Senators Cruz And Manchin Introduce Legislation To Stop Federal Government From Banning Gas Stoves

Topline

The debate over gas stoves is coming to the Senate after Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) introduced legislation Thursday to bar the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) from using federal funding to ban gas stoves, following a weeks-long debate over the “hidden hazard” of gas stoves.

A gas-lit flame burns on a natural gas stove in Stuttgart, Germany.

AP/Thomas Kienzle

Key Facts

The bipartisan legislation aims to prevent the commission from imposing or enforcing a new safety standard that would lead to prohibiting the use or sale of gas stoves.

Manchin publicly announced he was introducing the legislation during a Senate hearing Thursday saying in part, “I’ll tell you one thing, they’re not taking my gas stove.”

In a letter to CPSC last week, Cruz said if a total or partial ban on gas stoves were enacted it would “constitute government overreach.”

Separately, on Wednesday the Department of Energy (DOE) proposed new standards for consumer cooking appliances that would require gas and electric stoves meet certain efficiency thresholds, applying to products manufactured or imported to the U.S. three years after the publication of any rules.

Key Background

The debate surrounding gas stoves ignited after Richard Trumka Jr., commissioner of CPSC, told Bloomberg in January that the administration was considering more stringent regulations—from tougher emissions rules to an all-out federal ban—on gas stoves. Also in January New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) proposed new zero emissions standards including a ban on gas stoves in new buildings by 2028. In September, California approved a ban on natural gas appliances by 2030. These concerns come from the environmental and health impacts of emissions. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that 13% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 came from commercial and residential uses. Meanwhile, Harvard Medical School warns that gas stoves create particles that irritate the lungs and lead to childhood asthma and other illnesses.

Big Number

38%. That’s how many American homes use gas stoves, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Chief Critic

Twenty congressional Democrats wrote a letter to the Consumer Product Safety Commission in December asking the commission to consider tighter rules for gas stoves because of the climate impact–leaking Earth-warming methane—of the cooking appliances.

Tangent

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) announced Wednesday the state would have no sales tax on new gas stoves, saying, “they want your gas stove and we’re not going to let that happen.”