Hands Off Our Home Appliances Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. STEUBE. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of an amendment originally sponsored by Congressman Huizenga that requires the Secretary of Energy to disclose certain stakeholder meetings with any entity that meets the following criteria:

First, the entity must have ties to the People's Republic of China or the Chinese Communist Party.

Second, it must have produced studies regarding or has advocated for policies to limit, restrict, or ban the use of any type of energy.

Third, the entity must have applied for or received Federal funds.

In June of last year, nearly the same amendment was offered to Save Our Gas Stove Act, and it passed by a voice vote--because this is a solid policy prescription for a serious problem. The problem is that China-connected groups seem to have fast-pass access to the White House and our Federal agencies.

The entities I am concerned with are not only tied to the Chinese Communist Party, but they are peddling anti-energy policies that raise costs on American families and businesses--like gas stove bans. In addition to access, they often receive your tax dollars as well, in the form of grant funding.

Unfortunately, the Biden administration has not been transparent about who it is meeting with, let alone their plans to ban gas-powered appliances.

Last year, a government watchdog group revealed a private meeting between the Secretary of Energy and one of these types of groups. We have since found this has not been an uncommon practice.

Over the past few years, we have faced a litany of burdensome regulations from the Biden administration targeting appliances.

As the underlying bill reflects, it is not just gas stoves--it is your washer, your dryer, your dishwasher, and much more.

We have a major problem if groups with known connections to China are able to successfully influence the executive branch in ways that undermine cost-effective appliance options that meet Americans' daily needs.

This amendment would inject critical transparency, curb the influence of the CCP-connected groups, and responsibly expose to America who has the ear of our regulators.

I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. STEUBE. Mr. Chair, this bill would provide transparency to who the Department is meeting with and who is influencing their decisions.

Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

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