In an unprecedented move to advance legislation vital to NAHB members and the housing community, every member of the NAHB Government Affairs team fanned out across Capitol Hill today urging House lawmakers to bring the Energy Choice Act quickly to a vote on the House floor.
NAHB lobbyists, intergovernmental affairs and BUILD-PAC staff held meetings in more than 40 House offices citing the importance of this legislation to our members and urging lawmakers to bring this legislation to a floor vote.
The Energy Choice Act would prevent state or local governments from banning the use of gas in homes and buildings. Many states have explored the idea of instituting a gas ban, and some have taken measures to make this a reality.
For example, in a major victory in the long legal battle over New York’s statewide gas ban for new homes, NAHB and the New York State Builders Association have secured a suspension of the new regulations while the case works through the appeals process.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration recently forecast that U.S. households using natural gas spent about 42% less on heating this winter compared to those using electricity.
NAHB is pulling out all the stops to urge Congress to pass this important legislation to preserve energy choice for home owners across the country, ensuring they can continue to access the most affordable energy options available.
A letter was sent to members of Congress designating support for the Energy Choice Act as a “key vote” because of its importance to the housing community. The letter said that states and localities across the nation that seek to restrict access to natural gas or mandate full electrification are driving up housing costs.
“In colder climates, a full electrification package can add more than $15,000 to the cost of constructing a new home,” the letter to lawmakers said. “These added costs come at a time when nearly 75% of U.S. households already cannot afford a median-priced new home, underscoring the need for federal policies that avoid imposing unnecessary burdens on housing affordability.”
While meeting with the top staff in more than three dozen congressional offices on the need to move quickly on this legislation, the NAHB Government Affairs team hammered home that harmful bans on gas will:
- Prevent American households from choosing the heating and cooking methods best suited to their individual needs, local climates and family budgets,
- Increase energy costs for families,
- Eliminate a reliable source of energy that keeps homes heated and people safe during harsh winters,
- Place added stress on the nation’s electrical grid, and
- Discourage energy diversification.
The Energy Choice Act currently has more than 150 cosponsors and was passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. NAHB continues to make this legislation a top priority and calls on the House leadership to schedule a vote for this bill on the House floor in the near future.
