The U.S. Senate passed a resolution spearheaded by Senator Jon Husted (R-Ohio) on Wednesday, aimed at overturning a Biden administration regulation that imposed stricter energy conservation standards on a wide range of consumer and commercial appliances.
The resolution, which passed by a margin of 52-46, seeks to eliminate what Husted described as “bureaucratic, out-of-touch regulations” that increase costs for American consumers.
Husted emphasized the impact of the regulations on household budgets.
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“Bureaucratic, out-of-touch regulations make it harder for taxpayers to afford appliances,” Husted stated. “My resolution would cut red tape for manufacturers, restore consumer choice, and lower costs for hardworking Americans across the country. It’s important that my first bill to go to the president’s desk eliminates regulations for the American people instead of adding to them.”
The resolution targets explicitly the “Energy Conservation Program for Appliance Standards: Certification Requirements, Labeling Requirements, and Enforcement Provisions for Certain Consumer Products and Commercial Equipment” rule, published by the Biden Energy Department in October 2024.
The rule introduced new certification, labeling, and enforcement requirements for 20 household and commercial products, including dishwashers, central air conditioners, and heat pumps, as well as clothes washers.
These additional requirements increase manufacturing costs, which are then passed on to consumers, and reduce the variety of appliance options available. They argue that the regulations place an undue burden on both manufacturers and consumers.
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The companion legislation, H.J. Res. 42, sponsored by Republican Georgia Rep. Andrew Clyde, passed the U.S. House of Representatives on March 5, 2025, with bipartisan support. The resolution aims to nullify the Department of Energy (DOE) rule issued on October 9, 2024.
“Today, House Republicans forcefully rejected a costly Biden-era rule that puts unnecessary red tape on manufacturers, limits consumer choice, and raises costs for hardworking Americans,” said Clyde in March. “This severely misguided rule is a perfect example of the burdensome regulations that the Biden-Harris Administration forced on our country, stifling growth and restricting Americans’ freedoms. Thankfully, President Trump and House Republicans are committed to rolling back these destructive policies. I thank my colleagues for supporting this commonsense resolution to protect both consumers and manufacturers, and I look forward to its swift passage in the Senate so we can send H.J.Res. 42 to President Trump’s desk.”
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Clyde’s resolution, like Husted’s, focuses on rescinding the efficiency and reporting regulations for appliances like dishwashers, washing machines, and AC units.
The Senate’s passage of Husted’s resolution now sends the legislation to the President’s desk for potential signature.
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