Statement of Administration Policy: H.R. 6192 - Hands Off Our Home Appliances Act

STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY

(House Rules)
(Rep. Lesko, R-AZ, and 10 cosponsors)

The Administration is advancing commonsense energy efficiency standards that promote choices for consumers that save money, prevent waste of electricity and gas, and strengthen energy security. The Administration therefore strongly opposes H.R. 6192, which would undermine the Department of Energy's (DOE's) ability to lower consumer costs while improving appliance efficiency. Under the 1975 Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), DOE regularly updates energy efficiency standards. These standards have already saved consumers an estimated $1 trillion on utility bills, with an average household currently saving $321 annually. This Administration is working to issue updated standards that could deliver an additional $1 trillion in savings over 30 years.

H.R. 6192 would threaten these continued savings and create an uneven playing field for American manufacturers. This bill would require DOE to reevaluate and potentially revoke new standards within two years of issuance—at odds with EPCA's decades-long track record of enabling consumers nationwide to benefit from cost-saving technology improvements. Backsliding on standards would allow importation of lower-efficiency foreign products, disadvantaging domestic manufacturers who plan in advance to deliver efficient products to American consumers. H.R. 6192 also contains redundant, red-herring provisions related to technological feasibility and economic justification—already core EPCA requirements—that would generate confusion. While bill sponsors argue that H.R. 6192 would expand consumer choice in the home appliance market, it would only increase consumer costs and create uncertainty for appliance manufacturers.