The House Tuesday passed 217-190 Republican-led legislation that aims to make it more difficult for the federal government to issue stricter energy-efficiency standards for consumer household appliances.
The bill would change how the Energy Department puts in place energy conservation standards, requiring the agency to include additional criteria related to the cost and availability of such energy-saving products, like dishwashers, air conditioners, and freezers. It would amend the 1975 Energy Policy and Conservation Act.
It now heads to the Senate.
The legislation (