U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-ND) on March 17 proposed two pieces of legislation that would prevent the banning of natural gas stoves in the United States.
“Our bills make it clear that Americans should decide if a gas stove is right for their families, not the federal government,” Rep. Armstrong said on Monday.
The congressman sponsored the Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act, H.R. 1615, which would prohibit the Consumer Products Safety Commission from using federal funds to regulate gas stoves as a banned hazardous product, or to impose or enforce any consumer product safety standard on gas stoves that would result in a prohibition on gas stoves or otherwise substantially increase the price, according to a summary provided by his office.
“Inflation is hurting everyone. We have a crisis at our Southern border. North Dakotans are worried about being able to provide for their families. What is the Biden administration focused on? Controlling the kind of stove Americans use,” said Rep. Armstrong. “This is further incompetence from an administration that seems more interested in dictating every aspect of our lives than solving real problems.”
The Save Our Gas Stoves Act, H.R. 1640, which Rep. Armstrong cosponsored alongside bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-AZ), would block the U.S. Department of Energy from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing its rule entitled the “Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Conventional Cooking Products,” the summary says.
H.R. 1640 also would prohibit the department from introducing an energy conservation standard that would result in the prohibition of a kitchen range or stove based on the type of fuel it uses, including gas stoves.
Both bills have been referred for consideration to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee, where the chair, U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), agreed that forcing people to switch out their gas stoves will further increase their costs and disproportionately harm vulnerable communities.
“Natural gas is a safe, reliable and affordable energy source for millions of Americans,” she said. “I commend the efforts of my colleagues Reps. Armstrong and Lesko to end President Biden’s efforts to ban gas stoves in American households and ensure people have access to affordable and reliable energy.”