Austin News

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz's resolution to roll back an appliance regulation introduced by the Biden-Harris administration has successfully passed in the Senate and now awaits the signature of President Trump. The regulation in question, established in December 2024, focused on water heaters, potentially increasing costs and limiting consumer choices.

Senator Cruz commented on the passage, stating, "The Biden-Harris administration knew they were increasing costs on Americans and they didn’t care. Their rule would have forced Americans to either pay hundreds of dollars more for efficient water heaters or purchase less efficient models. I applaud Congress for passing my resolution rescinding this rule, and when the President signs it in the coming days it will restore fairness, consumer choice, and affordability to the American people."

The resolution has gained support from organizations such as the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) and the American Public Gas Association (APGA). Adam Temple from NFIB expressed concern about the potential impact on small businesses, noting that "small businesses believe that consumers and business owners should have the freedom to decide which product works best for their specific needs, no matter what fuel source the product uses."

Dave Schryver, President and CEO of APGA, also voiced his support for the resolution, describing the rule as "deeply flawed" and praising Senator Cruz and his colleagues for addressing what he called an "unnecessary and costly" measure. Schryver emphasized, "APGA believes that Americans should have the freedom to choose the appliances that best meet their household needs and budgets."

Industry experts estimate that the regulation could have added between $450 to $665 to the cost of each affected water heater. Cruz's Congressional Review Act resolution was introduced in January to prevent these potential cost increases and market limitations.