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House members voted on a procedural attempt to block a bill that would limit the Department of Energy's ability to set appliance efficiency standards. The motion failed on a party-line vote.
This vote was on a 'Motion to Recommit' regarding H.R. 4626, the Home Appliance Protection and Affordability Act. The underlying bill seeks to prevent the Department of Energy from implementing new energy efficiency rules for household appliances unless they are proven to be both technologically feasible and cost-effective for consumers. It also creates a new process for the public to challenge existing standards. In the U.S. House of Representatives, a Motion to Recommit is a final procedural hurdle offered by the minority party just before a bill passes. Under current rules, if this motion succeeds, the bill is sent back to a committee, which effectively ends its chances of passing. Because the rules no longer allow for specific changes to be added during this step, it is almost exclusively used as a tactical move to try and kill the legislation. The motion failed 197 to 208, split strictly along party lines. Republicans voted against the motion to keep the bill moving toward final passage, while Democrats voted for it in an effort to block the measure. Because the motion failed, the House proceeded immediately to a final vote on the bill itself.
Immediately following this vote, the House held a final vote on the passage of H.R. 4626.
OPEN BILL →Democrats. The Democratic caucus voted unanimously to support the motion in an attempt to block the Republican-led energy bill.
Republicans. The Republican caucus voted unanimously against the motion to ensure their legislation reached a final passage vote.
House members voted on a procedural attempt to block a bill that would limit the Department of Energy's ability to set appliance efficiency standards.
The motion failed on a party-line vote.
A 'Motion to Recommit' is a last-ditch effort by the opposing party to stop a bill by sending it back to a committee. Under current House rules, this is a purely procedural move that does not allow for specific amendments, making it a simple 'yes or no' vote on whether to proceed with the bill.
Immediately following this vote, the House held a final vote on the passage of H.R. 4626.
This was a textbook party-line vote where every voting Republican opposed the motion and every voting Democrat supported it.
The Democratic caucus voted unanimously to support the motion in an attempt to block the Republican-led energy bill.
The Republican caucus voted unanimously against the motion to ensure their legislation reached a final passage vote.
The chamber's lone independent member voted with Republicans to defeat the motion.