Brian Tebbenkamp, President and Owner, Patriot Homes Inc. | Linkedin Website
Brian Tebbenkamp, President and Owner, Patriot Homes Inc. | Linkedin Website
Congressmen Brett Guthrie and Bob Latta have announced a legislative hearing to discuss appliance and building policies aimed at enhancing consumer choice and reducing costs for American families. The hearing, titled "Appliance and Building Policies: Restoring the American Dream of Home Ownership and Consumer Choice," will take place on September 16, 2025, at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C.
The hearing will address several bills intended to roll back regulations that are perceived as increasing energy costs and limiting options for consumers. These include the "Don’t Mess with My Home Appliances Act" by Rep. Allen, the "Homeowner Energy Freedom Act" by Rep. Goldman, and the "Energy Choice Act" by Rep. Langworthy, among others.
Guthrie and Latta said, "Throughout this Congress, our Committee has heard testimony from witnesses on how red tape and bureaucratic mandates have led to higher energy costs and fewer options for American families." They emphasized that the hearing would focus on supporting consumer freedom by removing harmful regulations.
Brian Tebbenkamp from the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City is set to testify about the negative effects of federal energy efficiency mandates on housing affordability. He noted that these mandates have led to a significant drop in single-family permits in Kansas City due to stringent codes tied to federal funding incentives.
Tebbenkamp's testimony highlights issues such as the adoption of the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) without amendments in Kansas City. This move was influenced by federal grants under IRA Section 50131 but resulted in reduced housing production and increased construction delays.
He advocates for support of H.R. 4758, which aims to repeal these federal incentives and restore local control over building code decisions. Tebbenkamp argues that current policies prioritize federal funding over practical solutions tailored to community needs.
The hearing will be open to both the public and press, with a livestream available online at https://energycommerce.house.gov/. For inquiries regarding this event, Calvin Huggins can be contacted via email.
Information from this article can be found here.
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