The Republican-controlled House on Tuesday advanced legislation aimed at loosening federal efficiency standards for showerheads, a move that would align federal rules more closely with President Donald Trump’s long-running push to relax water conservation requirements.
The bill, dubbed the Saving Homeowners from Overregulation With Exceptional Rinsing, or Shower ACT, passed 226-197, with 11 Democrats crossing party lines to support it.
Republicans said the measure would remove unnecessary regulations and allow more water to flow through showerheads. Democrats, by contrast, warned that relaxed standards could lead to higher utility bills and worsen environmental impacts.
The bill’s sponsor, GOP Rep. Russell Fry, said on the House floor that consumer choice should determine how much water devices use, saying, “If they want a nozzle that dribbles on their head, well then go get one of those. If you want something that slices an orange, well then go get one of those. That should be your choice as a consumer.”
Backers argued that the legislation is part of a broader effort by House Speaker Mike Johnson to codify Trump’s executive actions into federal law. The AP reported that the House vote came as Senate lawmakers focus on other priorities, leaving the Shower ACT’s prospects uncertain.
The policy debate centers on how federal standards limit water flow from showerheads. For more than three decades, federal energy law has set limits on how much water new showerheads may pour out, including a cap of 2.5 gallons of water per minute (9.5 liters).
The AP said that under the Obama administration, the restrictions were applied to the total water coming out of the entire showerhead, including models with several nozzles. During Trump’s first term, the rule was relaxed to allow each nozzle to spray as much as 2.5 gallons, and the Biden administration reversed the approach in 2021.
Republicans defending the bill argued that it would correct what they portray as overly tight rules. GOP Rep. Michael Rulli said Republicans are “worried about the working man,” adding, “You go on vacation, you go to a motel and you get a shower, it’s the worst shower you ever had. It’s cold. It’s dripping out there. The working man cannot even enjoy his daily life.”
Democrats used the chamber’s time on the bill to argue it was misplaced and politically skewed toward wealthier Americans. Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M., said during debate last week, “Why on God’s green earth, on the first full day that this Congress is back in 2026, are the Republicans using the floor time — in the midst of armed conflict and daily corruption by this administration — to run a bill on rich people showers?”
Environmental groups also criticized the proposal, warning that changes to showerhead efficiency standards would increase water consumption and energy use. Democrats echoed those concerns as the House moved the bill forward.
In April, Trump signed an executive order calling for an immediate end to water conservation standards that limit gallons per minute flowing through showerheads and other household appliances, including dishwashers, washing machines and toilets, the AP reported. The House bill builds on that directive by seeking to reduce what Republicans characterize as overregulation by permitting stronger water flow in homes than current standards allow.