Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act
The Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act bill would prevent the Consumer Product Safety Commission from banning gas stoves. The agency has no plans to do so, but its commissioner, Richard Trumka Jr., sparked controversy when he suggested gas stoves be banned due to their potential harm to health and the environment.
Bipartisan Support for Bill
Cruz and Manchin, a Texas Republican and West Virginia Democrat, respectively, joined forces to introduce the bill. Manchin stated, “The federal government has no business telling American families how to cook their dinner, which is why Senator Cruz and I introduced bipartisan legislation to ensure Americans decide how to cook in their own homes.”
Environmental Group Criticizes Bill
Food and Water Watch, an environmental group, called the bill “absurd” and a response to “the ridiculous rightwing panic over a non-existent war on gas stoves.” Research has linked gas stoves to indoor air pollution and a potential cause of asthma in children. Despite this, many cities face resistance from gas industry groups when implementing policies to ban or discourage natural gas in new buildings.
Bill Prevents CPSC from Banning Gas Stoves
The legislation would prevent the CPSC from using federal funds to ban gas stoves or impose costly rules on them. This bill highlights the ongoing debate over the role of natural gas in the fight against climate change and the potential harm of gas stoves to public health.
