Days after a rare bipartisan moment in which Congress voted for avoid a debt ceiling crisisA fierce and politically charged debate begins this week over the future of gas stoves in American homes.
The bylaws committee began work on Monday, ahead of a vote later this week on the “Gas Range Protection and Freedom Act,” which would ban the federal government from banning the use of gas ranges. The legislation is expected to pass the House, despite assurances from federal regulators that they have no plans or plans to ban gas stoves.
Gas stoves have emerged as an unexpected cultural and corner issue in recent months. Legislative deliberations this week are expected to be steeped in impassioned and controversial rhetoric. Democrats have proposed a series of amendments, some of which poke fun at the legislation and House Republicans’ decision to prioritize the bill.
A pair of amendments originally drafted by Rep. Jared Moskowitz, Democrat of Florida, appeared to ridicule the legislation. One such amendment called for a “formal sense from Congress that gas stoves deserve consideration for an honorary statue in Statuary Hall” at the Capitol. Another of Moskowitz’s original amendments called for a “Czar’s post” in the Department of Energy called “Supreme Allied Gas Commander to oversee the use and sale of gas stoves.”
During a House Rules Committee hearing Monday night, Moskowitz criticized the prioritization legislation and said the sponsors could change the bill’s name to the “Gun Violence Stoves Act.”
Moskowitz told CBS News, “I don’t hear about this problem back home. Nobody wants to ban gas stoves. Neither does the Biden administration. It’s totally ridiculous.”
The legislation, which was approved by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, was championed by House members who cited proposed restrictions on gas stoves in California regions. A Congressional report on the bill said: “A ban on gas stoves would hamper choice in the marketplace and could adversely affect buyers who may seek this feature out of preference or for cost reasons. The reports media outlets have also covered mixed messages sent by cities and counties about whether there is a real danger.”
A report by the Rules Committee on the “Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act” said a member of the Consumer Product Safety Commission had expressed support for stricter regulations on stoves. The report also cites a private study and report that raises questions about whether gas stoves could lead to an increase in indoor air pollutants.
At Monday’s House Rules Committee hearing, Rep. Tom Cole, Republican of Oklahoma, said, “The White House wants to limit your ability to buy and use gas stoves.” Cole added, “Natural gas is used to heat just over half of the homes in my state, and just over a third of Oklahoma residents use a gas stove to cook at home. My voters are right to be concerned about the Biden administration’s efforts to limit access to gas stoves.”
In a statement to CBS News, a spokesperson for the Consumer Product Safety Commission said, “This bill is unnecessary – the CPSC does not ban gas ranges. and fire hazards could be impeded by legislation, undermining CPSC’s mission to keep Americans safe.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Energy also denied that it was considering banning gas stoves, telling CBS News, “The Department of Energy is not proposing to ban gas cooking products. and electric cooktops by January 2024. When you look beyond the misleading rhetoric, you’ll see that these proposals aim for nothing more than to increase energy efficiency and promote innovation, without sacrificing the reliability and performance Americans expect.
In an April 2023 op-ed, Rep. Dan Newhouse, a Republican from Washington, criticized the Biden administration’s proposals. Newhouse wrote, “The US Department of Energy has proposed an ‘energy efficiency standard’ for gas cooking products. For those unaware, this is a blatant attempt to ban gas appliances – at least half of the gas stove models sold in the United States. today would not comply with this regulation.”
A debate and vote on the House legislation is expected on Wednesday.
The Senate should not seize the bill.
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