[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 104 (Wednesday, June 14, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H2891]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               GAS STOVES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Tennessee (Mr. Rose) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. ROSE. Madam Speaker, today I rise in opposition to President 
Biden's and the extreme Green New Deal Democrats' attempts to ban gas 
stoves and cooking appliances. I rise in support of H.R. 1615 and H.R. 
1640, which would extinguish this egregious abuse of power.
  Madam Speaker, natural gas stoves are currently the preferred cooktop 
appliance for nearly 40 percent of American households. In fact, nearly 
187 million Americans use natural gas because it is a relatively 
affordable and reliable source of energy.
  As Americans have been facing the gripping reality of surging prices 
for almost everything, thanks to the reckless and out-of-control 
spending of President Biden and Congressional Democrats, the last thing 
they need is to be forced to spend an additional $1,068 per year from 
using only electric appliances.
  During debate, Democrats will say, and have said that no one is 
trying to take away your gas stoves. That couldn't be any further from 
the truth.
  In fact, a recent CNN headline read: ``New York becomes the first 
state to ban natural gas stoves and furnaces in most new buildings.''
  While discussing gas stoves in January of this year, Consumer Product 
Safety Commissioner Richard Trumka, Jr., said: ``Any option is on the 
table,'' meaning that banning gas stoves was certainly a potential 
option.
  A month later, in February, seemingly following the Consumer Product 
Safety Commission's lead, the U.S. Department of Energy issued a 
proposed rule that, if finalized, would set maximum annual energy 
consumption standards for electric and gas cooking tops manufactured 
and sold into commerce.
  This proposed rule would have an estimated cost of $183.4 million for 
manufacturers that will need to comply with the new standards. Somehow, 
the administration tentatively concluded that the new standards would 
be ``technologically feasible and economically justified.''
  Give me a break.
  Now, Madam Speaker, gas stoves in my home State of Tennessee may not 
be as common as they are in some other States. Given our relatively 
affordable electricity rates and our historical reliance on other forms 
of energy, Tennessee's use of gas stoves accounts for only 20.4 percent 
of households in our State. But even though only one in five Tennessee 
households use a gas stove, the Tennessee State legislature passed, and 
the Governor signed into law, legislation that prohibits local 
governments from banning gas stoves. As a result, no localities in the 
Volunteer State have pursued this ill-guided policy.
  All of this to say, Americans should be allowed the freedom to make 
this decision for themselves. The last thing they need is the Federal 
Government coming into their kitchen and telling them what appliances 
they should be using. Not only is it extremely costly and ineffective 
but it is another step toward becoming a socialist nanny state.
  Lastly, Green New Deal Democrats in favor of banning gas stoves claim 
that it will save the environment and help reduce greenhouse gas 
emissions. The truth is that homes with natural gas appliances emit 22 
percent less CO2 than all electric homes.
  Madam Speaker, let's call this what it is: a blatant overreach and 
abuse of power by Green New Deal Democrats and the power-hungry Biden 
administration.
  Thankfully, House Republicans are taking action to protect America's 
freedom to choose for themselves whether a gas stove is the best choice 
for their needs by passing H.R. 1615, the Gas Stove Protection and 
Freedom Act, and H.R. 1640, the Save Our Gas Stoves Act.
  It is a shame that we have to take these types of actions to push 
back against an overly aggressive regulatory state led by the Biden 
administration.

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