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The Leader’s Floor Lookout: Tuesday, May 7, 2024

Washington, May 7, 2024
Here’s what to watch for on the House Floor today:
 
Protecting Consumer Choice from Biden’s War on Home Appliances 

In 1975, Congress established the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) to increase American energy production, encourage efficient energy use, and bolster national energy security. Under the EPCA, the Department of Energy (DOE) sets efficiency standards for 60 product categories – but these standards must be cost-effective, significantly save energy, and be technologically feasible. 

Unfortunately, President Biden’s DOE has consistently abused their authority to push a radical energy agenda on American families and consumers, attempting to implement conservation standards that are neither economically justifiable nor significantly more energy efficient. These overreaching rules take away consumer choice, burden American families, and force Americans to use expensive appliances that do not perform as well. 

Additionally, the Biden DOE’s proposed standards aim to shut down the use of natural gas and force electric appliances on the American people, regardless of cost, performance, or availability – putting their radical Green New Deal agenda before the needs of hardworking Americans. 

While the Biden Administration fights to unleash a stream of new burdensome regulations for a multitude of vital home appliances like dishwashers, washing machines, refrigerators, air conditioners, and dryers, House Republicans work to protect consumer choice and keep government agencies out of your home.


Let’s be clear: President Biden and Washington bureaucrats' war on everyday household appliances only hurts American families and small businesses.

H.R. 6192, the Hands Off Our Home Appliances Act, introduced by Rep. Debbie Lesko, prevents the Secretary of Energy and the DOE from implementing new or amended energy efficiency standards for appliances that are not technologically feasible and economically justified.

House Republicans will continue working to protect consumer choice from government overreach and ensure families and hardworking Americans can keep their preferred appliances in their homes. 
 
 
Denouncing Biden’s Veto of Legislation Protecting Small Business from NLRB Joint-Employer Rule

In October 2023, Biden’s National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) announced a joint-employer final rule that makes companies jointly liable with their franchisees for workplace policies including union contracts, scheduling, pay, and other practices despite not overseeing the other business’ employees, threatening the American franchise model that supports millions of workers and promotes small business growth.

The Biden Administration and NLRB’s destructive rule not only takes away the freedom and opportunity for hardworking Americans to run their own businesses, but also muddies the waters on their legal liabilities, resulting in higher operational and consumer costs and fewer jobs. 

Once again, the Biden Administration is prioritizing special interests over small businesses and American workers.

We should be fighting to empower small businesses and grow job opportunities to allow Americans to succeed – not imposing more red tape, undermining entrepreneurship, and placing the American Dream out of reach.


H.J. Res. 98, introduced by Rep. John James, repeals the National Labor Relations Board’s burdensome rule relating to "Standard for Determining Joint Employer Status" under the Congressional Review Act, protecting the franchise system, small business, American workers, and entrepreneurship.

Despite this resolution passing both the House and the Senate with bipartisan support, President Biden vetoed it, failing to prioritize America’s best interests over crushing red-tape.

House Republicans won’t stop protecting hardworking Americans and small businesses that keep American entrepreneurship alive from radical job-killing regulations imposed by the Biden Administration.