The House of Representatives has passed the SHOWER Act, a bill aimed at changing federal regulations on showerheads and increasing consumer choice. The legislation, formally known as H.R. 4593 or the Saving Homeowners from Overregulation with Exceptional Rinsing (SHOWER) Act, was introduced by Congressman Russell Fry (SC-07) and supported by Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
The SHOWER Act seeks to address what its sponsors describe as burdensome regulations created under the Biden-Harris Administration. It codifies the definition of a showerhead in order to reduce regulatory changes that impact manufacturers and consumers.
“American families deserve the freedom to buy the appliances and technologies that work best for them, not what federal regulators mandate. The decision to limit water flow by the Biden-Harris Administration was part of a broader effort to use heavy-handed federal regulations to limit consumer choice,” said Chairman Guthrie. “The SHOWER Act would address this issue by providing certainty for manufacturers, while improving water flow for consumers and restoring Congress’s original intent. Thank you to Congressman Fry for his work to advance this important legislation.”
“The House’s passage of my bill, the SHOWER Act, is a small win for common sense and consumer choice. At its core, this legislation isn’t just about showerheads — it’s about how far Democrats go to control our everyday lives, even in something small like a showerhead,” said Rep. Fry. “The SHOWER Act puts a stop to unnecessary federal overreach, protects consumer choice, and ensures Americans can make their own decisions in their own homes. Passing this bill is a victory for personal choice for Americans over the ‘all-knowing’ bureaucrats of Washington.”
Under current law, as set by the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), showerheads are broadly defined with a maximum water use of 2.5 gallons per minute at 80 pounds per square inch of pressure. Past administrations have interpreted these standards differently; recent changes applied the standard to entire shower systems rather than individual faucets.
