Democrats' Latest Attack on American Energy: Ban Gas Stoves

Press Release

"The sooner we pass the NDAA, the sooner we can deliver on full-year appropriations for defense and each of the other areas Senator Collins, Senator Murray, and our colleagues are working to finish in committee. I'm grateful for our colleagues' commitment to a regular order appropriations process.

Funding the government on schedule means fulfilling one of the Senate's most basic responsibilities. But just as important as the must-pass measures that are kept in are the radical ideas that are kept out.

Here's an example:

Last week, the Appropriations Committee adopted an amendment to prevent unelected Administration bureaucrats from banning the use of affordable and efficient gas appliances in American homes and small businesses.

The Biden Energy Department's proposed rule regulating gas stoves into extinction is just one of the many ways Washington Democrats want to let elite coastal liberals impose their preferences on all 50 states -- and spend truckloads of taxpayer dollars accordingly.

DOE's latest rule would effectively ban 96% of the gas stoves currently in use in America. And the Consumer Product Safety Commission has begun work on a potential gas stove ban of their own.

Unelected bureaucrats are preparing to pounce. And working families and small businesses across the country are rightly worried.

One hospitality industry expert in West Virginia called the cost of switching a kitchen to electric from cheaper and more efficient gas as, "a multi-thousand dollar thing' that would mean lower quality and longer wait times.

Well, as with any number of other radical climate ideas, some of our Democratic colleagues don't seem to care about these real world impacts. And in this case, some have been downright oblivious to the threat.

Back in 2021, Senator Barrasso proposed an amendment to ensure that Democrats' radical climate regulations couldn't restrict the use of gas appliances.

But the senior Senator from West Virginia led the vote against the amendment in the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Senate Democrats blocked it again on the floor, for good measure.

In response to Senator Barrasso's concerns on behalf of working families and small businesses, Senator Manchin said, "I don't see that happening'.

I don't see that happening,' Mr. President. Even as Senator Manchin authored the reckless taxing and spending spree that gives $840-dollar special rebates for folks to swap their gas stoves for the electric ranges that activists prefer.

Well, it appears our colleague has since changed his tune. This time around, he sponsored the amendment blocking the sort of radical regulation he couldn't imagine just two years ago.

As our colleagues continue to make headway on regular order appropriations, I'm glad this commonsense measure has earned bipartisan support.

But it begs the question: Wouldn't working families and small businesses be better off if Washington Democrats would just stand up to radical climate regulations in the first place?"

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