U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, attends a panel discussion titled Conservative Solutions to Global Climate Challenges: A Robust U.S. Energy, Climate and Conservation Agenda, in the U.S. Pavilion at the COP27 U.N. Climate Summit, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, Friday, Nov. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Thomas Hartwell)

The U.S. House passed two bills on Tuesday, both claiming to “protect your home appliances,” according to House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA). 

The bills are known as the Refrigerator Freedom Act and the Stop Unaffordable Dishwasher Standards Act, both of which limit the Department of Energy’s authority over enforcing energy conservation standards on the appliances.

These bills prevent the DoE from implementing energy efficient regulations unless the standards are “cost-effective, significantly save energy, and be technologically feasible.” 

Iowa Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks introduced the Refrigerator Freedom Act in March, followed shortly by New York Republican Rep. Nick Langworthy’s dishwasher bill.

House Republicans have placed a newfound focus on home appliance-related legislation to combat the Biden-Harris administration’s energy efficiency actions aimed to reduce climate change. 

The Hands Off Our Home Appliances Act was passed by the House in May — the first of six related bills to be passed. The other bills that have yet to be voted on include the Liberty in Laundry Act, the Clothes Dryer Reliability Act and the Affordable Air Conditioning Act, affecting standards for clothes washers, clothes dryers and air conditioning units, respectively.

“Apparently, they’re more concerned about the freedom of our refrigerator than the freedom to make decisions about our own bodies,” said Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) on the House floor. “They’re more concerned about our dishwashers than they are about democracy. And they’re more concerned about appliances than an autocrat who is seeking reelection, who says he wants to be a dictator on day one.”

“They have no problem depriving women of their reproductive rights, stripping away freedom from the LGBTQ community, and hindering families who want IVF. None of these groups deserve freedom according to the Republicans, but refrigerators? Sign them up,” Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) said. 

However, it is highly unlikely these bills will be passed by the Democratic-led Senate.