MATSUI JOINS SEEC IN CRITICIZING REPUBLICAN EFFORT TO BLOCK COST-SAVINGS FOR AMERICAN HOUSEHOLDS

Washington, D.C. – The leaders of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC), including Co-Chairs Reps. Doris Matsui, Mike Quigley, and Paul Tonko, Vice Chairs Reps. Don Beyer, Matt Cartwright, Sean Casten, Chellie Pingree, and Katie Porter, and Chair Emeritus Rep. Gerry Connolly, released the following statement in response to the passage of the Republican-led ‘Refrigerator Freedom Act’ (H.R. 7637) and ‘Stop Unaffordable Dishwashers Standards Act’ (H.R. 7700) that block the Department of Energy’s (DOE) work to deliver cost-savings and home-efficiency wins for American families.

“Today, House Republicans wasted valuable congressional time fearmongering about ‘freedom for refrigerators’ and ‘dignity for dishwashers’ and passing bills that do nothing to lower costs for American consumers or make American lives any easier. From turning on the lights to running the dishwasher, DOE’s incredibly successful cost-cutting home efficiency standards have helped ensure that American families can save money on their energy bills every single day. Yet, House Republicans want to block DOE from ever helping Americans save money on two of the most common household products again.

“What the American people saw today was a repeat of an entirely pointless Republican messaging exercise, and there’s more to come. Apparently, House Republicans have nothing better to do than to list every common household appliance they’d like to remain energy inefficient and expensive for the American people.”

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