McCollum Vote on H.R. 1615, the “Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act” and H.R. 1640 the “Save Our Stoves Act”

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 1615, the Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act, and H.R. 1640, the Save Our Stoves Act. These bills are the latest Republican attempt to manufacture a crisis and reject commonsense rulemaking from the Biden administration. These bills are purposefully misleading and reject legitimate concerns about the threats gas stoves pose to our personal safety, public safety, and the energy efficiency of our homes.

Since 1972, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has worked with manufacturers to protect Americans from unsafe consumer products by issuing recalls, developing safety standards, and conducting research into product-related illness and injury. The CPSC does not have the authority to ban gas stoves, but they are obligated to ensure the gas stoves in our homes aren’t hazardous for our health. For example, in December 2022, CPSC issued a recall on a specific gas stove product that was found to pose serious risk of injury or death from carbon monoxide poisoning. H.R. 1615 would prohibit CPSC from protecting consumers from a similar hazardous problem with gas stoves in the future. Why would we limit the CPSC’s ability to issue recalls on products that will harm our families? Congress should be encouraging CPSC to explore all allegations that appliances or other consumer products are unsafe to children and adults and should give the CPSC more, not fewer, tools for eliminating or mitigating the safety risks they uncover.

Contrary to Republican talking points, the Biden administration is not coming to take your gas stove. That is simply untrue. The Department of Energy (DOE) does not have the authority to ban gas stoves or other appliances based on fuel sources, nor should it have the authority. The DOE is mandated by Congress to set energy efficiency standards for home appliances. As required, the Department issued new energy efficiency standards in February 2023. Nearly half of gas stoves on the market are already in compliance with the new DOE energy efficiency standard, and the rule gives manufacturers three years to comply with the new standard. Yet H.R. 1640 goes further than just disapproving the new standard. The bill will also limit future rulemaking for energy efficient appliances. Mr. Speaker, why wouldn’t we want more efficient appliances in the future?

Mr. Speaker, with these two bills, Republicans are completely disregarding legitimate concerns about the nitrogen dioxide emitted by gas stoves. Members of Congress should not be fearmongering nor hiding data on the health impacts of gas stoves. Americans should have access to the most up to date information on consumer products so they can make purchases that are right for them.
 

H.R. 1615 and H.R. 1640 should be rejected, and I yield back.