April 23, 2026
Congressman Nick Langworthy today announced that the House has passed his Reliable Federal Infrastructure Act, legislation to eliminate Green New Deal style federal building mandates that drive up construction costs, delay projects, and reduce energy reliability in federal infrastructure. The bill passed the House last night 215-202 with five Democrats and one independent joining Republicans in favor of the legislation.
Click here to watch Congressman Langworthy’s remarks on the House floor
The bill repeals rigid energy efficiency requirements imposed under Section 305(a)(3)(D) of the Energy Conservation and Production Act and reinforced by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which require federal agencies to comply with one-size-fits-all building standards that often prioritize arbitrary efficiency targets over cost, practicality, and reliability.
Under current law, federal agencies face mandates that can force expensive design changes, limit the use of reliable fuel sources like natural gas, and slow construction timelines for new federal buildings and major renovations. Congressman Langworthy’s legislation restores flexibility by allowing agencies to pursue energy-efficient solutions where appropriate while prioritizing mission-readiness and taxpayer value.
“This bill puts reliability and affordability back at the center of energy policy, where it belongs,” said Congressman Nick Langworthy. “Through this legislation, we are ensuring that our critical federal infrastructure is tailored to meet Americans’ needs, not some arbitrary political target. It will help rein in inflated construction costs, accelerate project timelines, and foster innovation by removing rigid, top-down mandates. Its passage marks a win for common-sense, and I urge the Senate to move swiftly to pass this and get it on the President’s desk.”
Congressman Langworthy noted that federal buildings represent a major share of government energy use, and forcing all new federal facilities toward electric-only standards can create unnecessary strain on the power grid while eliminating practical and affordable options like natural gas and propane, particularly in colder climates and mission-critical facilities.
“The Reliable Federal Infrastructure Act rolls back an outdated and inefficient green energy mandate on federal buildings and military installations, allowing agencies to pursue efficient, cost-effective solutions that meet their energy needs,” said Speaker Johnson. “The one-size-fits-all electrification mandate – which endangers the stability of our critical infrastructure and jeopardizes national security – has clearly failed, and House Republicans have offered a solution that reintroduces commonsense to American energy policy. I commend Rep. Langworthy for his leadership on this legislation.”
House Energy and Commerce Chairman Guthrie said, “Today, the United States produces more oil and natural gas than any country in the world, and I’ve seen firsthand at Fort Knox in my district that flexibility matters for energy independence much more than top-down, federal mandates. Forcing the use of intermittent power sources like wind and solar instead of baseload power from more reliable sources raises costs and puts our national security at risk. The Reliable Federal Infrastructure Act is a commonsense measure that ensures valuable taxpayer funding is not wasted on transitioning federal buildings. Thank you to Congressman Langworthy for his work to advance this critical legislation.”
The Reliable Federal Infrastructure Act is supported by major industry groups including the American Gas Association, American Public Gas Association, American Petroleum Institute, and numerous regional energy and infrastructure organizations.
“We congratulate Congressman Langworthy on the passage of this important bill to protect access to reliable, affordable and efficient natural gas in federal buildings,” said AGA President and CEO Karen Harbert. “Natural gas is America’s strategic advantage in providing essential energy to our vital federal facilities and protecting taxpayers by keeping costs down. From providing resilient backup energy during outages to enabling energy intensive work at national labs, veterans’ hospitals and military facilities, on-site natural gas use is an efficient source of energy that delivers the reliability our nation needs.”
The legislation now moves to the Senate for consideration.
