[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 39 (Thursday, February 27, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H884-H889]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF THE RULE SUBMITTED BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY RELATING TO ``ENERGY CONSERVATION PROGRAM: ENERGY
CONSERVATION STANDARDS FOR CONSUMER GAS-FIRED INSTANTANEOUS WATER
HEATERS''
Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 161, I call up
the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 20) providing for congressional
disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule
submitted by the Department of Energy relating to ``Energy Conservation
Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Gas-fired
Instantaneous Water Heaters'', and ask for its immediate consideration
in the House.
The Clerk read the title of the joint resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 161, the joint
resolution is considered read.
The text of the joint resolution is as follows:
H.J. Res. 20
Resolved by the Senate and House
of<3-line {>presentatives of the United States of America in
Congress assembled, That Congress disapproves the rule
submitted by the Department of Energy relating to ``Energy
Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for
Consumer Gas-fired Instantaneous Water Heaters'' (89 Fed.
Reg. 105188 (December 26, 2024)), and such rule shall have no
force or effect.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The joint resolution shall be debatable for
1 hour, equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking
minority member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce or their
respective designees.
The gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Latta) and the gentleman from New Jersey
(Mr. Pallone) each will control 30 minutes.
[[Page H885]]
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Latta).
{time} 0915
General Leave
Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on the
legislation and to insert extraneous material on H.J. Res. 20.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Ohio?
There was no objection.
Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, on December 26, while American families were enjoying
the holidays, the Biden administration's Department of Energy issued a
final rule once again, setting cost prohibitive energy conservation
standards for gas-fired instantaneous water heaters.
Today, the House will consider the gentleman from Alabama's Sixth
District's legislation, H.J. Res. 20, to overturn this egregious
standard.
Under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, EPCA, in order to
promulgate new or amended energy efficiency standards, the DOE must
find that the standard be cost-effective, technologically feasible, and
result in a significant conservation of energy. This amended standard
does not meet those criteria and should be repealed.
In this final rule, the DOE fails to adequately estimate the cost
difference between condensing and noncondensing water heaters. This
difference will result in a significant cost increase for consumers,
especially low-income households and seniors, by removing more
affordable options from the market.
In fact, the DOE itself estimated that the amended standard would
increase the cost of new water heater models by $231. However, the DOE
failed to adequately estimate the cost difference between condensing
and noncondensing models in this assessment.
On top of expensive installation costs, industry stakeholders
estimate the actual cost increase for American consumers will range
between $450 to $665 per unit. This staggering increase is not cost-
effective, as stipulated by EPCA, and is unattainable for many
families.
The Biden-Harris administration consistently ignored this stipulation
in a number of rulemakings, and the gas heater rule is no different.
This amended standard will ban approximately 40 percent of the
tankless gas water heaters currently available, forcing consumers to
purchase significantly more expensive or less efficient models.
Not only do bans on gas appliances infringe on consumer choice, but
it also increases strains on our Nation's grid, which cannot sustain
such massive and rapid amounts of forced electrification without new,
baseload generation coming online.
President Trump, understanding the serious concerns unjustified
energy efficiency standards pose for consumers, issued an executive
order on day one to unleash American energy. This EO stated that it is
the policy of the United States to safeguard the American people's
freedom to choose from a variety of goods and appliances.
Additionally, this administration has paused implementation of this
final rule and issued a Statement of Administration Policy supporting
H.J. Res. 20. Congress should pass H.J. Res. 20 to right the wrongs of
the previous administration, execute President Trump's agenda, and
protect our consumers.
I thank the gentleman from Alabama's Sixth District for his
leadership.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.J. Res. 20, the second
Republican resolution in just 2 days that will raise energy prices on
Americans. This harmful resolution guts a Department of Energy
efficiency rule on gas instantaneous, or tankless, water heaters.
Energy efficiency standards, like the one Republicans are going after
today, are a popular, commonsense tool to save Americans money on their
energy bills. President Trump ran on a promise to cut energy costs in
half his first year, but now Republicans and their billionaire friends
are only making themselves richer while sending Americans' utility
bills through the roof.
Unfortunately, I guess it should not come as a surprise considering
that earlier this week Republicans moved forward with a budget that
includes devastating cuts to Medicaid and food assistance for our kids,
our seniors, and our veterans, all so Republicans can give tax breaks
to their millionaire buddies.
Let me start off by dispelling a few myths about the water heater
standards targeted by this resolution.
First, these standards do not ban water heaters. Regardless of what
the rightwing media and fossil fuel groups say, DOE cannot ban
appliances based on their fuel type.
Second, these standards do not remove consumer choice. American
families can still walk into a store, pick out a gas tankless water
heater, and have it installed in their homes. In fact, these standards
preserve consumer choice. They ensure that all products on the market
meet a certain level of energy efficiency so consumers can shop with
confidence.
The standards impact less than 10 percent of the gas water heater
market, and right now, 60 percent of all models on the market already
meet these standards. This isn't an effort to pull products from
shelves. Instead, it is an effort to raise the quality of the products
on the shelves. That is what we are trying to do with the standards.
Third, and most importantly, these standards do not increase costs
for consumers. They reduce total costs over the life of a water heater
and save $3.31 billion for consumers over 30 years. They are also
projected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 32 million metric tons
over 30 years.
To summarize, these standards allow gas tankless water heaters to
stay on the market, they preserve consumer choice, they lower costs for
Americans, and they reduce emissions. So it is no wonder that these
efficiency standards are supported by consumer advocates and American
manufacturers--I stress American manufacturers--who want to preserve
the standards.
The Republican resolution before us today completely nullifies these
energy efficiency standards. It steals, essentially, $3.1 billion in
savings from Americans. Because it is a Congressional Review Act
resolution, it goes one step further and prevents DOE from issuing
substantially similar standards in the future.
Now, why are Republicans pursuing something that is bad for
consumers?
It is because it is good for the gas industry. The American Gas
Association and foreign manufacturers are on the side of this
Republican resolution that will terminate the standards.
Why?
It is because inefficient appliances mean that gas companies sell
more gas.
Now, Mr. Speaker, if you look at where the manufacturers stand on
this, three out of four major water heater manufacturers are in favor
of the standards and are opposed to this resolution. All three of the
manufacturers that support the efficiency standards are American
manufacturers, and they have factories in many Republican districts
across the country.
Foreign manufacturers, however, are lobbying against these standards
because they don't want to spend a comparatively small amount of money
to retool their factories to produce more efficient water heaters.
I understand that companies are reluctant to spend money, but what I
don't understand is why Republicans are willing to rob Americans of
$3.1 billion in savings, all to help multibillion dollar foreign
companies save a few million dollars.
Republicans have made their choice. They have basically sided--and I
guess that is not surprising--with their oil and gas friends, and they
have sided also in this case with foreign manufacturers.
So, Mr. Speaker, for the sake of American families, American
manufacturers, and our climate, I urge my colleagues to oppose this
resolution, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas
(Mr. Weber), who is the vice-chair of the Committee on Energy and
Commerce's Energy Subcommittee.
Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is interesting to hear made-up
stories
[[Page H886]]
on the other side of the aisle, the once upon a time stories, if you
will.
Nonetheless, in the eleventh hour, Joe Biden, or more accurately, his
handlers, pushed through yet another overreaching regulation that
forces the Federal Government into Americans' homes, dictating what
appliances Americans can use or cannot use.
News flash: This is America. The government has absolutely no
business making these decisions for hardworking families. Consumers,
not Washington bureaucrats, should decide what works best for their
homes and for their families.
Yet, thanks to Biden's mandate on his way out the door, I might add,
American families are now looking at a whopping $235 million in
additional costs every single year. That is real money coming out of
real pockets of real Americans, all to appease the radical Green New
Deal agenda.
Today that ends. House Republicans are taking action to stop this
Federal overreach. H.J. Res. 20, introduced by my colleague, Gary
Palmer, sends a clear message: We reject the Biden administration's
radical energy mandates.
This resolution expresses congressional disapproval of the Department
of Energy's rule that effectively bans certain natural gas water
heaters which burdens families with higher costs while stripping them
of consumer choice.
House Republicans will continue fighting to protect American families
from Washington's overregulation and ensure that those same hardworking
Americans, not government bureaucrats, decide what appliances belong in
their homes.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.J. Res. 20 and stand
for consumer choice, affordability, and freedom.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Castor) who is the ranking member of our
subcommittee.
Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for
yielding the time.
Mr. Speaker, here we are at the end of February, 2 months into the
new congressional session, and House Republicans haven't offered one
bill to lower the cost of living for our neighbors back home. Instead,
they bring this silly bill to the floor, a bill to force to working
families to spend more money, to use more energy, and to sell out
American manufacturers.
Meanwhile, Republicans in Congress have stood idly by while there has
been an illegal shutdown of grants and loans to our local communities
and nonprofits that help people save money and help families.
Plus, House Republicans didn't raise any concern when the new
President illegally fired Inspectors General and prosecutors who are
charged with rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse, and that includes in
the Department of Energy.
It gets worse because Republicans now are barreling toward a massive
tax giveaway to billionaires paid for on the backs of American
families, children, our neighbors with disabilities, our older
neighbors, and grandparents in nursing homes.
This is not business as usual. I know Republicans bring a bill here
and they say: Okay. This is just like what we have always done.
This is not business as usual.
Where is the House Republicans' outrage that everything they have
worked on congressionally mandated through appropriations is just
illegally frozen?
It is not business as usual.
This resolution is the latest of a whole lot of nonsense. It is hard
to explain, except when we realize that oil and gas companies often
have their way here in Washington, D.C.
We wasted hours and hours over the past couple of years trying to
demonize energy efficient appliances. These kinds of appliances are
popular. There has been a law in place for decades that says that every
few years we update these appliance standards. Manufacturers work on
it, advocates work on it, and they come together and update it.
This actual residential water heater standard hasn't been updated
since 2010. Here we are in 2025, and the standard we are discussing
today effects less than 10 percent of all water heater sales and most,
over 100, of these models already meet this standard.
Meanwhile, Mr. Speaker, if you want to talk about cost savings, it
was Democrats who put in place tax credits and rebates to help everyday
Americans lower the cost of their energy bill on appliances.
This is one of the reasons why we are so angry.
Part of the illegal freeze on government initiatives also impacts the
money that should be going into the pockets of our neighbors back home.
This includes the home energy rebates. Those are the rebates that help
consumers save money on select home improvement projects that can lower
energy bills by providing up to $14,000 a year for homeowners as they
update their homes.
Mr. Speaker, you had better believe this is important to my neighbors
in Florida recovering from hurricanes Helene and Milton. They would
love to be able to get these funds to help them repair their homes.
Right now, frozen in Florida is $346 million that could be helping
everyday Floridians recover from the storms as they repair their homes.
That is not the only one. Weatherization assistance, very smart, has
often been bipartisan in the past. Elon Musk and this new
administration have frozen it. They have frozen billions of dollars
that go to working-class households to improve the energy efficiency of
their homes. In Florida alone, $94 million that should be flowing to my
neighbors to help them weatherize their homes and save money is frozen.
So what Republicans are doing by freezing this and by trying to roll
back energy appliance standards is contributing to the rising cost of
energy for families and businesses. It is a dereliction of duty. They
are turning a blind eye to the peoples' pocketbook. Democrats are going
to fight for the peoples' pocketbook.
Meanwhile, an unelected billionaire who has made his vast fortune on
government contracts should not be able to unilaterally stop and take
money out of the pockets of American families, of the Americans who
need it most.
Here is the warning, because this major tax giveaway that House
Republicans are hammering out says to our committee: Find $880 billion.
Republicans say: Oh, okay. Maybe there is enough waste, fraud, and
abuse--even though they have taken the Inspectors General off the
playing field to root out waste, fraud, and abuse. There is no way that
you can say improper payments total up to $880 billion.
{time} 0930
Republicans shouldn't gaslight us and Americans if the majority is
concerned about a major tax giveaway so that billionaires can have more
money and Americans are going to have less healthcare for their
grandparents and their children. It is not right, and we are not going
to stand for it.
Mr. Speaker, who really benefits here on these tankless gas water
heaters? Let me pull the curtain back. As they build homes, big
corporate housing developers often install a slightly cheaper, less-
efficient model, and they pass on the costs of higher energy bills to
that new homeowner for the next 20 years.
Foreign manufacturers are going to benefit here. The American
manufacturers who have participated in these energy efficiency
standards aren't going to benefit. It is the foreign manufacturers who
will get to sell their inferior, less-efficient appliances and take
away sales from U.S. manufacturers.
It is the American Gas Association who will get to sell more
polluting fossil gas to power inefficient appliances and pass the costs
on to working families.
Once my colleagues take a closer look, Members will see this
resolution really doesn't hold water. It does nothing to lower costs
for working families. It does nothing to support American companies. It
does nothing to address the real challenges facing our families back
home.
It is a warning. It is a warning shot across the bow that this is not
business as usual. It is a hold-on-to-your-wallet moment because the
unelected billionaires who are calling the shots, who are reaching into
citizens' wallets, and who are going to take away our healthcare want
to rule the day.
[[Page H887]]
House Democrats are not going to stand for it. We are going to
continue to hold Republicans accountable. We are going to hold this
administration accountable. We are going to fight for our constituents'
wallets and pocketbooks, and we are going to make sure that Republicans
are not going to be able to say that this kind of ridiculous stuff is
business as usual here in the House of Representatives.
It is not. We believe in checks and balances. We believe in the
hardworking Americans. We do not countenance unfairness and trying to
steal from our kids, loading them up with massive debt and saying that
their health doesn't matter in this country. It does.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this
resolution. It is not business as usual, and people need to know it.
Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from the
Sixth District of Alabama (Mr. Palmer), the sponsor of the resolution.
Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, it is amazing to me to listen to my
Democratic colleagues talk about the cost of living going up.
Mr. Speaker, during the first week of the Biden administration, my
colleagues on the other side of the aisle shut down the Keystone XL
Pipeline. My Democratic colleagues implemented energy policies that
have immediately caused energy prices to go up, causing massive
suffering and massive inflation. The inflation hit 9 percent.
It is amazing to me that the minority came in here and made these
statements, and the American people figured it out. That is why my
Democratic colleagues are in the minority. The American people were
tired of being told what to do, what they could buy, what they could
wear, and what they could use. Here we are, and my colleagues are
hearing the same cold rhetoric that leads to cold homes and cold water.
I introduced this resolution because we are determined to restore a
quality of life in this country that we enjoyed before the Democratic
Party took over the White House and the House and the Senate.
We believe that we can help the American people be able to afford
their groceries, afford an automobile, and afford education. That is
why we are doing what we are doing.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.J. Res. 20. The Congressional
Review Act is in response to the Biden-Harris administration's last-
minute, overreaching attempt to ban natural gas water heaters.
If this rule is not stopped, a substantial number of Americans would
be forced to purchase more expensive and less-efficient models of water
heaters. In fact, 40 percent of consumers who will be directly impacted
by this rule would face a significant cost increase. It will be
particularly hard on senior citizens and low-income families.
Additionally, this rule mandate of fuel switching would set a
dangerous precedent for natural gas appliances. We know my colleagues
on the other side of the aisle have already tried to ban natural gas
stovetops.
This would allow future Democratic administrations to restart their
party's regulatory attack on our home appliances. I know that when the
government steps in to pick winners and losers there are manufacturers
of competing products that would profit.
It is amazing to me that my Democratic colleagues claim that a United
States-based company based in Georgia is foreign manufacturing. What do
Democratic Members say about Toyota, Honda, Mercedes, Kia, and the
other foreign-owned companies that are based in this country, creating
American jobs and providing incomes for American families?
We should let consumers decide what products succeed in the
marketplace, not a bureaucrat implementing a regulation pushed out in
the final hours of the Biden-Harris Presidency.
Earlier this week, the Trump administration issued a statement of
administration policy agreeing that this egregious rule implemented by
the previous administration must be repealed. While making a speech
last week, the Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright, even mentioned how
absurd this rule is.
Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, H.J. Res. 20 is essential for
prioritizing consumer choice, protecting natural gas appliances,
keeping prices affordable, and undoing the damage inflicted on the
American people by the Biden-Harris administration for the past 4
years.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I listened to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Palmer),
who I greatly respect. When he talks about prices, since President
Trump was inaugurated, prices have gone through the roof. Grocery
prices, egg prices, meat prices, fish prices, and poultry prices are
all up even more than ever. Electricity costs are way up, along with
housing prices.
Mr. Speaker, the gentleman mentions American jobs. As I mentioned
earlier, I think it needs to be reiterated that American manufacturers
support these water heater standards. Three out of four major water
heater manufacturers are against today's resolution, and all three are
American companies.
The manufacturers that are in favor of this resolution and against
the standards are foreign manufacturers.
If this resolution is successful, Republicans are giving foreign
manufacturers an advantage over domestic manufacturers. Foreign
manufacturers are against the standards because they don't want to
spend a bit of money on retrofits to their factories in order to switch
their production over to products that meet the standards.
Republicans have decided that it is more important to save foreign
manufacturers some money than it is to save $3.1 billion for American
families. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle have decided to
listen to the lobbying efforts of foreign companies over domestic
companies, many of whom have factories in Republican districts.
Madam Speaker, it just doesn't make any sense to me. The Trump
administration is all about America first, but the words are
meaningless when it comes down to it. Republicans aren't here to stand
up for American families and American companies. It is very much the
opposite. My colleagues are here to attack regulations and help out
their Big Oil and Gas friends.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to stand with American companies
and families and to vote against this resolution, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. LATTA. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from the
Third District of Georgia (Mr. Jack).
Mr. JACK. Madam Speaker, I commend the gentleman from Alabama (Mr.
Palmer) for his leadership on this resolution, and I rise today in
strong support of H.J. Res. 20.
Madam Speaker, H.J. Res. 20 is a resolution authorized by the
Congressional Review Act that will enable our Congress to repeal a job-
killing regulation that would ban and eliminate noncondensing tankless
water heaters, an American product made by blue-collar American workers
in the heart of my congressional district in Georgia.
This regulation was imposed on December 26, 2024, in the midnight
hour of the Biden administration and the day after Christmas, putting
in peril the livelihoods of hundreds of my constituents during the
holiday season.
Madam Speaker, I should also note that the timing of this regulation
was 7 weeks after Americans overwhelmingly rejected the Biden-Harris
regulatory regime.
To my colleagues who support the free market, this job-killing
regulation eliminates consumer choice by effectively enabling nameless
and faceless bureaucrats to choose which companies may operate and
which companies may not operate in the marketplace for household
appliances.
Ultimately, under this regulation, the American consumer would
suffer, and hundreds of hardworking Georgians in my congressional
district would be without a job. That is why I urge my colleagues to
join me in support of this critical legislation.
To put everything that we have heard today into perspective,
noncondensing tankless water heaters account for 40 percent of our
country's tankless water heater market. A majority of those water
heaters are manufactured in my congressional district, in the heart of
Georgia, by an incredible company called Rinnai America Corporation.
These appliances are the most advanced and efficient noncondensing
[[Page H888]]
tankless water heaters on the market. Perhaps most importantly, which I
would encourage the other side to research, Rinnai America is the only
company that builds noncondensing tankless water heaters on American
soil.
Rinnai America is headquartered in my hometown of Peachtree City,
Georgia, and it opened a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility 3
years ago in Griffin, Georgia, two cities I proudly represent in this
Congress.
Over 500 of my constituents are working to manufacture and market
these water heaters the Biden administration attempted to outlaw. The
job-killing regulation we seek to repeal today is another painful
example of the radical left's never-ending war on hydrocarbons and
American energy production.
The sinister purpose of this regulation was to try to single out and
eliminate an American manufacturer of water heaters to benefit their
competitors.
Madam Speaker, our colleagues on the other side of the aisle have
spent an enormous amount of time in the past few weeks arguing that my
Democratic colleagues are the party of blue-collar American workers. In
the spirit of bipartisanship, I encourage my Democratic colleagues to
join me in support of this resolution to protect and champion hundreds
of blue-collar American jobs in the heart of our country.
To my Republican colleagues, let's join together as a team and end
this war on American energy production now.
As the distinguished gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Palmer) noted,
President Trump's White House has explicitly endorsed this resolution.
I urge all of my Republican colleagues to join me and vote for this
critical legislation to empower consumer choice, champion American
manufacturing, and save blue-collar jobs in the heart of our country.
Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, I respect the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Jack) for
looking out for his district, but this plant that he is talking about
in his district is the Japanese company. This is the one non-American
manufacturing company.
All of the other companies that manufacture these products are
American, and they are the ones that support these energy efficiencies
because they have made the investments and created more jobs when they
retrofitted their companies for this product.
Madam Speaker, this company is a multibillion-dollar Japanese company
in Georgia. It is estimated that it would cost them about $10 million
to retrofit their plant so that they could produce more efficient
tanks, and they don't want to do it. They don't want to make that
investment, which would create more jobs.
Madam Speaker, I understand where my friend, the gentleman from
Georgia (Mr. Jack), is coming from, but we have to look at this as the
total picture.
Most of these tanks are manufactured in the United States by American
companies, and they are in a lot of the red States. They are in
Tennessee, for example. They are saying: This is fine. We want the more
efficient standards. We want to save Americans money. We are the good
actors, not the bad actors.
Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Virginia
(Ms. McClellan), a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee.
Ms. McCLELLAN. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey
(Mr. Pallone) for yielding me time.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to H.J. Res. 20,
which will undo a commonsense energy conservation standard and raise
costs for consumers, all to benefit the gas industry.
My friends on the other side of the aisle talk a lot about how we
need to lower costs, we need to lower costs, we need to lower costs.
The best way, the fastest way, and the most efficient way to lower
energy costs and to lower utility bill costs that every American pays
is to reduce energy demand.
{time} 0945
We have seen that time and time again. This standard is a way to help
lower energy demand needed for water heaters. Energy efficiency
standards are popular, and it is a commonsense tool and, again, the
fastest way to save taxpayers and American people money on their energy
bills.
This resolution targets these standards, not realizing that these
standards will save consumers $3.1 billion and are good for the
environment because they cut 32 million metric tons of carbon dioxide
emissions over 30 years.
All major manufacturers already sell models that meet these
standards, which is why they widely support the standards. Consumer
groups, efficiency advocates, and consumers widely support the
standards.
Again, the only manufacturers that oppose them are the foreign
manufacturers and industry CEOs who make more money when water heaters
are less efficient and use more gas.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to reject this resolution and
live up to the promise of lowering costs for the American people by
lowering their energy bills.
Mr. LATTA. Madam Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Madam Speaker, I will call out some of the problems that I see on the
Republican side in terms of their arguments that we have heard this
morning.
Over the last 2 years, Republicans have claimed that they care about
energy costs. On the campaign trail, they repeatedly promised to lower
costs and lower inflation, but, again, none of their actions line up
with their promises.
If you are paying attention to energy load growth in this country,
you know that, in addition to increasing generation, we have to
incorporate ways of reducing energy demand. Energy conservation
standards are one of the tools that help lower costs and help reduce
demand.
The previous administration's efficiency standards are estimated to
save consumers $1 trillion over 30 years. That is a trillion dollars.
The water heater standards alone would save $3.1 billion--that is, if
Republicans don't kill the standards right here today, which is what
they are doing.
Republicans don't want Americans to realize those savings. They want
Americans to be stuck with older, energy-guzzling appliances that cost
more money every time you turn them on. I think that is ridiculous and
so should everyone else in this Chamber.
Republicans claim they are concerned about the higher upfront costs
of these appliances, but 2\1/2\ years ago, when we voted on the
Inflation Reduction Act, which contained $9 billion in rebates and
other investments in lowering the costs of energy-efficient appliances,
Republicans all voted no.
Madam Speaker, let's review. They don't want to make positive
economic investments because they are concerned about the upfront
costs, but then they also refuse to take action to lower those costs.
If you brought that mentality to the private sector, you would be fired
in a heartbeat, but that is the orthodoxy in today's Trump-Musk
Republican Party.
Lowering energy costs for consumers via efficiency gains used to be a
bipartisan issue. We made real progress on this in 1992 and again in
2005, but somewhere along the way, Republicans decided to become the
party of higher energy costs rather than the ones fighting for the
American homeowner. That is a real shame.
For that reason, Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no''
on this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. LATTA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Madam Speaker, we have heard from various speakers today, but I think
it is really important to point out that, once again, because of the
Biden-Harris administration's gas heater rule, we are going to ban
approximately 40 percent of the tankless gas water heaters currently
available, forcing consumers to have to pay more and get less efficient
models.
This doesn't make sense. Not only does this rule go on to ban these
gas appliances and infringe on consumer choice, but it also increases
strains on the Nation's grid, which cannot sustain
[[Page H889]]
such massive and rapid amounts of forced electrification without new
baseload generation coming online.
When we talk about this loss of consumer choice, the DOE
underestimated the cost by $231 because when you look at the actual
costs out there, industry stakeholders are estimating it is going to
bring the cost up between $450 to $665 per unit.
I think it is also important to note that, in the last Congress, in
the Energy and Commerce Committee's Energy Subcommittee, I asked
everybody who came before us the same question when we had these
testimonies: Do we have to have more energy in this country or less?
Everybody said the exact same thing. We have to produce more energy in
this country, but we also have to make sure we are producing the energy
to make that energy in this country.
Republicans have led that way starting back in 2008 with our all-of-
the-above energy policy, which said we weren't going to pick winners
and losers. We were going to let the consumer decide and let the market
decide, and that is important.
If we are going to make sure we become energy independent in this
country, we have to start thinking about those things. It is important.
Madam Speaker, I urge the passage of H.J. Res. 20, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Miller of West Virginia). All time for
debate has expired.
Pursuant to House Resolution 161, the previous question is ordered on
the joint resolution.
The question is on the engrossment and third reading of the joint
resolution.
The joint resolution was ordered to be engrossed and read a third
time, and was read the third time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on passage of the joint
resolution.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that
the ayes appeared to have it.
Mr. LATTA. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 221,
nays 198, answered ``present'' 2, not voting 12, as follows:
[Roll No. 53]
YEAS--221
Aderholt
Allen
Amodei (NV)
Arrington
Babin
Bacon
Baird
Balderson
Barr
Barrett
Baumgartner
Bean (FL)
Begich
Bentz
Bergman
Bice
Biggs (AZ)
Biggs (SC)
Bilirakis
Boebert
Bost
Brecheen
Bresnahan
Buchanan
Burchett
Burlison
Bynum
Calvert
Cammack
Carey
Carter (GA)
Carter (TX)
Ciscomani
Cline
Cloud
Clyde
Cole
Collins
Comer
Crane
Crank
Crawford
Crenshaw
Cuellar
Davidson
Davis (NC)
De La Cruz
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Downing
Dunn (FL)
Edwards
Ellzey
Emmer
Estes
Evans (CO)
Ezell
Fallon
Fedorchak
Feenstra
Finstad
Fischbach
Fitzgerald
Fitzpatrick
Fleischmann
Flood
Fong
Foxx
Franklin, Scott
Fulcher
Garbarino
Gill (TX)
Gillen
Gimenez
Golden (ME)
Goldman (TX)
Gonzales, Tony
Gonzalez, V.
Gooden
Gosar
Graves
Gray
Green (TN)
Greene (GA)
Griffith
Grothman
Guest
Guthrie
Hageman
Hamadeh (AZ)
Haridopolos
Harrigan
Harris (MD)
Harris (NC)
Harshbarger
Hern (OK)
Higgins (LA)
Hill (AR)
Hinson
Houchin
Hudson
Huizenga
Hurd (CO)
Issa
Jack
Jackson (TX)
James
Johnson (LA)
Johnson (SD)
Jordan
Joyce (OH)
Joyce (PA)
Kean
Kelly (MS)
Kelly (PA)
Kennedy (UT)
Kiggans (VA)
Kiley (CA)
Kim
Knott
Kustoff
LaHood
LaLota
LaMalfa
Langworthy
Latta
Lawler
Lee (FL)
Letlow
Loudermilk
Lucas
Luna
Luttrell
Mace
Mackenzie
Malliotakis
Maloy
Mann
Massie
Mast
McCaul
McClain
McClintock
McCormick
McDowell
McGuire
Messmer
Meuser
Miller (IL)
Miller (OH)
Miller (WV)
Miller-Meeks
Mills
Moolenaar
Moore (AL)
Moore (NC)
Moore (UT)
Moore (WV)
Moran
Moskowitz
Murphy
Newhouse
Norman
Nunn (IA)
Obernolte
Ogles
Onder
Owens
Palmer
Perez
Perry
Pfluger
Reschenthaler
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rose
Rouzer
Roy
Rulli
Rutherford
Salazar
Scalise
Schmidt
Schweikert
Self
Sessions
Shreve
Simpson
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smucker
Spartz
Stauber
Steil
Steube
Strong
Stutzman
Suozzi
Taylor
Tenney
Thompson (PA)
Tiffany
Timmons
Turner (OH)
Valadao
Van Drew
Van Duyne
Vindman
Wagner
Walberg
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Westerman
Wied
Williams (TX)
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Yakym
Zinke
NAYS--198
Adams
Aguilar
Amo
Ansari
Auchincloss
Balint
Barragan
Beatty
Bell
Bera
Beyer
Bishop
Bonamici
Boyle (PA)
Brown
Brownley
Budzinski
Carbajal
Carson
Carter (LA)
Casar
Case
Casten
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Cherfilus-McCormick
Chu
Cisneros
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Cleaver
Clyburn
Cohen
Conaway
Connolly
Correa
Costa
Courtney
Craig
Crockett
Crow
Davids (KS)
Davis (IL)
Dean (PA)
DeGette
DeLauro
DelBene
Deluzio
DeSaulnier
Dexter
Dingell
Doggett
Elfreth
Escobar
Espaillat
Evans (PA)
Fields
Figures
Fletcher
Foster
Foushee
Friedman
Frost
Garamendi
Garcia (CA)
Garcia (IL)
Garcia (TX)
Goldman (NY)
Gomez
Goodlander
Green, Al (TX)
Harder (CA)
Hayes
Himes
Horsford
Houlahan
Hoyer
Hoyle (OR)
Huffman
Ivey
Jackson (IL)
Jacobs
Jayapal
Jeffries
Johnson (GA)
Johnson (TX)
Kamlager-Dove
Kaptur
Keating
Kelly (IL)
Kennedy (NY)
Khanna
Krishnamoorthi
Landsman
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Latimer
Lee (NV)
Lee (PA)
Leger Fernandez
Levin
Liccardo
Lieu
Lofgren
Lynch
Magaziner
Mannion
Matsui
McBath
McBride
McClain Delaney
McClellan
McCollum
McDonald Rivet
McGarvey
McGovern
McIver
Meeks
Menendez
Meng
Mfume
Min
Moore (WI)
Morelle
Morrison
Moulton
Mrvan
Nadler
Neal
Neguse
Norcross
Ocasio-Cortez
Olszewski
Pallone
Panetta
Pappas
Pelosi
Peters
Pingree
Pocan
Pou
Pressley
Quigley
Ramirez
Randall
Raskin
Riley (NY)
Rivas
Ross
Ruiz
Ryan
Salinas
Sanchez
Scanlon
Schakowsky
Schneider
Scholten
Schrier
Scott (VA)
Scott, David
Sewell
Sherman
Sherrill
Simon
Smith (WA)
Sorensen
Soto
Stansbury
Stanton
Stevens
Strickland
Subramanyam
Swalwell
Sykes
Takano
Thanedar
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Titus
Tlaib
Tokuda
Tonko
Torres (CA)
Torres (NY)
Trahan
Tran
Turner (TX)
Underwood
Vargas
Vasquez
Veasey
Velazquez
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watson Coleman
Whitesides
Williams (GA)
Wilson (FL)
ANSWERED ``PRESENT''--2
Fry
Van Orden
NOT VOTING--12
Alford
Donalds
Frankel, Lois
Gottheimer
Grijalva
Hunt
Mullin
Nehls
Omar
Pettersen
Scott, Austin
Stefanik
{time} 1026
Mr. LANDSMAN changed his vote from ``yea'' to ``nay.''
Mr. DAVIS of North Carolina, Mses. BYNUM, and GILLEN changed their
vote from ``nay'' to ``yea.''
Mr. CLEAVER changed his vote from ``present'' to ``nay.''
Mr. VAN ORDEN changed his vote from ``nay'' to ``present.''
So the joint resolution was passed.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Stated for:
Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I'm not recorded because
I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA
on Roll Call No. 53.
Stated against:
Ms. OMAR. Madam Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted NAY
on Roll Call No. 53.
Ms. PETTERSEN. Madam Speaker, I missed votes due to recently giving
birth. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 53.
____________________