Energy

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy, led a hearing titled Building the American Dream: Examining Affordability, Choice, and Security in Appliance and Buildings Policies . “ Over the last decade, it has become apparent that the statutory process for energy efficiency standards is broken. We must reform the process to restore consumer choice, appliance affordability, and true energy savings as the foundation of DOE’s Appliance and Equipment Standards Program,” said Chairman Latta . “Everyone here supports true energy efficiency and the benefits it yields to our constituents. However, over the last several years, the focus has clearly strayed from enhancing efficiencies and realizing cost savings. This misdirection has gone well beyond DOE’s energy conservation standards—we have also seen a misalignment of priorities in building codes, performance standards, and state local restrictions on the use of fossil fuels.” Watch the full hearing here .     Below are key excerpts from yesterday’s hearing:   Congressman Randy Weber (TX-14): “There’s no reason why the Department of Energy, or anybody else, should be mandating that Texans have to have a certain efficiency. No two homes are alike. No two homeowners are alike, and we all know our own individualized circumstances and preferences better than any one size fits all regulatory process. And so, with the furnace rule that will take effect in 2028, there are a lot of homes that won’t get the furnace that makes the most sense for them.” Congressman Troy Balderson (OH-12): “How do decisions by local officials to phase out natural gas use, which may seem like local, isolated decisions, negatively impact consumers and consumers in other regions or other states?” Mr. Steffes: “Thank you, Congressman. This is a straightforward question of supply and demand. For the customers that I serve, a lot of their needs are heating. Natural gas heating, hot water heating, cooking. If you mandate in our communities that no more natural gas will be used, then those customers are going to find another way to provide heating. They’re not going to go without heat. They will use electric heat that will add additional demand to the electricity market. While it’s very difficult to add supply, additional demand without supply increases prices.” Congressman Russell Fry (SC-07): “Instead of empowering families, the federal government has been telling the people how long that their dishwashers can operate and what kind of stove they can buy, and even how much water that the showerhead could use. And so, my bill—the Saving Homeowners from Overregulation with Exceptional Rinsing (SHOWER) Act— restores some of that common sense. Let’s get back to it. And it’s a core. It’s about protecting families from bureaucratic overreach. We see this time and time again where the ivory tower of Washington, D.C. comes in their infinite wisdom and tells the rest of everybody how to live. Mr. Lieberman, can you describe the whiplash regulations between the last few administrations as they relate to showerhead water flow?” Mr. Lieberman: “Well, actually, the showerhead saga has been going on since 1992. There was the energy policy act of 1992, which originally had these showerhead provisions. Some people don’t like the lower flow. I think it’s quite frankly, a very silly regulation. If the shower is hitting you with too much water, you turn the knob down.”

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing titled Building the American Dream: Examining Affordability, Choice, and Security in Appliance and Buildings Policies . Subcommittee Chairman Latta’s opening statement as prepared for delivery: Subcommittee Chairman Latta’s opening statement as prepared for delivery: “Welcome to today’s hearing, ‘Building the American Dream: Examining Affordability, Choice, and Security in Appliance and Buildings Policies.’ Thank you to our witnesses for your participation. “Today, we will discuss policies that have raised energy and product prices for American families and business owners, put home ownership out of reach, and jeopardized grid reliability. “Many of these policies have been implemented in the name of energy efficiency. But, the forced electrification from the Left does not equate to increased energy efficiency, and it ignores affordability and consumer choice. “Energy conservation will play an important role in meeting our nation’s growing energy demand, however, consumer choice, affordability, and innovation must be prioritized in the execution of those goals. “Over the last decade, it has become apparent that the statutory process for energy efficiency standards is broken. We must reform the process to restore consumer choice, appliance affordability, and true energy savings as the foundation of DOE’s Appliance and Equipment Standards Program. “Everyone here supports true energy efficiency and the benefits it yields to our constituents. However, over the last several years, the focus has clearly strayed from enhancing efficiencies and realizing cost savings. “This misdirection has gone well beyond DOE’s energy conservation standards—we have also seen a misalignment of priorities in building codes, performance standards, and state local restrictions on the use of fossil fuels. “Nowhere is that more reflected than in the cost of homes. Over the last 15 years, home prices have steadily increased, putting the dream of home ownership out of reach for millions of Americans. “Today, more than 80 percent of adults in the United States say housing affordability is a problem in the city or county in which they live, and homeowners now spend 34 percent more on household appliances than in 2010.   “While there are a variety of factors that have contributed to these rising costs, we cannot ignore the impact misguided policies have had. “The Biden administration tied Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding to the forced adoption of the 2021 model energy codes, which restricted the use of gas and promoted electrification even if it was not an appropriate choice for consumers. This was done despite their own data that showed homes with natural gas hookups are over 3 times more affordable than electric options. “But the Biden administration didn’t stop there. DOE issued a rule to eliminate the use of fossil fuels in all new and modified federal buildings beginning in 2030. This would have included military installations and housing, some residential buildings, and sites of critical national security importance—like the Pentagon. “Not only would this compromise our security, but the rule would also have actually increased energy usage and added further strain to our nation’s electric grid. “We must strike a healthy balance between utilizing affordable energy and implementing common sense, effective energy conservation measures. “Again, I thank our witnesses for their participation today and look forward to hearing their perspectives.” ###

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy, announced a hearing titled Appliance and Building Policies: Restoring the American Dream of Home Ownership and Consumer Choice . “Throughout this Congress, our Committee has heard testimony from witnesses on how red tape and bureaucratic mandates have led to higher energy costs and fewer options for American families,” said Chairmen Guthrie and Latta. “During this legislative hearing, we will examine several bills that support consumer freedom by undoing harmful regulations, reduce costs for Americans, and help strengthen our electric grid by using reliable and affordable baseload power sources.” Subcommittee on Energy hearing titled Appliance and Building Policies: Restoring the American Dream of Home Ownership and Consumer Choice. WHAT : Subcommittee on Energy hearing to discuss building and appliance policies that could strengthen consumer choice, lower costs for American families, and make our electric grid more reliable. DATE : Tuesday, September 16, 2025       TIME : 10:15 AM ET LOCATION : 2123 Rayburn House Office Building    This hearing will focus on the following bills: H.R. 4626 , Don’t Mess with My Home Appliances Act (Rep. Allen) H.R. 4758 , Homeowner Energy Freedom Act (Rep. Goldman) H.R. 3699 , Energy Choice Act (Rep. Langworthy) H.R. 3474 , Federal Mechanical Insulation Act (Rep. Weber) H.R. 4593 , Saving Homeowners from Overregulation With Exceptional Rinsing (SHOWER) Act (Rep. Fry) H.R. 4690 , Reliable Federal Infrastructure Act (Rep. Langworthy)   H.R. 5184 , Affordable Housing Over Mandating Efficiency Standards Act (Rep. Houchin) H.R. 1355 , Weatherization Enhancement and Readiness Act of 2025 (Rep. Tonko)  This notice is at the direction of the Chairman. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be livestreamed online at https://energycommerce.house.gov/ . If you have any questions concerning this hearing, please contact Calvin Huggins at Calvin.Huggins1@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Ben Mullany at Ben.Mullany@mail.house.gov .  

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Yesterday, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, along with Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy, penned a letter to Secretary Jennifer Granholm questioning the Department of Energy’s involvement in the Biden-Harris Administration’s decision to prevent new offshore oil and gas production, leading to higher prices for consumers and harming U.S. energy security. KEY LETTER EXCERPT: “Closing off swaths of U.S. offshore areas to energy production, as the Biden-Harris Administration reportedly intends to do, will lead to higher energy prices for American families, the loss of American jobs, and greatly diminish our country’s energy security. As the Secretary of Energy, you have an obligation to weigh in on this matter and insist on a full review of the energy security and economic impacts before any decisions are finalized. “The United States stands at an energy crossroads, facing mounting global security threats and soaring demand for power. Instead of leading the world in energy production, we’ve allowed misguided “green” policies to hamstring our potential. It’s time to unleash American energy dominance again—the federal government must become an ally, not an obstacle, to our nation’s energy security. We look forward to your prompt response to this request, no later than January 10, 2025.” Read the story  here . BACKGROUND: This morning, the Biden Administration announced that more than 625 million square miles of coastline would be off-limits for energy production. Republican Members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce have continuously called on the Biden-Harris Administration to end its attack on American energy production before leaving office on January 20th. The letter requests an explanation of the DOE’s involvement in the decision and whether the White House or the Department of Interior consulted with the DOE about the plans to close off access to offshore resources. Any decision to shut down access to significant American energy resources impacts U.S. energy policy and should be reviewed by the DOE. The Biden Administration’s energy policies have continued to create major harm to America’s energy production and workforce. A unilateral ban on energy production in large swaths of the U.S. coastline will have lasting impacts on American energy production and security.

“DOE is threatening domestic jobs and economic development, weakening the energy security of European allies, and strengthening our adversaries” Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Subcommittee Chair Jeff Duncan (R-SC), and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chair Morgan Griffith (R-VA) sent a letter to Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jennifer Granholm demanding the agency stop rushing to prematurely release its anti-liquefied natural gas (LNG) study, which aims to hamstring the incoming Presidential administration. The letter also calls for DOE to lift the pause on LNG exports, which was a politically motivated decision by the Biden administration to appease radical environmental activists at the expense of American energy security and the security of our allies. KEY LETTER EXCERPTS: “Despite DOE’s prior findings and published reviews in favor of U.S. LNG exports, and contrary to DOE’s limited statutory authority under the NGA, the Biden administration’s DOE announced that it would expand its environmental review as part of a ‘managed transition’ to reduce use of fossil fuels. Recent press reports indicate that DOE is racing to complete a study on the climate impacts of LNG exports to hamper the incoming Republican administration and provide opportunities to challenge future project approvals in court.” [...] “ The results of the 2024 presidential election are clear, and DOE leadership will soon change. As a traditional part of the peaceful transfer of power, DOE should immediately stop work on any plans to expand the scope of review or add new conditions to LNG export licenses. DOE should immediately lift the ban on LNG export approvals in compliance with the NGA and the District Court order.” BACKGROUND: January 26, 2024 : The Biden administration announces indefinite “pause” on LNG export permits. Chair Rodgers immediately rebukes the decision, calling it a “gift to Putin.” February 5, 2024 : More than 150 House Republicans demand President Biden ends his de facto ban on American LNG exports. February 15, 2024 : E&C Republicans lead bipartisan passage of H.R. 7176 to reverse President Biden’s LNG export ban. April 8, 2024 : The Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Security holds a field hearing in Port Arthur, Texas, with local leaders and energy workers to highlight the economic and public benefits of American energy production, including job creation. November 7, 2024 : Bloomberg Law reports that the “Biden administration is racing to complete a study that could complicate President-Elect Donald Trump’s plan to immediately approve new liquefied natural gas export terminals.” CLICK HERE to read the full letter.

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) today sent letters to five independent federal agencies urging the Biden-Harris administration appointees to abandon partisan efforts and instead focus remaining efforts on bipartisan, consensus items.   The letters state, “The results of the 2024 presidential election are now apparent and leadership of the [agency] will soon change. As a traditional part of the peaceful transfer of power, the [agency] should immediately stop work on any partisan or controversial item under consideration, consistent with applicable law and regulation.”    Click below to read each agency’s letter:   Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Federal Communications Commission (FCC)   Federal Trade Commission (FTC)   Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)   Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Note: In the letter, Chair Rodgers urges NRC to continue timely implementation of the ADVANCE Act.