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In a bipartisan vote of 226-197 on Tuesday, the House of Representatives approved legislation to overturn Biden administration regulations on shower heads, with supporters framing the measure as a win for consumer choice and a blow against government overreach.
The Saving Homeowners from Overregulation with Exceptional Rinsing Act, or SHOWER Act, aims to codify an executive order issued by former President Donald Trump in April 2023 that directed the Department of Energy to repeal the Biden administration’s interpretation of water pressure regulations for showers.
“Washington bureaucrats have gone too far in dictating what happens in Americans’ own homes,” said Rep. Russell Fry, Republican of South Carolina, who sponsored the bill. “This is about defending consumer choice, pushing back on regulatory overreach and standing up for commonsense policy.”
Eleven Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the measure, including Rep. Jared Golden of Maine, who offered a succinct explanation for his vote: “Shower pressure is a good thing.”
At issue is how federal regulations limit water flow in shower fixtures. Current law establishes maximum water flow rates for shower heads, but the Biden administration interpreted this to mean that the combined flow of multi-nozzle shower systems must stay below that threshold. In practical terms, this means that showers with multiple nozzles would have less pressure per individual nozzle.
The SHOWER Act would redefine how regulators classify shower heads, treating each nozzle as its own separate shower head under the law. Supporters argue this would restore the common understanding of what constitutes a shower head and allow consumers more flexibility in their bathroom fixtures.
Rep. Brett Guthrie, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, emphasized the consumer choice aspect of the legislation. “For far too long, federal regulations and red tape have limited consumer choice and forced Americans to live with limited water pressure,” Guthrie said. “By codifying how different nozzles are categorized, the SHOWER Act offers a commonsense fix that will allow households to choose what meets their needs, not what Washington mandates.”
The debate reflects broader political tensions over government regulation of consumer products. Republicans have increasingly focused on what they characterize as regulatory overreach affecting everyday household items, from gas stoves to dishwashers and now shower heads.
Rep. John McGuire, Republican of Virginia, framed the issue as part of a larger pattern, saying, “It seems like the Democrats want to tax you out of existence and overregulate you. So, [the bill] is a step in the right direction. Less regulation.”
The push to deregulate shower head water flow restrictions began during the Trump administration, when the then-president famously complained about water pressure in showers. In December 2020, the Trump administration finalized rules to allow increased water flow, which the Biden administration later reversed.
Environmental advocates have traditionally supported water flow restrictions as conservation measures, particularly in drought-prone regions. They argue that efficient shower heads can provide satisfactory performance while conserving water and energy used to heat that water.
The legislation now moves to the Senate, where it faces a more challenging path forward. To advance to President Trump’s desk for signature, the bill would need support from at least seven Democratic senators, assuming all Republicans vote in favor.
This shower head legislation represents one of several regulatory rollbacks the Republican-controlled House has pursued since regaining the majority. With divided government, however, most of these measures have stalled in the Democratic-controlled Senate or faced veto threats from President Biden.
For now, the future of American shower pressure remains uncertain as the SHOWER Act continues its legislative journey through Congress.
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10 Comments
As a homeowner, I can understand the desire for strong water pressure in the shower. But I’m not sure this is the best use of Congress’ time and energy right now.
I agree. There are likely more pressing infrastructure and energy policy matters that Congress should be focused on.
While I appreciate the goal of defending consumer choice, this legislation seems like it could have unintended consequences related to water conservation and efficiency. I’d want to see a more thorough analysis before supporting it.
That’s a good point. The environmental impacts of this policy change should be carefully considered.
This shower regulation issue seems like a strange thing for Congress to be focused on. I wonder if there are more pressing infrastructure or energy policy matters they could address instead?
You make a fair point. While consumer choice is important, I’m not sure this is the best use of lawmakers’ time and resources.
It’s interesting to see bipartisan cooperation on this, even if the issue seems somewhat trivial. I’m curious what the real motivations are behind this legislative push.
Yeah, the bipartisan support is noteworthy. It suggests there may be more to this than just shower regulations.
This is an interesting example of the complexities of federal regulations and the balance between consumer choice and broader policy goals. I’m curious to see how this plays out.
Yes, it highlights the tricky trade-offs lawmakers have to navigate when crafting policies that impact both individuals and the larger system.