Democrats break from party to buck Biden-era green appliance policies
Six House Democrats defied their party to push through legislation aimed at blocking green energy regulations put in place by the Biden administration. This move marks a continued divide between moderate Democrats and the more progressive faction within the party.
The first bill, spearheaded by Rep. Stephanie Bice of Oklahoma, aims to reverse regulations set forth by the Department of Energy under former President Joe Biden. These regulations specifically target new clean energy standards for walk-in freezers and coolers. Bice emphasized the financial burden these regulations would place on small businesses, forcing them to incur significant costs to meet the stringent standards. She argued that while the impact may seem minor, the regulatory burden on small businesses nationwide would be substantial, costing them over a billion dollars while only reducing energy use by 6%.
In a parallel move, Rep. Craig Goldman of Texas introduced a second resolution targeting Biden-era rules on commercial refrigerators, freezers, and refrigerator-freezers. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota voiced support for these efforts, stating that House Republicans are committed to preventing the Biden administration’s “Green New Scam” from imposing unnecessary burdens on American businesses and consumers. Republicans have been actively working to overturn many of Biden’s progressive energy regulations since gaining power in Washington.
Both resolutions received bipartisan support, with six Democrats backing Bice’s resolution and five supporting Goldman’s. Representatives Don Davis of North Carolina, Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez of Texas, Adam Gray of California, and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington all voted in favor of both resolutions. Rep. Jared Golden of Maine supported Bice’s resolution but not Goldman’s.
This legislative push reflects ongoing tensions within the Democratic Party over environmental policies and regulations. By utilizing joint resolutions of disapproval, Congress aims to serve as a check on executive branch regulatory actions. The bipartisan support for these bills highlights the complex dynamics at play within the party on issues related to green energy and climate policy.
As the debate over environmental regulations continues to unfold on Capitol Hill, it remains to be seen how these efforts to block Biden-era rules will impact the broader energy policy landscape in the United States. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
