Bill Summary
This bill mandates that the Secretaries of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Agriculture withdraw a previously announced final determination regarding new energy efficiency standards for HUD- and USDA-financed housing. It prohibits these agencies from using federal funds to enforce or implement this determination or any similar standards. Furthermore, it restores the energy efficiency standards that were in place prior to the final determination.
Additionally, the bill restricts the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency from taking similar actions related to energy efficiency standards for housing. It also amends the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act to ensure that no fewer than 26 states have adopted energy efficiency codes or standards that meet or exceed those required by the revised federal standards. Overall, this legislation seeks to roll back federal energy efficiency requirements and emphasizes the authority of states in setting their own standards.
Possible Impacts
The legislation you provided appears to withdraw specific energy efficiency standards for housing, which can have several implications for various stakeholders. Here are three examples of how this legislation could affect people:
1. **Homeowners and Renters**: By retracting energy efficiency standards, homeowners and renters may face increased energy costs due to less stringent requirements for energy-efficient construction and retrofitting. This could lead to higher utility bills as homes may not be built or renovated to the latest energy-efficient specifications, impacting their overall financial situation.
2. **Builders and Developers**: The withdrawal of the energy efficiency standards could potentially lower the cost of construction for builders and developers since they may not be required to incorporate the latest energy-saving technologies or materials. This could make housing projects more financially viable in the short term but may also lead to long-term implications regarding the sustainability and value of the housing stock.
3. **Environmental Impact**: With less emphasis on energy efficiency in housing, there may be negative implications for the environment. Reduced energy efficiency can lead to greater energy consumption, increasing greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to climate change. This can affect the broader community by exacerbating environmental issues, such as air quality and energy sustainability, which ultimately impact public health and welfare.
These examples highlight the potential economic, environmental, and social ramifications of the legislation on various groups within society.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3178 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 3178
To require the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and the
Secretary of Agriculture to withdraw a final determination relating to
energy efficiency standards for housing, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
November 18, 2025
Mr. Barrasso (for himself, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Ricketts, Ms.
Lummis, Mr. Mullin, Mr. Hoeven, Mr. Cramer, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Moreno,
Mrs. Fischer, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, and Mr. Young) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking,
Housing, and Urban Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and the
Secretary of Agriculture to withdraw a final determination relating to
energy efficiency standards for housing, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. ENERGY EFFICIENCY STANDARDS FOR HOUSING.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and
the Secretary of Agriculture--
(1) shall withdraw the final determination announced in the
notice of final determination entitled ``Adoption of Energy
Efficiency Standards for New Construction of HUD- and USDA-
Financed Housing'' (89 Fed. Reg. 33112);
(2) may not take any action or use any Federal funds to
implement or enforce the final determination described in
paragraph (1) or any substantially similar final determination;
and
(3) shall revert energy efficiency standards for covered
programs under the final determination described in paragraph
(1) to the energy efficiency standards required before the
final determination.
(b) Action by Additional Agencies.--
(1) Department of veterans affairs.--The Secretary of
Veterans Affairs may not take any action or use any Federal
funds to implement or enforce a final determination that is
substantially similar to the final determination described in
subsection (a)(1).
(2) Federal housing finance agency.--Notwithstanding any
other provision of law, the Director of the Federal Housing
Finance Agency may not finalize, implement, or enforce a
determination or rule relating to energy efficiency standards
for single and multifamily housing.
(c) Consideration of State Standards.--Section 109(d) of the
Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12709(d))
is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) not fewer than 26 States have adopted an energy
efficiency code or standard that meets or exceeds the
requirements of the revised code or standard.''.
<all>