Pallone: Republicans Would Rather Redefine Showerheads Than Lower the Price of Anything

Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) had the following remarks on the House floor, as prepared for delivery, in opposition to H.R. 4593, legislation that changes the definition of "showerheads" to allow them to use significantly more energy and water:

The American people are struggling to make ends meet. They are feeling the pinch of the affordability crisis, bearing the brunt of rising costs at the hands of Republicans. Yet my colleagues continue to turn a blind eye to the cost-of-living crisis – in fact President Trump has called the affordability crisis a “con job” and a “Democratic scam.” 

That’s how out of touch they are. Health care costs are skyrocketing and electricity bills are through the roof. Meanwhile, President Trump just illegally invaded Venezuela and Secretary Kennedy is putting children’s lives at risk by restricting access to vaccines. There’s a lot this Congress could be doing this week, but the first bill Republicans bring to the floor in 2026 is about showerheads. It’s almost impossible to believe, and to make matters worse this bill will actually drive-up monthly utility bills for American families. 

Electricity prices are up thirteen percent across the nation, and eighty million Americans are struggling to pay their utility bills, and Republicans want to make that financial pain even worse. Meanwhile, grocery prices are surging, and we are seeing historically high homes prices that Americans are struggling to afford. 

And, of course, monthly health care premiums are skyrocketing across the nation thanks to the health care crisis Republicans created by failing to extend the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits. As a result of their inaction, more than 20 million Americans are now facing skyrocketing monthly health care premiums – in many instances double or triple the costs they paid last year. 

President Trump and his Republican accomplices are completely out of touch with the alarming reality millions of Americans are facing. Republicans have no plan to address affordability and today proves it. 

Republicans are beginning this new Congress with a bill that changes the definition of “showerhead” in order to open the door for the Trump Administration to increase already-rising monthly utility bills and to waste our scarce water resources. That’s right, this bill would actually increase costs for consumers. 

In Trump’s first term, he redefined showerheads to allow them to use significantly more energy and water. Showerheads with multiple nozzles could vastly exceed the current limits. For example, a showerhead with eight nozzles could use up to twenty gallons of water per minute under Trump’s 2020 definition.  

But manufacturers largely rejected this move and didn’t produce showerheads that exceeded the limit. That’s because they know consumers value money-saving and water-conserving showerheads that are good for both their wallets and the environment. Energy and water conservation standards save consumers money. In 2024 alone, energy and water conservation standards slashed $576 off Americans’ utility bills while cutting our energy and water consumption.

Republicans’ priorities are completely out of touch with the concerns of everyday Americans. Their only priority is pleasing President Trump and giving into his every wish, even if it means driving up utility bills for American families.  

I urge my colleagues to vote no on this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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