[Pages H1226-H1227]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       ROLL BACK ENERGY MANDATES

  (Mr. LaMalfa of California was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Mr. LaMALFA. Mr. Speaker, the previous administration, the Biden 
administration, spent most of its years forcing extreme energy mandates 
onto everyday appliances: our gas stoves, our water heaters, 
dishwashers, air conditioners, you name it.
  These rules really aren't about efficiency, as the manufacturers have 
worked for decades to make them more efficient and meet already 
existing standards. No, it is more of a control situation. These drive 
up costs, limit the choice for consumers, and force everything onto an 
already overloaded power grid. Gas stoves, I know, are the preference 
for many people in their homes. Gas water heaters work well. It is a 
deal where the government wants to take away the choices.
  Natural gas is, indeed, one of the most affordable, reliable energy 
sources we have. The previous administration was the enemy of that. 
They did everything they could to push it out of homes and businesses 
and the production of it on our open lands that have so much potential, 
especially in the Western States.
  We have seen attempts to regulate gas stoves out of existence, and 
earlier this month we in the House voted to overturn one of those 
rules. Americans should be able to choose appliances that work best for 
them, not be forced into expensive, unreliable electric alternatives 
that they may not be able to afford that the government simply 
mandates.
  The push to electrify everything is reckless. In my home State of 
California, for example, they want to take away lawnmowers, leaf 
blowers, even--get this--generators. Now, when the power goes off, that 
means the power is off, the electricity is off. What are you supposed 
to run a generator on, if you need to, especially for a couple days, to 
keep your freezer going, things like that? It doesn't make any sense.
  The electric grid is already struggling to keep up. These mandates 
pile even more demand onto it while shutting down traditional energy 
sources that actually work.
  Where is the electricity going to come from? In my home district in 
northern California, they have torn out four hydroelectric dams, and 
they have their sights on many others. In Mendocino County, they are 
looking at what is called the Scott Dam, Lake Pillsbury that generates 
some electricity and is also important for agriculture. It is a 
constant push to remove water storage.
  In California, we lost one nuclear power plant due to an incredible 
amount of regulations to keep it going. That power plant was in San 
Diego, San Onofre. We are barely holding on to the one in San Luis 
Obispo, which represents 9 percent of the power grid. San Diego also 
represented 9 percent of the grid at that time. It has to be made up 
for with solar panels or windmills, which the solar one that they have 
in Ivanpah they are going to decommission pretty soon because it is not 
working very well. When we are forced into this electricity grid need, 
we will find that we are going to be running out because at the same 
time they mandate this, they mandate taking away the generation.
  We have rolling blackouts in California, skyrocketing energy prices, 
and warnings--get this--not to charge electric cars that have been 
mandated by the State because the grid can't handle it at certain 
hours. Our Governor came out saying, well, we need to do this thing, 
and at the same time they are warning people, better not plug your 
electric car in.
  As we know, wind and solar energy aren't enough to power the country. 
They are a tiny percentage of the overall pie. Wind power seems to work 
for a few years, and then they have to dispose of it, hauling the 
blades to some landfill in Utah because they don't have a way to 
recycle it.

                              {time}  1030

  Mr. Speaker, we need a reliable, balanced energy approach. That 
includes natural gas, which is so abundant in this country with the 
miracle of hydraulic fracturing. We have much that we can develop here 
and also be a good exporter to Europe so they don't have to rely on the 
Russian bear to import through their pipeline. Isn't that something.
  Natural gas is affordable and efficient. It keeps costs down for 
families, businesses, and our economy. Instead of eliminating it, we 
should use it to strengthen our grid and keep energy reliable and cost-
effective.
  The regulations previously were nothing more than government 
overreaches disguised as environmental policy. They don't make life 
better for working Americans, for the economy, or for U.S. strength and 
readiness. They make it more expensive, less reliable, and less 
efficient.
  It is time to roll these regulations back and put the power literally 
back

[[Page H1227]]

in the hands of the people. It has been shown these mandates do not 
make things better; they are less efficient. Let industry and 
innovation catch up to make more efficient systems. The government 
can't do it.

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