Power And Security Systems (PASS) Act

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 190) to provide for consideration of the extension under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of nonapplication of No-Load Mode energy efficiency standards to certain security or life safety alarms or surveillance systems, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material in the record.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 190.

External power supplies are used for all sorts of devices, and we have learned from experience that the Federal energy efficiency standards sometimes don't work in the ways we want them to. In particular, we need an exemption from these rules for the security and life safety alarms and surveillance alarms.

S. 190, the Power and Security Systems, or PASS, Act, provides targeted exemptions that allow these critical uses to stay on the market.

Devices like home security alarms or fire detection need to be on 24/ 7, 365, but the 2007 energy law on energy efficiency standards for external power supplies does not allow for this. Since then, Congress has created exemptions for these ``always on'' devices, but this exemption ended on July 1 of 2017. S. 190 extends this exemption out to 2023.

The result of this bill would be that these important security systems will continue to be available, preserving the jobs of those who make them, and, most importantly, the safety of those who use them.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I close with a short and sweet: good bill, vote for it.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 190, the Power and Security Systems, or PASS, Act.

Mr. Speaker, this bill would provide a noncontroversial technical fix to a Department of Energy efficiency standard, and it has widespread bipartisan support.

I would also like to acknowledge my colleagues, Mr. Welch from Vermont, Mr. Brooks from Alabama, as well as Senator Gardner and Senator Cantwell, for their work in sponsoring this bill and getting it to the floor here today.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation would simply amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to require the Department of Energy to issue a rule by July 1, 2021, which would determine whether energy conservation standards for external power supplies should be amended.

The rule must contain any amendment standards and would apply to products manufactured on or after July 1, 2023.

Mr. Speaker, current law exempts external power supplies for security or life safety systems from energy conservation standards until July 1, 2017. This bill simply extends that exemption to July 1, 2023.

Mr. Speaker, this clarification is necessary in order to exclude power supply circuits, drivers, and devices that are designed to power security alarms, lifesaving devices, and surveillance systems.

Mr. Speaker, as I stated, this legislative fix has widespread support from both houses of Congress, from both sides of the aisle, as well as from industry and the energy efficiency community.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this valuable piece of legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 95, S. 190.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed, and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.