Ahead of tomorrow’s vote on H.R. 7673, the Liberty in Laundry Act, which attacks appliance efficiency standards for laundry machines, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) sent the following letter to members of the House.

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December 9, 2024

U.S. House of Representatives

Washington, DC 20515

Re: Oppose H.R. 7673, the Liberty in Laundry Act

Dear Representatives:

The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) believes that everyone has a right to clean air, clean water, public lands, and a safe climate protected by a just and equitable democracy. Each year, LCV publishes the National Environmental Scorecard, which details the voting records of members of Congress on environmental legislation. The Scorecard is distributed to LCV members, concerned voters nationwide, and the media.

LCV urges you to vote NO on H.R. 7673, the so-called Liberty in Laundry Act, which could effectively revoke current and block future actions from the Department of Energy setting appliance efficiency standards for clothes washers that lower consumer costs and reduce wasted energy and water. Instead of promoting money-saving efficiency standards, this bill could force customers to rely on outdated, inefficient technology and must be rejected.

The Department of Energy has long-standing authority to set forward looking efficiency standards that lower energy costs for consumers, improve grid reliability, and lower overall energy and water usage. Efficiency standards promulgated by the agency cut household utility bills by an average of $500 a year. This bill would prevent the agency from appropriately considering utility bill savings when setting appliance efficiency standards for clothes washers, pushing consumers towards options that cost them more money in the long term.

The benefits of energy and water efficient appliances extend well beyond the individual household. As nationwide energy demand grows, energy efficient appliances relieve stress on the grid and tight water supplies, and improve overall systems’ reliability. Efficiency standards lead to reduced pollution from buildings and power plants, improving air quality and public health, especially in low-income communities disproportionately impacted by air pollution. In the face of worsening climate change-fueled droughts across the country, using water more efficiently takes on added importance. Now is not the time to roll back standards that safeguard our drinking water and reduce families’ energy bills, as H.R. 7673 would do.

We urge you to REJECT H.R. 7673, the so-called Liberty in Laundry Act. LCV will strongly consider including votes on this bill in our 2024 National Environmental Scorecard. If you would like more information, please reach out to a member of our government relations team.

Sincerely,

Gene Karpinski

President

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