The House of Representatives voted 226–197 on Tuesday, with support from both parties, to overturn Biden-era regulations governing showerheads. Republicans backing the measure cast it as a simple fix meant to give homeowners more freedom over what they install in their bathrooms.
“Washington bureaucrats have gone too far in dictating what happens in Americans’ own homes,” said Rep. Russell Fry (R-S.C.), who introduced the bill. He argued the proposal is aimed at “defending consumer choice,” reducing regulatory reach, and promoting what he called commonsense policy.
Asked about the effort, Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) offered a brief assessment: “Shower pressure is a good thing.”
Golden was among 11 Democrats who joined Republicans to pass the Saving Homeowners from Overregulation with Exceptional Rinsing Act, also known as the SHOWER Act.
The legislation would effectively lock in an executive order President Donald Trump signed in April of last year, which directed the Department of Energy to roll back how the Biden administration applied water-pressure limits for showers.
Under current law, showerheads are restricted to producing only a set amount of water flow. The Biden-era approach interpreted that limit to apply to the combined output of shower systems with multiple nozzles—meaning that the more nozzles a shower setup has, the lower the flow could be for each individual nozzle.
Rep. John McGuire (R-Va.) criticized the Biden-era interpretation as an unnecessary burden, arguing it reflected a broader pattern of overregulation.
“It seems like the Democrats want to tax you out of existence and overregulate you,” McGuire said, adding that the measure is “a step in the right direction. Less regulation.”
Fry said the bill would restore what he considers the more common understanding of what qualifies as a “shower head” under the law.
“That rule was widely criticized as overreach and emblematic of a broader regulatory agenda targeting everyday household appliances,” Fry said in a statement. “The SHOWER Act is a smart fix that reaffirms each shower nozzle is just that — its own shower head — and should be treated accordingly under the law.”
Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.), chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, supported the legislation in similar terms.
“For far too long, federal regulations and red tape have limited consumer choice and forced Americans to live with limited water pressure,” Guthrie said.
“By codifying how different nozzles are categorized, the SHOWER Act offers a commonsense fix that will allow households to choose what meets their needs, not what Washington mandates.”
Next, the bill moves to the Senate, where it would need backing from at least seven Democrats to advance before reaching President Trump’s desk.
