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The House voted 214-193 to pass H.J.Res. 75, a resolution to block new Department of Energy efficiency standards for commercial refrigerators and freezers. The measure passed primarily along party lines.
This vote was on a "joint resolution of disapproval" under the Congressional Review Act, which is a tool Congress uses to overturn rules made by federal agencies. This specific resolution targets a Department of Energy rule that would have required commercial refrigerators and freezers—the kind used in grocery stores and restaurants—to meet significantly higher energy efficiency standards. In plain terms, a "yea" vote was a vote to kill the new regulation, while a "nay" vote was a vote to let the energy-saving rules go into effect. Because this was a passage vote, the House is formally declaring that the rule should have no legal force. The resolution passed with 214 votes, just 10 more than the minimum required. The outcome reflects a sharp divide in how the parties view regulation: Republicans argued the rules would increase costs for businesses, while Democrats generally supported the rules as a way to reduce energy consumption and environmental impact. The bill eventually became Public Law 119-9.
Following this House passage, the resolution moved to the Senate for consideration; it eventually received the President's signature to become Public Law 119-9.
OPEN BILL →Why it matters. This vote determined whether the federal government could enforce new energy efficiency requirements on equipment used in nearly every grocery store and restaurant in the country.
Who’s affected. Manufacturers: Avoided the costs of redesigning product lines to meet higher efficiency standards. · Business Owners: Potential for lower upfront costs on new equipment but higher long-term energy bills. · Environmental Interests: Missed opportunity for significant energy savings and carbon emission reductions.
Democrats. The vast majority of Democrats (195) voted against the resolution, supporting the implementation of stricter energy efficiency standards.
Republicans. Republicans voted unanimously (212) in favor of the resolution to stop the regulation, citing concerns over business costs.
On Passage
Mar 27, 2025
The House voted 214-193 to pass H.J.Res.
75, a resolution to block new Department of Energy efficiency standards for commercial refrigerators and freezers. The measure passed primarily along party lines.
This is a vote under the Congressional Review Act, which allows Congress to overturn executive branch regulations with a simple majority. If both the House and Senate pass the resolution and it is signed by the President, the regulation is voided and the agency is prohibited from issuing a similar rule in the future.
Following this House passage, the resolution moved to the Senate for consideration; it eventually received the President's signature to become Public Law 119-9.
This vote determined whether the federal government could enforce new energy efficiency requirements on equipment used in nearly every grocery store and restaurant in the country.
The vote was almost entirely along party lines, with Republicans voting to overturn the regulation and Democrats voting to uphold it.
The vast majority of Democrats (195) voted against the resolution, supporting the implementation of stricter energy efficiency standards.
Republicans voted unanimously (212) in favor of the resolution to stop the regulation, citing concerns over business costs.
The lone independent member voted in favor of the resolution.