U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) took to X on Tuesday to express her disapproval of the passage of a bill designed to prevent the federal government from imposing sweeping regulations that would dictate how Americans are allowed to wash their clothes.

Rep. Pingree responded to the passage of the Liberty in Laundry Act, put forward by Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) and designed to stop federal energy efficiency rules from imposing undue costs on consumers and restricting the household appliances they can purchase.

“Here’s the reality: Energy-efficiency standards are *not* bans. They’re commonsense tools that save Americans money while cutting greenhouse gas emissions. I voted NO on this ridiculous bill because Americans deserve real cost-saving measures, not more empty campaign promises,” said Pingree on X.

The bill specifically addresses new Department of Energy (DOE) regulations proposed under President Joe Biden that would impose new energy and water efficiency standards for residential washing machines and dryers, set to take effect in 2028.

The federal government has not announced new regulations for washers and dryers since 2011 under the Obama Administration.

Rep. Ogles’ bill demands that any new regulations for washing machines consider the technological feasibility and economic effects of any potential regulations.

The secretary of energy is forbidden from imposing any new regulations that will ultimately increase net costs for consumers, including costs associated with the purchase of a new machine, its maintenance, energy and water use, installation, and even the cost of removing the old machine.

The Biden Administration, along with Pingree, claims that the new regulations will ultimately save Americans money by reducing energy and water bills.

The DOE claimed in February, when it announced the coming regulations, that they will ultimately save American households a collective $2.2 billion per year in energy and water costs, along with numerous alleged environmental benefits.

The DOE’s announcement conspicuously avoided mentioning the costs of actually purchasing the machines or any other associated costs that must be considered under the newly passed bill.

According to HomeGuide, the current average price range for buying a new washing machine and dryer set is between $1,000 and $2,300, not including the cost of installation or the cost to remove an old machine.

Ogles believes that the new regulations will ultimately lead to increased costs for Americans and may even fail to reduce energy and water bills.

“This administration is still doing its best to make household appliances unaffordable,” said Ogles, “When the government tries to micromanage something as basic as your laundry routine, including which washing machines you can buy, and how much you pay for them, my Republican colleagues and I will take a stand.”

Dryers are not mentioned in the bill, and if it ultimately becomes law, the federal government will still be free to impose burdensome efficiency regulations on those.

The bill passed by a slim 215-200 margin, split largely along party lines, with all voting Republicans supporting the bill, and all but six voting Democrats opposing it.

U.S. Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) joined Pingree in opposing the bill.