House Democrats meet on energy affordability

It's unclear whether they will release legislation before the midterms.

June 12, 2026

House Democrats are still debating the best avenue to address energy affordability and how deeply to wade into specific policy solutions ahead of the midterms.

A new House Democratic working group focused on solutions to high gasoline and utility prices convened its first listening session Thursday. The half dozen lawmakers who participated had a high-level discussion about voters' concerns about energy costs, which have become a major vulnerability to President Donald Trump, members and aides said.

Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-Ill.), who is leading the gas and utilities working group with Rep. Mike Levin (D-Calif.), told POLITICO after the meeting that it’s unclear what the end product will look like, and if Democrats will actually release energy affordability legislation before the midterms.

She said that decision would be made later in the process by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, who announced five working groups this week designed to broker consensus around lowering the cost of housing, gas and utilities, groceries and goods, caregiving and health care.

The gas and utilities working group will also be consulting with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, she added. Budzinski and Levin will convene outside input during July and hold discussions in lawmakers' districts during the August recess.

"This is the first step, really convening some members interested in lowering gas prices, but also utility costs for consumers," Budzinski said. "It’s really important as Democrats are looking at this upcoming midterm election, that we're saying to voters that this isn't just about being anti-Trump, it is about what we are wanting to invest in, what is our vision around energy, bringing down costs, investing in a clean energy future. So, we need to be able to do both."

Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on the Environment, who attended the session Thursday, said Democrats "need to be prepared with policies to respond to the challenge of energy unaffordability, and we need to be able to deliver real relief for everyday Americans when we get a chance to clean up the mess the Trump Administration has made."

Another participant, Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.), “hopes to see the group develop a plan to lower energy costs for Americans by ending the War in Iran, ending [Trump’s] tariffs, and making it easier to connect affordable clean energy to the grid,” his spokesman said.

Rep. Christian Menefee (D-Texas), a freshman, dubbed the discussion "productive." “I'm glad Democrats are taking a hard look at what families are dealing with every month when those gas and utility bills show up,” he added.

But other Democrats who did not attend the working group session said they thought the party should prioritize messaging ahead of proposing major policy initiatives before the midterms given Trump’s vulnerable position.

“This is more of a vibe check,” said Rep. Jared Huffman, ranking member of the Natural Resources Committee. “What Leader Jeffries is trying to do is make sure that everyone in our caucus is heard, but that this conversation happens in a structured way that will feed into our closing argument message, which will be built on affordability and accountability. Now is not the time to have every bill drafted. Now is the time to be thinking about priorities.”

Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.), a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee who did not attend the session, said the discussions are intended “to get input on what we would do as a part of the majority” but it’s unclear whether Democrats would produce legislation or “concepts.”


By:  Josh Siegel
Source: E&E Daily