Transcripts For CSPAN U.S. 20240703

Primary source for l, providing balanced unfiltered coverage of government, taking into where the policy is debated and decided. Paul with the support of americas cable company. Cspan, 45 years in county. 45 years and counting. Because has approved a bill that prohibits the Energy Department from implementing or enforcing efficiency standdsn home appliaesf they are not economically justified or doot result in signifanEnergy Conservation. Thlegislation passed by a vote of 212 over 95 with seven decrats voting in favor. It now heads to the senate. Here is the floor debate leading up to the boat. The Biden Administration has waged a war on American Energy and this war has made its way into americas homes. President biden and the department of energy has sacrificed a plaintiff audibility and reliability in their pursuit of a radical rush. 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 Administrations numerals do not save a significant amount of energy and they are not costeffective. The Biden Administrations rules discourage the use of natural gas in favor of the education of appliances regardless of the cost, reliability or availability. Just look how they tried to ban gas stoves. Before my savior gas stoves adulation and public outcry, they doubted back. House republicans are leading to protect the focus from federal mandate that increases cost, failed to result in Significant Energy savings and are not practical in eliminating the performance features of product choices. My legislation hr 6192 they hands up or Home Appliances act fights back against the Biden Administrations radical agenda and will preserve the affordability, availability and quality of a household appliance americans rely on every single day. Enacted in 1975, the Energy Policy and conservation act also called abaca 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, the technological be technologically feasible and economically justified. The problem is that criminal law does not 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 the any additional upfront costs to install a new appliance that has new mandated Energy Efficiency standards will be recuperated within a reasonable. Of time. Hr 6192 will protect affordability by requiring the department of energy to consider the full lifecycle cost 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 cost for left income households. No longer with the Biden Administration be able to say a savings of . 12 per month is economically justified as they have done before. No longer will they be able to have to hold onto with the customer have to hold onto 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 standards 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 bands. The bill requires that any new standard cannot affect the duty cycle, charging time or runtime of the cover product or lifespan of the product. Americans want their appliances to work. The bill will allow the department to amend or revoke prior standards if they dont save the consumers money and if the appliance doesnt work. Work appliance doesnt 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 upfront cost of appliances which can really hurt lowincome 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 energys conservation standards a are causing americans to use more energy and water rather than less. Its 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 thats 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 thats 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 theres 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 were 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 americans 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 cant 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, itll stifle American Innovation and itll exacerbate the climate crisis. Its 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 Administrations 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 dont be food aboutthis this effort by the Biden Administration isnt about saving American Consumers money. Its solely about ending americans 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, were obsessed with reducing the amount of Energy Americans use. Unquote. This administration hates fossil fuels and anything that uses fossil fuels. Thats 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 leskos 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. Ive 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 theyve 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 thats 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, thats 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. Thats 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. Thats 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 1970s, 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 lets 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 id 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 Worlds Best Work force and an innovative spirit thats contributed to Technological Breakthroughs that have changed the world. For century, American Innovation has led to new technologies that have improved peoples lives. From the light bulb and the home refrigerator to airconditioning, 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 Administrations 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 Bidens 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. Thats 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 americas problems. H. R. 6192 isnt the first antiefficiency bill weve seen on the house floor. My republican colleagues are obstructing the work weve been sent here to do. Weve 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 antiefficiency 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 dont want to save American Consumers money on their energy bills. The party keeps peddling these blatant lives that the Biden Administration is going after americas household appliance. They are not. When did they take or our gas stoves last year . Its a lot of drama out there not based on truth. I have a brandnew gas stove that is a year old and have less time to use it because thats 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 dont know what word i want to use because i love my friends, but its 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 didnt have access to the internet. But instead of doing something to help everyday working americans, were focused on partisan messaging bills. Instead of working on the real issues facing the American People, were 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 im a proud cosponsor of the hands off our Home Appliances act. The Biden Administration has caused a Energy Crisis thats 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 americas Home Appliances are on the chopping block. Yes, theyre Home Appliances. Under the guise of Energy Efficiency, theyve issued burdensome policies on these appliances and we dont know if they work. I dont 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 administrations 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, ill 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 peoples 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. Its 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 were doing . Cant make it up. You cant make its 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 womans freedom to make her own Reproductive Health care decisions, period, full stop. In Womens 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 cant 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 doesnt want to defend democracy and freedom here and abroad. Its undermining it. And we extend the hand of partnership as weve 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. Lets 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 ill 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 energys 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 Administrations 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 thats going on in our country today, im 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, womens 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. Thats 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 womens 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. Id 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 couldnt 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. Thats exactly what my bill does. And you ill 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 isnt 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. Heres another d. O. E. Rule under the Biden Administration. For refrigerators and freezers, department of energys 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. Heres another example. For air conditioners. Department of energys 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. Heres another one. For Clothes Dryers. Bidens department of energys own analysis, im 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 bidens 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 washerdryer. So with all due respect to my democratic colleagues, who say this is a waste of time, were 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 cant afford groceries anymore, let alone these crazy, radical standards that the Biden Administration is pushing through that will increase if their costs. Thats why im doing this bill. We want appliances that not only work, but we dont 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 republicans 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 anyones house no one is coming after anyones 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 . Theyre 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 lets 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. Its from today. Its 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. Im from arizona. We need air conditioners. People are just trying to get by right now because of the inflation under biden. Bidens economics, bidenomics, as he calls it is costing people money. The Energy Department in january, 2023, issued a new efficiency standard for residential airconditioning systems. It necessitates a major redesign that increased costs by 1,000 to12k4rrs ,500 per air conditioner. It isnt clear that consumers will ever earn back in longterm 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 airconditioning 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 didnt 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 wasnt necessary. But under the Biden Administration, theyve just gone crazy. They have this radical, i dont know if radical environmentalists are bending the ear of President Biden or what is going on. Because as i have demonstrated, this isnt helping americans. This is a radical agenda that is increasing the prices on Everyday Americans and we cant afford it. And thats 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 Administrations 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. Thats 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, theyd hold hearings. Theyre in charge. Theyre 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. Theyre 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 . Youd be hardpressed 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. Im 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 thats just not true. The Biden Administrations efficiency standards are estimated to save consumers 1 trillion over 30 years. Thats 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 dont want americans to realize those savings and want americans to be stuck with old energyguzzling appliances that cost money every time you turn them on. I think its 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 lets review. The republicans dont want to make positive economic investments because theyre 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, youd probably be fired in a heartbeat. But thats the orthodoxy in todays 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 its 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 its 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, were not banning stoves. The americans dont 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 its only 3 . We won. The American People won. Thats why im doing this bill. And when my friend, mr. Pallone, says well, these Energy Efficiency standards will save all kinds of money, what hes not saying is all of the money that is going to cost extra upfront for these new revised standard and thats even if the thing even works well. So let me remind my colleagues what this bill actually does and why its needed. Its 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 threeyear payback. The secretary of energy said oh, it should only be one year so there shouldnt 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 lets put it in the bill. Lets 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 dont save consumers money and they dont work. This is a commonsense bill. This should be a bipartisan bill. I dont know why my democratic colleagues are fighting it so hard. Because it says it has to save the consumers money. Its all about helping the american homeowner who is struggling with bidenomics right now. Im telling you, people in my district complain about the price of groceries, theyre 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 dont want to pay a bunch more and want it to work as well as their current one has done for years. Thats the purpose of my bill. Thats why i ask my democratic colleagues and my republican the house approved a bill on the Energy Appliances if they are not economically justified or do not result in sickness against energy confiatn. The legislation passed by a vote of 212190 five with seven democrats voting in favor. And now heads to the senate. Get information from members of government in the palm of your hand when you order your copy of cspans 2024 congressional directory with bio and Contact Information for every house and Senate Member of the 118th congress. Important information on congressional committee, the president s cabinet, federal agencies and state governors. The congressional directory cost 32 90 five cents plus shipping and handling in every purchase supports our nonprofit operations. Scan the code on the right or go to cspanshop. Org. Order your copy today. Wneay on cspan, the hous bk at 10 a. M. Eastern for general speeches llowed by legislative business at noon. Members are considering legislation to repeal securities and excngcan and rule that requires companies to include customer cryptocurrency assets on their balance she. At 10 00 a amount cspan two, the senateetns to continue work on a fiyr reauthorization bill for federal aviation admintrion programs. With current faa authorities set toxpe friday at midnight. Also at0 00 a among cspan3, dense secretary lloyd austin in the chair of the join chiefs of staff general charles bro, jr. Testify on the conflict between israel and hamas, the war in ukrai a the president s 2025 budget request for the pengo in the afternoon, washington, d. Cs mayor and police chief teifd on the citysesnse to recent protests over the iselhamas war. Thats at George Washington universi on the surrounding area. Thats live before the House Oversight and acunbility committee at 1 00 p. M. Eastern. You can watch our live coverage on the cspan now video app or online at cspan. Org. Cspan is your unfiltered view of government, we are funded by these Television Companies and more, including comcast. You think this is just a Community Center . No, its way more than that. Comcast is partnering with a thousand Community Centers to create what wifi enabled listings so students from low income families can get the tools they need to be ready for anything. Comcast supports cspan as a publ service, along with these other television providers, giving you a front row seat to democracy. House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters that he is not negotiating with Republican Congress members Marjorie Taylor green and Thomas Massie over there threat to trigger a motion to vacate the speakership. The speaker held meetings with the two republican rank and file meetings in recent days. When asked if he would return a speaker in the next congress, mr. Johnson said, i intend to lead this conference in the future congress in the future