Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Energy relating to "Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Gas-fired Instantaneous Water Heaters".

# Summary of HJRES 20 **What the bill does:** This bill cancels (nullifies) a Department of Energy regulation that would have required gas-fired instantaneous water heaters to meet stricter energy efficiency standards. The DOE rule, submitted in December 2024, aimed to improve how efficiently these water heaters use energy. By passing this resolution, Congress rejected that regulation before it could take full effect. **Who it affects:** The bill impacts manufacturers of gas water heaters, who would have had to redesign products to meet the new standards, and potentially consumers, since stricter efficiency requirements could affect product availability and pricing.

Energy conservation advocates and environmental groups generally support efficiency standards, while some in the energy industry and Congress argue such regulations increase costs. **Current status:** The bill has been signed into law, meaning it is now official and the DOE's water heater efficiency rule has been nullified. This was accomplished through a congressional disapproval process that allows Congress to overturn federal regulations they believe are problematic. The bill was sponsored by Representative Gary Palmer (R-AL) and passed with Republican support.