Congressional Bill to Repeal National Efficiency Standards for Plumbing Products is Back

April, 2001

Water conservation in L.A. is saving water and power, allowing Mono Lake to rise, and resulting in less dust storms. Congressman Knollenberg (R-MI) is seeking co-sponsors for HR1479, his recently introduced bill to repeal the national plumbing efficiency standards. The California Urban Water Conservation Council (CUWCC) is urging everyone to contact their members of Congress to NOT sign onto this bill. This is the same bill introduced in the last three Congresses (see links at bottom of page), and it continues to threaten water conservation efforts nationwide. The Mono Lake Committee takes these threats to water conservation seriously, and our Executive Director of Policy, Frances Spivy-Weber, is writing letters on MLC's behalf. You can help by writing to your representatives too!

Alert from the CUWCC:

Yet once again Representative Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) has introduced a bill to repeal the national plumbing efficiency standards. This is the third Congressional Session in a row. And this Session our battle to defeat his bill will be tougher than ever.

I am writing to ask that you contact your California Congressional delegation to urge them to not support HR 1479, the new bill number assigned to Joe Knollenberg's latest attempt. This bill, like the two predecessors before it, would repeal the efficiency standards for showerheads, faucets, toilets and urinals contained in the Federal Energy Policy Act of 1992, leaving each state to do as it wishes. The language is identical to that of past bills (HR 623, HR 859). Click here for the current status, including text, of HR 1479.

Knollenberg is seeking co-sponsors to the bill. He already has 34 of them --one so far from California (Rohrabacher). Please ask your Representatives NOT to join on this bill as a sponsor. Click here for a current list of cosponsors.

He has also introduced a resolution, HJ Res 44, a resolution of disapproval of the new efficiency standard for clothes washers which had been adopted by the outgoing Clinton administration.

Congress is in a four week recess, so the time is right to move on this issue. Please contact your delegation and let us know the outcome. If your Representative is one of the critical California members of the Energy and Air Quality Subcommittee (listed below) please contact them IMMEDIATELY.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Honorable _________
United States House of Representatives
Washington D.C., 20515

For the Senate at:
Honorable __________
United States Senate
Washington D.C., 20510

ENERGY AND POWER SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERS:

Rep. Henry Waxman
http://www.house.gov/waxman/Contact_Rep._Waxman/contact_rep._waxman.htm

Rep. Mary Bono
http://www.house.gov/bono/contact.htm

Rep. George Radanovich
http://www.house.gov/radanovich/contact.htm

Rep. Christopher Cox, Newport Beach
http://www.house.gov/chriscox/oc/services/contacting.htm

FORMER CALIFORNIA CO-SPONSORS:

Rep. Wally Herger, Marysville, Chico Redding
http://www.house.gov/herger/contact.htm

Rep. John Doolittle, Roseville
http://www.house.gov/doolittle/

Rep. Ken Calvert, Riverside County
http://www.house.gov/calvert/