Congressman Pat Harrigan Votes to Cut Red Tape Blocking Fossil Fuels from Federal Buildings

Contact: Lexi Kranich (814) 380-4408

WASHINGTON, D.C.-Today, Congressman Pat Harrigan (NC-10) voted in favor of H.R. 4690, the Reliable Federal Infrastructure Act, legislation that repeals Biden-era federal building energy efficiency mandates that effectively banned fossil fuel use in federal construction and blocked buildings from receiving green certifications if they used natural gas or other fossil fuels.

"The last administration decided that natural gas had no place in a federal building, and they buried that ideology deep in the regulatory code where most people would never find it," said Congressman Harrigan. "That is exactly the kind of bureaucratic overreach that drives up costs and leaves hardworking Americans footing the bill. Energy that is reliable and affordable should not be penalized because it does not fit Washington's preferred agenda. This bill fixes that."

Under the previous rules, a federal building could be denied a green certification solely because it used fossil fuels, regardless of how efficient or reliable it was. The Reliable Federal Infrastructure Act repeals those restrictions and ensures energy source alone cannot disqualify a building from certification.

The bill now heads to the Senate. The Secretary of Energy will also be directed to issue updated regulations within 180 days of enactment. Congressman Harrigan will continue pushing to roll back the regulations that drive up costs and limit energy choices for North Carolina families and businesses.