House Approves ‘Liberty in Laundry Act’ in Response to Washer Efficiency Regulations

December 11, 2024 TruthUSA

On the measure, six Democrats stood alongside all 209 Republicans in support of the bill.

On December 10, the House of Representatives approved a bill that aims to prevent the Secretary of Energy and the Department of Energy (DOE) from setting specific standards for clothes washers.

The legislation, known as the Liberty in Laundry Act and introduced by Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.), was passed with a vote of 215–200.

Six Democrats—Reps. Yadira Caraveo (D-Colo.), Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), Don Davis (D-N.C.), Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas), Mary Peltola (D-Alaska), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.)—voted alongside all 209 Republicans in support of this measure.

The bill is now headed to the Senate and would prevent the DOE from implementing energy conservation standards for clothes washers that are deemed “not technologically feasible or economically justified.”

Furthermore, the legislation restricts the DOE from establishing conservation standards for clothes washers unless the Secretary of the department believes that these standards would likely not “lead to additional net costs to the consumer, inclusive of any increases in costs related to purchase, installation, maintenance, disposal, and replacement of the covered product.”

Additionally, the DOE would not be permitted to impose significant energy savings requirements for clothes washers if those standards wouldn’t yield actual savings.

Before the vote, various Democrats voiced their disapproval of the bill.

“I mean, ‘Liberty in Laundry.’ Really, Mr. Speaker? You can’t make this stuff up. Who came up with that title—ChatGPT? What’s next? Changing the national motto to ‘Lint Free or Die?’” Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) remarked on the House floor.

Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.) asserted on the House floor prior to the vote that the bill would “increase costs for American families.”

In contrast, Republicans rallied behind the bill.

“There is absolutely NO need for the Harris-Biden administration’s Green New Scam in American households,” posted House Majority Whip Tom Emmer on X, asserting that the bill would cease “the Democrats’ drive for costly and unnecessary home appliance regulations.”

Rep. Jim Baird (R-Ind.) stated on X: “The Biden Administration’s ongoing war against American energy has infiltrated American homes. The Liberty in Laundry Act will safeguard consumer choices, ensure that Americans can get affordable and dependable washing machines, and halt Biden’s rapid shift to green energy.”

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