Liberty in Laundry Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 7673. It is a Republican bill that is going to raise costs on American families.

Mr. Speaker, years ago, Congress directed the Department of Energy to encourage innovation and cost savings in the appliances we use by working with manufacturers and consumer advocates to routinely update energy efficiency standards. That is one of the reasons why Americans enjoy modern and cost-saving appliances when they go to replace them.

Everyone knows that higher standards do not force you to go and replace your washing machine, but when that washer finally breaks, you have the choice to replace it with a better model, one that saves you money.

Energy efficiency across all appliances is a huge success. It helps families save money and improves our lives.

Earlier this year, the Department of Energy updated standards for clothes washers based upon the input of a wide range of stakeholders, including the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers--that is right, the manufacturers support energy efficiency standards--the Consumer Federation of America, and energy efficiency advocates. To them, I say great work and thank you because over time Americans will save big on their energy and water bills while also reducing tons of dangerous carbon dioxide pollution.

You could say that energy-efficient clothes washers will provide loads of savings, as the new models speed up the cycle to aid the household bottom line.

All together, with more efficient appliances, DOE projects that the average family could save at least $100 a year on their utility bills, plus efficiency helps cut the pollution that is fueling costly extreme weather events like Hurricanes Helene and Milton that ruined homes and businesses back in my community just a few months ago.

If the appliance industry supports efficiency standards and consumer groups support efficiency standards, and three out of five Americans support the cost savings, why are Republicans making this a priority? Well, here is the dirty, little secret. The special interests that profit off of people using as much energy as possible and who profit when energy is wasted--like oil and gas companies and some utilities-- have a lot of influence here on Capitol Hill.

You can either side with the polluters and their profits or you can side with the people and their pocketbooks. I am going to side with the people and their pocketbooks every time.

Appliance efficiency standards are one of the best tools we have to lower household energy costs, so I urge my colleagues not to fall for the rinse and spin, put this bill out to dry, and vote ``no.''

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