Pallone Rebukes Republicans for Being Out of Touch and Wasting Time on Resolution that Raises Costs on American Businesses and Consumers
Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) had the following remarks, as prepared for delivery, on the House floor today in opposition to H.J. Res. 75, a resolution that invokes the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to prevent the Department of Energy (DOE) from implementing efficiency standards for commercial refrigerators and freezers:
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
I rise in opposition to this resolution. Week after week, I find myself here on the House floor – not debating things that are important to American families, like protecting Medicaid or Social Security, but instead debating standards for appliances and even, as ridiculous as it sounds, standards for labels for appliances.
This week is no different. House Republicans have chosen, yet again, to ignore the pressing issues that Americans face, and to instead march forward with their anti-efficiency agenda that drives up energy costs for American businesses and consumers.
Democrats, on the other hand, are here to defend these commonsense energy efficiency standards and the very real savings they provide Americans. My home state of New Jersey was recently recognized among the top ten states doing the most to advance energy efficiency. I am pleased by my state’s progress and want to make sure that Americans in all states benefit from similar efforts.
Today’s resolution, like all the other anti-efficiency resolutions that we’ve seen recently from Republicans, did not go through any regular order. We never received any expert witness testimony on the impact of the standards or on the impact of repealing them. Instead, we are left to trust a Republican Party that is decidedly anti-science on the impacts of energy conservation standards.
Today’s resolution, H.J. Res. 75, targets a recently-finalized energy conservation standard for commercial refrigerators and freezers. These are products that are primarily used in grocery stores and convenience stores. Again, we’re not even talking about things that go in people’s homes anymore. Now we’re debating whether or not the refrigerators in grocery stores should be energy efficient. This is a waste of floor time.
The energy conservation standard targeted by this resolution would save businesses $4.6 billion over 30 years. Republicans have already taken away options for households to save money on their energy bills, and now they’re going to strip businesses of these options as well.
Repealing these standards would also raise costs and increase demand on the electricity grid. It is also not necessary because, two thirds of the products on the market today already meet these new efficiency standards. And the payback period for any upfront cost of the more efficient products is about 3.5 years, while the products themselves last for 12 to 14 years. So, to argue that this is a major regulatory burden or imposition on small businesses is just false.
At a time of increased energy costs, increasing grid strain, tariffs, and rising household costs, one has to ask, why do Republicans keep targeting policies that save money and save energy?
The only answer is that when more energy is consumed, or more energy is wasted, the oil and gas industry benefits.
Rather than fighting for American families, Washington Republicans continue to do the bidding of Big Oil and Gas. This resolution proves that Republicans are completely out of touch. Americans are struggling to make ends meet and facing the reality that Republicans may soon strip them and their families of health care – but their focus is to repeal commonsense energy efficiency standards.
Republicans also continue to look the other way as the Trump Administration and Elon Musk undermine the Social Security Administration, threatening the benefits seniors have earned over a lifetime of hard work. And instead, they are focusing on refrigerators.
I oppose this resolution, and reserve the balance of my time.
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