Bill · H.R. 4626· House(119-HR-4626)
Home Appliance Protection and Affordability Act
- Introduced
- 7/23/2025
- Last activity
- 2/25/2026 — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- Sponsored by
- Rick Allen
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- Passed House
- In Senate committee
What this bill would do
The Home Appliance Protection and Affordability Act aims to amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. It seeks to restrict the Secretary of Energy from prescribing new or amended energy conservation standards unless they are technologically feasible and economically justified. The bill introduces stricter requirements for economic impact analysis, including looking at costs to low-income households and rural populations. It also establishes specific thresholds for energy and water savings that must be met. Additionally, the act provides for the potential revocation of existing standards and prohibits new standards for distribution transformers.
Yes· 3 of 6
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+5
The bill mandates that economic analyses consider the specific costs of energy standards on low-income households.
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?+5
The bill increases consumer protection by requiring energy standards to be economically justified and preventing unnecessary cost increases.
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?+4
The bill requires consideration of the specific cost variations and impacts on rural populations.
The opposite
Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change?-3
By restricting new energy conservation standards, the bill may slow the rate of carbon emission reductions.
Does this give the federal government more power?-3
The bill limits the authority of the Secretary of Energy to set federal energy standards.
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?-2
The bill limits the Secretary's ability to mandate more stringent environmental standards for appliances.
What Congress actually voted on
2 recorded votes have been taken on this bill. One of them decided something; the rest moved it along.
- The House: the vote on whether to pass the billPassed 217–190
This is the real decision in this chamber. Passing here sends the bill to the other chamber, which must pass it too before it can go to the President.
02/24/2026 · Roll call 76 · recorded as “On Passage”
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Consumer Interest Prioritization: The Secretary is required to prioritize the interests of consumers when determining if an energy conservation standard is economically justified (Section 2(c)(3)(F)(i)).
-
Economic Protection for Households: The bill requires an economic impact analysis that specifically looks at the effects of standards on costs to low-income households and variations in costs for rural populations (Section 2(c)(3)(A)(i)).
-
Prevention of Increased Costs: A standard cannot be deemed economically justified unless it is unlikely to result in additional net costs to the consumer regarding the purchase, installation, maintenance, disposal, and replacement of the product (Section 2(c)(3)(B)(i)).
-
Guaranteed Savings Value: The bill ensures that the monetary value of energy or water savings during the first three years of use must be greater than any increased costs to the consumer (Section 2(c)(3)(B)(ii)).
-
Product Utility Maintenance: The Secretary is prohibited from prescribing standards that would result in the lessening of a product's utility or performance, such as its life span or operating conditions (Section 2(c)(3)(D)).
-
Transparency in Meetings: The bill requires the public disclosure of meetings held by the Secretary with certain entities, such as those with ties to the People's Republic of China or the Chinese Communist Party (Section 2(c)(2)(E)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Restriction on Energy Standards for Infrastructure: The bill prohibits the Secretary from prescribing any new or amended energy conservation standards for distribution transformers (Section 3).
-
Potential Loss of Standards: The bill amends the law to allow for the revocation of existing energy conservation standards if certain criteria are met, such as if the standards result in additional costs to consumers (Section 2(b)(2)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Low Income Households+5Good For Rural Residents+4Good For Middle Class Households+3Good For Business Owners+2
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Consumer Protection+5
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Reduces Carbon Emissions-3Improves Environmental Protections-2
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+4Increases Federal Power-3
| Updated | Bill | Title | Policy Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 months ago | On agreeing to the Rules amendment (A001) Agreed to without objection. |
- 2/25/2026
- Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 2/24/2026
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 217 - 190 (Roll no. 76). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H4679-4681)
- On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 217 - 190 (Roll no. 76). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H4679-4681)
- On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 197 - 208 (Roll no. 75). (CR H2285)
- Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2279-2286)
- POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 4626, the Chair put the question on motion to recommit and by voice vote, announced the noes had prevailed. Mr. Suozzi demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
- The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.
- Mr. Suozzi moved to recommit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. (CR H2285)
- The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 4626.
- Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4626 and H.R. 4758. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 4626 and H.R. 4758 under a closed rule with one motion to recommit for each bill. The resolution provides for one hour of general debate on each bill.
- Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1075. (consideration: CR H2269-2276)
- Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1075 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4626 and H.R. 4758. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 4626 and H.R. 4758 under a closed rule with one motion to recommit for each bill. The resolution provides for one hour of general debate on each bill.
- 1/30/2026
- Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 119-470.
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 401.
- 12/3/2025
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 26 - 22.
- 11/19/2025
- Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 17 - 14.
- 7/23/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.