Bill Summary
The Joint Resolution is a legislative action taken by both houses of Congress to formally disapprove a specific rule issued by the Department of Energy. This rule pertains to the Energy Conservation Program, which includes certification and labeling requirements for certain consumer products and commercial equipment aimed at promoting energy efficiency. By passing this resolution, Congress asserts that the rule, as published in the Federal Register, will not be implemented or enforced, effectively nullifying its effect. This resolution reflects Congress's authority to oversee and regulate federal agency rules under Chapter 8 of Title 5 of the United States Code.
Possible Impacts
The Joint Resolution disapproving the Department of Energy's rule on energy conservation for appliances can have several effects on people. Here are three examples:
1. **Increased Energy Costs for Consumers**: By disapproving the energy conservation program and its associated standards, consumers might face higher utility bills. Appliances that do not meet energy efficiency standards typically consume more energy, leading to increased operational costs for households and businesses.
2. **Limited Availability of Energy-Efficient Appliances**: Manufacturers may be less incentivized to produce energy-efficient appliances if standards are not enforced. This could lead to a market flooded with less efficient products, reducing options for consumers who wish to purchase eco-friendly appliances, which could also affect their long-term savings on energy costs.
3. **Environmental Impact**: The lack of enforcement of energy conservation standards may hinder efforts to reduce carbon emissions and other pollutants associated with energy production. This can have broader environmental consequences, affecting air quality and contributing to climate change, which ultimately impacts public health and the environment for all individuals.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 42 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]
H.J.Res.42
One Hundred Nineteenth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE FIRST SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Friday,
the third day of January, two thousand and twenty-five
Joint Resolution
Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5,
United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Energy
relating to ``Energy Conservation Program for Appliance Standards:
Certification Requirements, Labeling Requirements, and Enforcement
Provisions for Certain Consumer Products and Commercial Equipment''.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled, That Congress disapproves the
rule submitted by the Department of Energy relating to ``Energy
Conservation Program for Appliance Standards: Certification
Requirements, Labeling Requirements, and Enforcement Provisions for
Certain Consumer Products and Commercial Equipment'' (89 Fed. Reg.
81994 (October 9, 2024)), and such rule shall have no force or effect.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.