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House Republicans continue to hammer the Biden administration over its decision to withdraw some gas stove models from the market, with two votes this week aimed at blocking the Democrats’ crackdown in the kitchen.
The GOP has been trying to defend the use of gas stoves ever since the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) indicated it could ban stoves on health grounds. That idea was scrapped, but it was followed by a proposed regulation from the Department of Energy (DOE) that would impose strict new energy efficiency standards for gas stoves.
Rep. Kelly Armstrong, RN.D., introduced the Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act, which prohibits federal dollars from being spent on regulatory efforts to ban gas stoves. The second bill, Save Our Gas Stoves Act, by Rep. Debbie Lesko’s, R-Ariz., would stop the DOE from making its policy change.
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House Speaker Kevin McCarthy holds a news conference at U.S. Capitols Statuary Hall on January 12, 2023. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
“The Biden administration wants to exert even more control over the daily lives of hard-working Americans by telling us what kind of stoves we can have in our homes,” the office of Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., said in announcing this week. expected votes on Sunday night.
“Gas stoves are on average 10 to 30% cheaper than electric stoves, making them a more affordable alternative as US households suffer from Biden’s inflation. Banning them would cost most struggling families the most. In addition, it would have serious consequences for small independent restaurants. , increasing costs and potentially driving them out of business.”
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Rep. Debbie Lesko attends a House Energy and Commerce Committee markup at Rayburn Building on July 21, 2021. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
In a proposed rule posted online in February and a follow-up analysis of that rule, the department estimated that about half of gas stoves currently on the market would not meet the new standard.
The bill is likely to pass the GOP-dominated House but, like most Republican agenda items, is not expected to pass in the Democratic-held Senate.
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The White House spoke out against banning gas stoves early this year, after CPSC head Richard Trumka floated the idea in an interview with Bloomberg.
Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm testifies at a House hearing on March 23, 2023. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
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And if past votes are any indication, the Republican bills could potentially receive bipartisan support in the lower chamber.
An amendment introduced earlier this year by GOP policy committee chair Gary Palmer, R-Ala., to the House Republicans’ energy bill aimed at blocking DOE restrictions on gas stoves passed with full Republican support and 29 Democratic “yes” votes.
Elizabeth Elkind is a political reporter for Fox News Digital.
