A pushback against green tyranny: Senate overturns strict Biden DOE regulations for home appliances

By avagrace // 2025-05-07

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On April 30, the Senate voted 52-46 to repeal a controversial Department of Energy (DOE) rule that imposed stricter efficiency standards on household appliances, marking a victory for Republicans in their campaign against costly environmental regulations.
The resolution (H.J. Res. 42) sponsored by Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH) nullifies a 2024 DOE rule requiring updated efficiency, certification and labeling for appliances like dishwashers and air conditioners. It previously passed the House with bipartisan support and now awaits President Trump's approval.
The repeal reflects a fundamental clash over the government's role in regulating consumer products. While the Biden-era rule aimed to reduce energy consumption and lower utility bills, critics argued it increased costs, limited consumer choice and burdened businesses with excessive regulations.
The repeal is part of a larger Republican effort to roll back Biden-era environmental policies. GOP lawmakers argue that the Biden administration's regulatory agenda imposed significant costs and paperwork burdens on businesses and consumers.
If signed into law, the resolution would invalidate the 2024 appliance rule and prevent similar regulations without congressional approval.

The Senate delivered a decisive blow to former President Joe Biden's green tyranny, voting to repeal a controversial rule by his Department of Energy (DOE) that imposed stricter standards on household appliances. The Senate's 52-46 vote Wednesday, April 30, marks another another victory for Republicans in their broader campaign to dismantle costly, overbearing environmental regulations. House Joint Resolution 42 (H.J. Res. 42), authored by Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA) and sponsored by Sen. John Husted (R-OH), already passed the house in March with bipartisan backing. Following the Wednesday vote, H.J. Res. 42 now heads to President Donald Trump's desk for final approval. The Biden-era rule announced by the DOE in October 2024 sought to phase out less efficient appliances. It mandated updated efficiency, certification and labeling requirements for appliances like dishwashers, air conditioners, washing machines and heat pumps. At the time of the rule's announcement, the department argued that stricter standards would reduce energy consumption and lower utility bills over time. (Related: Ridiculous Biden-Harris appliance regulations are targeting ACs, dishwashers, furnaces, light bulbs and water heaters.) Husted framed the repeal as a win for economic freedom. "Bureaucratic, out-of-touch regulations make it harder for taxpayers to afford appliances," he said in a statement. "My resolution cuts red tape for manufacturers, restores consumer choice and lowers costs for hardworking Americans." An analysis by the Alliance for Consumers estimated that the Biden regulations could add more than $9,000 in lifetime costs per household – a figure Republicans seized upon to argue that the rules disproportionately hurt middle-class families. Critics also pointed out the mandates limited consumer choice and burdened businesses with excessive red tape. The appliance rule repeal is part of a larger Republican effort to roll back Biden-era environmental policies. Earlier this year, Congress passed resolutions targeting commercial refrigeration standards (H.J. Res. 24 and H.J. Res. 75), which critics said imposed unnecessary burdens on small businesses. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) framed the pushback as a rejection of what he called the Biden administration's "radical climate agenda." He said on the Senate floor: "Altogether, the Biden regulatory agenda cost $1.8 trillion. It heaped thousands of hours of paperwork on business owners, energy producers and other hardworking Americans."

Trump versus Biden: The energy efficiency battle

Trump has made deregulation a cornerstone of his economic agenda, vowing to undo what he views as excessive government interference. In a Truth Social post from February, he directed his second administration to reinstate his prior environmental rules – including those governing water flow in sinks, showers and toilets, as well as efficiency standards for lightbulbs. "I am hereby instructing [EPA Administrator] Lee Zeldin to immediately go back to my environmental orders, which were terminated by Crooked Joe Biden," Trump wrote. "I look forward to signing these orders." If signed into law, H.J. Res. 42 would immediately invalidate the 2024 appliance rule and prevent the DOE from reintroducing a similar regulation without explicit congressional approval. Supporters say the move will spur innovation by allowing manufacturers to focus on affordability rather than compliance. Opponents, however, warn it could slow progress toward energy conservation goals. The fight over appliance standards is not new. For decades, Democrats have pushed for stricter efficiency rules to combat "climate change" and reduce energy dependence. In contrast, Republicans have argued that market forces – not government mandates – should dictate product choices. The Biden administration's approach mirrored policies from the Obama era, which also faced GOP resistance. But with Trump back in office, the pendulum has swung sharply toward deregulation. Watch this video explaining the green energy scam. This video is from the BulgarianInsider channel on Brighteon.com.

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Trump versus Biden: The energy efficiency battle

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