing this bill through regular order. the united states is blessed with tremendous natural resources. we have the cleanest oil and gas in the world. emissions free nuclear. hydropower. and renewables. we also have the world's best work force and an innovative spirit that's contributed to

technological breakthroughs that have changed the world. for century, american innovation has led to new technologies that have improved people's lives. from the light bulb and the home refrigerator to air-conditioning, the washing machine and the dishwasher. these inventions are ingrained in mod herb life. and they were not the result of some aggressive government regulation or mandate. but of american ingenuity. sadly, the biden administration's war on american energy is now reaching inside americans' homes. through sue and settle agreements with radical environmental activist, the department of energy has reached backroom deals with impose new regulations on dozens of appliances that americans rely on every single day. last year, the biden administration attempted to ban gas stoves. thankfully, d.o.e. changed course after bipartisan

opposition and an overwhelming vote by congress to reverse the ban. these new mandates are forcing people to spend more on less reliable options. this comes at a time when americans are already being crushed by rigs costs thanks to bidenflation. continuing to double down on policies like this, the biden administration is showing just how out of touch they are with the financial struggle the vast majority of americans are feeling. americans simply cannot afford president biden's rush to green agenda. the bill led by mrs. lesko seeks to protect americans from federal mandates that result in minimal energy savings while significantly driving up costs for consumers. it ensure this is a d.o.e. -- mrs. lesko: i yield 30 more seconds. the chair: the gentlewoman is recognized. mrs. rodgers: it ensures d.o.e.

is only allowed to adopt efficiency regulation on home appliances that are cost effective, technologically feasible and save a significant amount of energy. this will benefit americans across the country. it should be a bipartisan issue. that's why i urge colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join in sending a strong message to the biden administration and i want to thank ms. lesko for her hard work on the bill. i yield back. the chair: does the gentlewoman reserve? mrs. lesko: i reserve. the chair: the gentleman is recognized. mr. pallone: i yield three minutes now to the gentlewoman from michigan, who is the chair of the democratic policy and communications committee, mrs. dingell. the chair: the gentlewoman is recognized. . mrs. dingell: i rise in strong opposition to this partisan appliance bills. time and time again in this congress,

mrs. dingell: i rise in strong opposition to this part in this congress. they are bringing energy bills to the floor to rile people up and get their base upset while continuing to put off the work the american people sent us here to do, work together to really solve some of america's problems. h.r. 6192 isn't the first anti-efficiency bill we've seen on the house floor. my republican colleagues are obstructing the work we've been sent here to do. we've got a lot of serious problems, like reducing the cost of prescription drugs, helping everybody have access to health care. the hands off our home appliances act, along with the other anti-efficiency bills out there, like very serious bills, liberty in laundry, refrigerator freedom, clothes drier liberty are just bills with names that

get your attention but all they do is delay and weaken popular energy efficiency program, courting favors with the polluters. they unfortunately show people that -- i have colleagues that don't want to save american consumers' money on their energy bills. the party keeps peddling these blatant lives that the biden administration is going after america's household appliance. they are not. when did they take or our gas stoves last year? it's a lot of drama out there not based on truth. i have a brand-new gas stove that is a year old and have less time to use it because that's how often we have to cook. but i bought it in the whole debate. secretary granholm said she owns

a gas stove and nobody is taking it away from her. the fear mongering is nothing more than political -- i don't know what word i want to use because i love my friends, but it's designed to scare consumers and not based in fact. the american people sent us here to work together in a bipartisan manner to find commonsense solutions. instead of working together to extend funding for the connectivity program that expires this month that helps millions of americans have access and afford broadband. we saw what happened during covid when so many people didn't have access to the internet. but instead of doing something to help everyday working americans, we're focused on partisan messaging bills. instead of working on the real issues facing the american people, we're choosing yet again wasting our time debating appliances. we need to stop playing games

and i urge my colleagues to oppose this legislation. i yield back. the chair: does the gentleman reserve? mr. pallone: yes, we do. the chair: the gentlelady is recognized. ms. less co-: i yield ms. leger fernandezo: i ms. lesko: i yield to mr. allen. mr. allen: i'm a proud co-sponsor of the hands off our home appliances act. the biden administration has caused a energy crisis that's crept its way into the home of the american families. the biden administration war on energy has led to higher prices at the pump but now america's home appliances are on the chopping block. yes, they're home appliances. under the guise of energy efficiency, they've issued

burdensome policies on these appliances and we don't know if they work. i don't know why the federal government would fill the scales on what america could or could not buy. that should be a free market decision. common sense tells us demand should be consumer and market driven, not government manufactured. but nonetheless, in this administration's pursuit to the radical green new deal agenda, common sense has taken a back seat. h.r. 6192 will preserve the affordability, availability, and quality of household appliances and protect americans from federal standards that increase costs, fail to result in significant energy savings and are not practical. when i came to congress, never in my wildest imagination would i have thought i would stand here on the house floor to defend my constituents'

appliances and gas stoves but this is where we are under this administration. and with that, i'll yield back. the chair: does the gentlewoman reserve? mrs.: lesko: i reserve. mr. pallone: i yield one minute to mr. jeffries of new york. the chair: the gentleman is recognized. mr. jeffries: i thank the gentleman for yielding and for his tremendous leadership. the house of representatives is the institution the framers designed to be the closest to the american people, the first institution mentioned in the united states constitution. the people's house.

the place where president abraham lincoln declared that america is the last best hope of earth. the place where f.d.r. made clear the importance of defending democracy against the tyranny of nazi facism. it's the place where president lyndon baines johnson talked about the importance of the voting rights act and made it clear to america that we shall overcome. the house of representatives is a special place. and so earlier today, i was told, you need to get to the house floor to deal with the signature piece of legislation from the extreme maga republicans in this 118th congress. and so i wondered to myself, is it going to be about inflation,

lower costs, housing affordability, public safety, dealing with the challenges at the border, social security, medicare, what is it going to be about? and it turns out the significant piece of legislation for the extreme maga republicans this week, this month, this year is hands off our home appliances act? this is what we are dealing with. on this magical house floor? with all the challenges the american people are confronting? liberty for laundry? defending the dignity of dishwashers? fighting for freedom of refrigerators? this is what we're doing?

can't make it up. you can't make it's up. as house democrats, we are going to defend democracy. the extreme maga republicans working on defending the dignity of dishwashers. house democrats, we are going to protect and strengthen social security. extreme maga republicans are apparently interested in protecting gas stoves against phony accusations of oppression. house democrats are going to defend reproductive freedom. extreme maga republicans focused on the freedom for refrigerators. we believe in a woman's freedom to make her own reproductive health care decisions, period, full stop. in women's health care and

protecting the women of america against extreme maga republican overreach. and instead of leaning into the protection of reproductive freedom instead of trying to strengthen social security and medicare, you want to criminalize abortion care. you want to impose a nationwide ban. and then waste time on the house floor as it relates to the liberty of laundry. you can't make this up. so i urge my american colleagues to partner with us. if you want to push back against overreach, push back against the pro putin extreme overreach on your side of the aisle. that doesn't want to defend democracy and freedom here and abroad. it's undermining it.

and we extend the hand of partnership as we've repeatedly done to solve real problems for the american people. but those problems have nothing to do with the dignity of dishwashers, the freedom of refrigerators, or the liberty of laundry. let's get back to doing the real business of the american people. vote no against this legislation. the chair: does the gentleman reserve? mr. pallone: yes. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman is recognized. mrs. lesko: i'll yield 1 1/2 minutes to mr. joyce of pennsylvania. the chair: the gentleman is recognized. mr. joyce: i thank the gentlelady for her yielding and her leadership on this. for the last three years the biden administration fought to enact a far left energy agenda that stifles innovation, raises prices, and halts economic

growth. burdensome regulations that fail to decrease energy usage and cost consumers more to buy appliances should not be enacted this legislation would put a stop to the department of energy's continued crackdown on american made appliances and implement minimal thresholds for energy or water savings that would need to be met before any new regulations could be created. the biden administration's war on energy is reaching into the american home, and it is closing the door to your refrigerator, it is draining your dishwasher, and ultimately, it would cost the american families more money. further, this bill would ensure that the secretary of energy cannot unilaterally ban products because of the type of fuel that they use. in order to lower prices and to protect our energy independence,

it is vital we continue to utilize the energy resources like natural gas that is underneath the feet of my constituents in pennsylvania. i urge all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in supporting this legislation. and i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: does the gentlewoman reserve? mrs. lesko: i reserve. the chair: the gentleman is recognized. mr. pallone: i yield three minutes now to the the gentlewoman from texas, mrs. fletcher, a member of the energy and commerce committee. the chair: the gentlewoman is recognized. mrs. fletcher: i rise to say with everything that's going on in our country today, i'm disappointed the precious time we have on this house floor to move legislation is dedicated to

unhelpful and unasked for bills about home appliances. rights for refrigerators, rights for laundry and designate for dishwashers. how about instead we turn our attention to the liberty and rights and dignity of america. in our home state of america and across the country, women's rights to make their own decisions about their bodies, their families and their futures are being stripped away by state legislatures and local governments. why is it this majority does nothing for them? for example, as states ban abortion and limit access to reproductive health care, more and more americans have been forced to travel. sometimes long distances, oftentimes to other states to get the reproductive health care that they need.

in response to the exercise of this constitutional right to travel, one of the chief privileges and immunities for citizens in the constitution, lawmakers are trying to take this right away, too. multiple cities in texas have enacted ordinances to prohibit anyone from traveling on their roads or through their tune -- towns if the purpose is to go somewhere tolles get an abortion. in alabama the attorney general wants to prosecute groups that help women obtain abortions out of state. and just last week, a man in texas took legal action to investigate his former partner who had traveled to a state where abortion is legal. these things are happening in the united states today as we sit here today. . . this unconstitutional

interference with our freedom, our liberty, our dignity is what this body should be considering. that's what this body should be concerned about. nor reason, at the appropriate time, i will offer a motion to recommit this bill back to committee. if house rules permitted, i would have offered the motion with an important amendment to this bill. my amendment would replace the current bill text and replace it with the text of my bill, h.r. 782, the ensuring women's rights to reproductive freedom act. this amendment reaffirms the fundamental, constitutional right to travel across state lines for the purpose of obtaining reproductive health care as well as for health care providers providing care to out of state residents and those assisting people traveling for this purpose. at the end of the debate, i will insert into the record the text of this amendment. i hope my colleagues will join me in voting for the motion to recommit and i yield back.

the chair: the gentleman reserves. the gentlewoman is recognized. mrs. lesko: thank you, mr. chairman. i'd like to go over some things my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have accused of this bill of mine. first, mr. pallone, who i respect, said this bill will raise energy bills. absolutely not. in fact, if you read the bill, it says, it couldn't be clearer, because the text states, the secretary cannot issue a new standard if the energy efficiency standard results in additional cost to consumers. very clear. in fact, the whole goal of this bill is to save consumers money and also make sure that their appliances actually work.

my fellow colleague, representative castor, she said, we need to side with the people. that's exactly what my bill does. and you -- i'll tell you why. let me give you some examples of what are current department of energy -- what our current department of energy is doing and why this isn't a waste of time to be talking about because this is for the people. this is for every household in america, who has to pay more money because of these crazy department of energy regulations. let me give you some examples. for clothes washers. the department of energy estimates that its standard could save as little as $9 for certain modelers of the average lifetime for the appliance which is estimated to be 13.4 years. $9. over a 13.4 years.

wow. for dish washers, the department of energy under biden own analysis finds that efficiency mandates could increase the upfront cost by 28% and it could take consumers 12 years to pay back the increased cost on a product that may only last seven to 12 years. my bill is for the people. here's another d.o.e. rule under the biden administration. for refrigerators and freezers, department of energy's own analysis finds that efficiency mandates could increase the upfront cost to replace that refrigerator or freezer by 25%. and it could take consumers 10 years to pay back the increased cost for a product that may only

last 14 to 15 years. here's another example. for air conditioners. department of energy's own analysis finds that efficiency mandates could increase the upfront cost by 30% and it could take consumers four years to pay back the increased costs for a product that may only last nine years. here's another one. for clothes dryers. biden's department of energy's own analysis, i'm talking about their analysis, not mine, shows that it would take between six years and 46 years to pay back the increased cost depending on the type of drier and the product features. the payback periods for many of these appliances are uneconomical. for example, the payback period

for department of energy under biden's proposed clothes dryer standards are six greers electric, 18 years for electric compact, 20 years for vented electric compact, five years for vented gas, 11 years for ventless electric compact and 46 years for ventless electric combination washer-dryer. so with all due respect to my democratic colleagues, who say this is a waste of time, we're wasting time, we should be talking about all of their priorities, no. republicans are here. we are standing up for the average commonsense everyday american, who can't afford groceries anymore, let alone these crazy, radical standards that the biden administration is

pushing through that will increase if their costs. that's why i'm doing this bill. we want appliances that not only work, but we don't want to bankrupt the american people with all these crazy, radical, biden green -- rush to green energy policies. mr. chairman, i reserve my time. the chair: the gentlewoman reserves. the gentleman is recognized. mr. pallone: thank you, mr. speaker. i yield two minutes to the gentlewoman from virginia, ms. mcleod. the chair: the gentlewoman is recognized. ms. mcclellan: i rise in opposition to the republican's hands off our appliances act, that will strip away efficiency standards that would save our

constituents hundreds of dollars every year on their utility bills and save $1 trillion and cut greenhouse gas pollution by over $2.5 billion metric tons over the next 30 years. but house republicans wan to put polluters over people by stoking fear that someone is coming after their household appliances. news flasch. no one system cog after anyone's house -- no one is coming after anyone's household appliances. and we should be focused on the issues the more than people want us to focus on. none of my constituents nor a majority of the american people are clamoring for congress to protect their household appliances. you know what they are clamoring for? they're clamoring for congress to do something about the fact that they have lost reproductive freedom and the ability of -- to make health care decisions without interference from politicians, since the supreme court gutted roe v. wade and now over 40% of women of

reproductive age live in a state with an abortion ban or extreme restrictions. they want us to do something about the fact that barriers to their exercise of the right to vote have been put in place since the supreme court gutted the voting rights act. they want us to do something about the fact that the impact of climate change sea level rise, major storms increase, pollution -- is having an impact on their health, businesses, communities and even military readiness as we heard from the secretary of the navy last week. democrats are fighting to put people over politics and address these issues that actually matter to the american people. i urge my republican colleagues to do the same vote no on this bill and let's get back to work. the chair: does the gentleman reserve? the gentleman reserves. the gentlewoman is recognized. mrs. lesko: thank you, mr. chairman. my colleagues keep saying, do

something that the people really care about. this is something that the american people really care about. let me tell -- let me show you a "wall street journal" article from today. it's from today. it's titled biden is coming for your air conditioner. and it says, your next new home air conditioner could set you back $12,000 or more with federal regulators contributing to the rising costs of staying cool. i'm from arizona. we need air conditioners. people are just trying to get by right now because of the inflation under biden. biden's economics, bidenomics, as he calls it is costing people money. the energy department in january, 2023, issued a new efficiency standard for residential air-conditioning systems. it necessitates a major redesign

that increased costs by $1,000 to12k4r-rs ,500 per air conditioner. it isn't clear that consumers will ever earn back in long-term energy save thetion steeper upfront costs they are paying. next up is an environmental protection agency regulation scheduled to take effect in 2025. it will require air-conditioning equipment makers to use new refrigerants, deemed sufficiently climate friendly. the only refrigerants being used by manufacturers that meet the e.p.a.'s new green standards are classified as mildly flammable. manufacturers in earnings conference calls have estimated that the price of compliant equipment will increase the price of the air conditioner at least 10%.

the switch to flammable systems will also require additional technician training and extra installation steps that are likely to increase labor costs for installations and repairs. i wish that i didn't have to sponsor this bill. i mean, in -- if you asked me a number of years ago would i sponsor this, i would have thought it wasn't necessary. but under the biden administration, they've just gone crazy. they have this radical, i don't know if radical environmentalists are bending the ear of president biden or what is going on. because as i have demonstrated, this isn't helping americans. this is a radical agenda that is increasing the prices on everyday americans and we can't afford it. and that's why this bill is

necessary. and with that, i reserve. the chair: the gentlewoman reserves. the gentleman is recognized. mr. pallone: thank you, mr. chairman. i yield myself such time as i may consume. the chair: the gentleman is recognized. mr. pallone: mr. chairman, republicans have spent the last year and a half attacking all the biden administration's efforts to lower energy costs for american consumers. rebates for energy efficient appliances to lower energy bills, republicans are furious. incentives to spur investment in clean energy to drive down bills. republicans attack that. efforts to use the strategic petroleum reserve to lower gas prices for americans, republicans were incensed. so forgive me, mr. chairman, but i just find it all too much, especially because not a single colleague of mine on the other side of the aisle has made as much as a peep since the federal trade commission last week revealed that the c.e.o. of the

largest american independent producer of crude oil was colluding with opec to keep oil prices high. that's to the real scandal, mr. chairman. the c.e.o. of an american company working together with representatives of the saudi government to raise prices for americans. even worse, he tried to persuade his competitors to do the same and drive the price of crude oil up to $200 per barrel in a display of naked greed. so any republican colleagues were serious about wanting to lower energy costs for americans, they'd hold hearings. they're in charge. they're in the majority. they should hold hearings and put legislation on the floor to deal with this scandal instead of standing here debating the freedom of appliances. so mr. chairman, republicans claim they want to lower energy costs but their actions speak louder than their words. they're beyond furious if you

try to use technology to lower the energy consumption of household appliances, and save americans money. but a big oil c.e.o. colluding with opec nations to pick american pockets? you'd be hard-pressed to get republicans to care about that. i reserve the balance of my time. the chair: the gentleman reserves. the gentlewoman is recognized. ms. lesko: thank you, mr. chairman. i'm prepared to close and i reserve. the chair: the gentlewoman reserves. the gentleman is recognized. mr. pallone: thank you, again. i reserve -- i mean i -- i seek time. as much time as i may consume to close, mr. chairman. the chair: the gentleman is recognized. .. mr. pallone: the republicans claim they care about energy costs. they keep saying over and over again we care about costs but

their actions and votes show that's just not true. the biden administration's efficiency standards are estimated to save consumers $1 trillion over 30 years. that's $1 trillion. water heater standards will save american people households $7.6 billion. refrigerator standards will save americans $36 billion. and clothes washer and dryer standards will save americans a combined $39 billion. but the bottom line is republicans don't want americans to realize those savings and want americans to be stuck with old energy-guzzling appliances that cost money every time you turn them on. i think it's ridiculous and so should everyone else in this chamber. republicans are concerns about the upfront cost of these appliances. two years ago when the inflation reduction act which contained $9 billion in rebates and energy efficient appliances, well, the

republicans all voted no, every one of them. so let's review. the republicans don't want to make positive economic investments because they're concerned about the upfront costs, but then they also refuse to take action to lower those upfront costs. and if you brought this mentality to the private sector, you'd probably be fired in a heartbeat. but that's the orthodoxy in today's republican party. lowering energy costs for consumers via efficiency gains used to be a bipartisan issue. these efficiency standards and the process for achieving them have been around for 50 years, and every so often, we have the department of energy under both democrats and republicans coming forward with efficiency standards. and we made real progress on this in 1992 and again in 2005 but somewhere along the way the republicans decided to become the creators of american energy costs instead of fighting for

the homeowners. vote against this bill. this bill is going to raise energy costs and stifle innovation. this bill is going to do nothing, obviously, to address the climate crisis. and it's just going nowhere but wasting our time when we could be doing more things that are more important and addressing affordability for the american people. i ask my colleagues to vote no and yield back. the chair: the gentleman yields. the gentlewoman is recognized. mrs. lesko: sometimes i feel like it's deja vu. i remember standing here and talking about our save our gas stoves bill and my democratic colleagues, not all of them, because some of them voted with me on my bill, said the same arguments, the same arguments, this is a waste of time, we're not banning stoves. the americans don't care about this. well, guess what? that bill passed the u.s. house

of representatives with bipartisan support and then, guess what? it worked. because the department of energy dialed it back. originally, according to their own analysis, they were going to effectively ban 96% of all the current models of gas stoves. now it's only 3%. we won. the american people won. that's why i'm doing this bill. and when my friend, mr. pallone, says well, these energy efficiency standards will save all kinds of money, what he's not saying is all of the money that is going to cost extra upfront for these new revised standard -- and that's even if the thing even works well.

so let me remind my colleagues what this bill actually does and why it's needed. it's a commonsense bill. it will protect affordability by requiring the department of energy to consider the full life cycle cost of appliances when determining if the new standard is economically justified. the bill requires a three-year payback. the secretary of energy said oh, it should only be one year so there shouldn't be any problems with my bill. the bill establishes minimum thresholds for energy or water savings that must be achieved before imposing new standards. my democratic colleagues say they want to save energy and water. so do i. so let's put it in the bill. let's say ok, it has to save 10%. the bill prohibits the secretary of energy from banning products based on what type of fuel the

product uses. just like they were trying to do with the gas stoves. the bill requires that any new standard cannot affect the duty cycle, charging time, and run time of the covered product or the lifespan of the product. you know why? because americans want their new appliances when they buy them, they want them to work as good as the ones that they have now. the bill will allow the department of energy to amend revoked prior standards if they don't save consumers money and they don't work. this is a commonsense bill. this should be a bipartisan bill. i don't know why my democratic colleagues are fighting it so hard. because it says it has to save the consumers money. it's all about helping the american homeowner who is struggling with bidenomics right now. i'm telling you, people in my

district complain about the price of groceries, they're complaining about the price of gas. when their water heater or dishwasher or air conditioner starts to fail and they have to buy a new one, they don't want to pay a bunch more and want it to work as well as their current one has done for years. that's the purpose of my bill. that's why i ask my democratic colleagues and my republican