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, issued the following statement after the House passed H.J. Res. 20, to rescind a Biden-Harris Administration rule that restricts the water heaters millions of Americans rely on and assures consumer choice and affordability are prioritized.

“During President Biden’s final weeks in office, the DOE issued a final rule setting a new energy efficiency standard that would significantly increase the cost of gas-fired instantaneous water heaters. Allowing this misguided rule to continue would raise prices and limit choices for American families,” said Chairmen Guthrie and Latta. “We are grateful to Congressman Palmer for his leadership on this issue and his work to protect consumers.”

“Today, House Republicans voted to end the Biden Administration’s radical ban on gas-fired water heaters. We refuse to allow this unnecessary, ridiculous last-minute rule to continue to raise prices, eliminate jobs, and restrict affordable, reliable choices for American households,” said Speaker Johnson. “The American people made it clear they want lower costs and more choices, and we are keeping our promise to undo the damage of the last administration by cutting costs, protecting choice, and rejecting these damaging regulations.”

“I applaud my House colleagues in passing my Congressional Review Act to reverse the previous administration’s egregious attempt to ban gas-fired water heaters,” said Congressman Palmer. “This is a major step towards prioritizing consumer choice, protecting natural gas appliances, keeping prices affordable, and undoing the damage inflicted on the American people by the Biden-Harris Administration for the past four years.” 

Background:

H.J. Res 20, Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Energy relating to "Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Gas-fired Instantaneous Water Heaters, led by Rep. Gary Palmer (AL-06), is yet another step toward keeping President Trump’s promise to the American people to undo the damage done by the failed policies of the Biden-Harris Administration. Forty percent of customers directly impacted by the rule would see a net cost increase from this rule. Those seeing cost savings would only be saving a mere $5.60 per year on a life-cycle cost basis of the appliance.

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