WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy, delivered the following opening statement at today’s markup of eight bills.

Subcommittee Chairman Latta’s opening statement as prepared for delivery:

“Welcome to today’s Energy subcommittee markup of 8 bills to restore consumer choice, reduce energy and housing costs, and remove burdensome regulatory structures.

“When selecting appliances or equipment for their home or business, Americans take many factors into consideration: cost, reliability, size, and durability to name a few. It is imperative consumers have a wide range of products so they can choose what works best for their needs.

“Under the last administration, nearly 30 energy efficiency standards were issued, totaling over $60 billion in costs and removing products from the market, resulting in fewer options for Americans.

“H.R. 4626, the Don’t Mess with My Home Appliances Act, would amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to reform the statutory procedures for issuing or amending energy efficiency standards.

“This will result in standards that truly meet the statutory requirements of EPCA and provide both manufacturers and consumers with certainty.

“Especially as we head into winter, consumers must have access to durable, affordable appliances to perform critical functions, like home heating, while still prioritizing energy efficiency and associated cost-savings.

“Airtight building envelopes are also important for consumers, especially in the colder months, to keep warmth in and utility bills low. That is why the subcommittee will be considering H.R. 4758, the Homeowner Energy Freedom Act, to repeal sections of the Inflation Reduction Act that essentially bribed states to recklessly adopt unamended building codes.  

“Brian Tebbenkemp, a witness in September’s legislative hearing, said it best, ‘I think we can all agree that American families deserve safe, strong, and efficient homes, but we need a better pathway forward that gives local control, encourages innovation, and keeps homes within the reach of Americans.

“The passage of H.R. 4758 is an important step towards accomplishing that shared goal.

“The subcommittee will also consider H.R. 4690, the Reliable Federal Infrastructure Act, to repeal section 433 of the Energy Independence and Security Act, which required DOE to phase out fossil fuel use in federal buildings across the country.

“This policy, which was opposed by even the Obama Administration, not only poses a significant national security risk, but it could in fact increase energy consumption as the direct use of natural gas is about 92 percent efficient, compared to 33 percent for electricity. That is a significant delta.

“Energy efficiency, not bans, are important to prioritize for our federal buildings. I look forward to considering H.R. 3474, the Federal Mechanical Insulation Act, which is bipartisan legislation to require an assessment of whether mechanical insulation should be installed or updated in federal building energy audits. This is a commonsense measure that truly prioritizes energy efficiency.

“The subcommittee will also consider H.R. 3699, the Energy Choice Act, which prohibits any state or local policy from banning access to an energy service based on the type or source of energy that is sold. States like New York, which banned natural gas use, are forcing consumers to incur significant costs while jeopardizing their reliability during the winter months. This must change.

“Duplicative standards and regulations have also impacted housing, appliance, and equipment affordability for millions of Americans. H.R. 5184, the Affordable HOMES Act, will repeal duplicative energy efficiency standards for manufactured housing, and H.R. 4593, the SHOWER Act, will codify a simple definition of a showerhead, providing more options for consumers.

“Lastly, the subcommittee will consider H.R. 1355, the Weatherization Enhancement and Readiness Act of 2025, with the understanding that we hope to reach a bipartisan agreement prior to a Full Committee markup. I thank the gentleman from New York and minority professional staff for continuing to work with us towards a compromise.

“The suite of legislation before us today represents an opportunity for this Committee to implement reforms that re-prioritize energy efficiency policies towards the items that matter most to consumers: affordability, availability, and durability. I urge all my colleagues to support these pieces of legislation.”

###