Joe Biden

Statement of Administration Policy: H.R. 7637 - Refrigerator Freedom Act & H.R. 7700 - Stop Unaffordable Dishwasher Standards Act

July 08, 2024

STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY

(House Rules)

H.R. 7637 - Refrigerator Freedom Act
(Rep. Miller-Meeks, R-IA)

H.R. 7700 - Stop Unaffordable Dishwasher Standards Act
(Rep. Langworthy, R-NY, and 4 cosponsors)

The Administration is advancing commonsense appliance energy efficiency standards that lower costs for American families and businesses and provide consumer choice and prevent waste of electricity and natural gas and strengthen the nation's energy security. The Administration strongly opposes H.R. 7637 and H.R. 7700, which would undermine this effort.

Under the 1975 Energy Policy and Conservation Act, the Department of Energy (DOE) regularly updates energy efficiency standards for appliances. These standards have already saved consumers an estimated $1 trillion on utility bills through 2020, with an average household currently saving $321 each year on bills as a result. This Administration is working to issue updated standards that could deliver an additional $1 trillion in savings over 30 years.

These bills target energy efficiency standards recently issued by DOE for refrigerators and dishwashers, reflecting joint recommendations from home appliance manufacturers and a wide range of other stakeholders. Home appliance manufacturers have already made investments to make products that meet these standards that will lower costs for Americans and operate with lower energy use. These bills add vague, red-herring provisions to the law that would add uncertainty to the implementation of these standards and create unnecessary hurdles for DOE in making future updates. For these reasons, the Administration strongly opposes these bills.

Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Statement of Administration Policy: H.R. 7637 - Refrigerator Freedom Act & H.R. 7700 - Stop Unaffordable Dishwasher Standards Act Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/374918

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