Fallon: Biden Administration Looking to Regulate Gas Stoves Out of Existence

WASHINGTON — Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs Subcommittee Chairman Pat Fallon (R-Texas) opened today’s subcommittee hearing on “Consumer Choice on the Backburner: Examining the Biden Administration’s Regulatory Assault on Americans’ Gas Stoves ” by outlining how the Department of Energy’s (DOE) proposed rules further strangle American consumer choice and is just one in a series of recent actions that embody the Biden Administration’s whole-of-government approach to over-regulate Americans’ day-to-day lives. He continued by blasting the DOE officials who failed to testify at the hearing, marking the second time in a week that the Biden Administration has refused to appear before the subcommittee. Subcommittee Chairman Fallon closed by thanking the witnesses who did appear for today’s hearing and for their willingness to testify on this important issue.

Below are Subcommittee Chairman Fallon’s remarks as prepared:

Today we will examine the Department of Energy’s proposed rule on conventional cook tops, and more specifically, its de facto ban on gas stoves.

This proposed rule is just one in a series of recent actions that embody the Biden Administration’s whole-of-government approach to over-regulate Americans’ day-to-day lives.

Like many of you, I was shocked when I first heard reports that the federal government was even considering such a proposed rule. 

I thought, surely this cannot be true. But, after looking into the details, yes—it’s true. The Biden Administration is looking to regulate gas stoves out of existence.

We know that the Department has the authority to regulate energy efficiency standards for appliances and has done so for decades without major issue.

But since President Biden took office, he made clear from day one that he was on a mission to abolish fossil fuels. 

Under his watch, energy prices have skyrocketed while agencies push through rules to suppress energy production and hurt American energy independence. 

His Administration is even going after Americans’ household appliances. And not just gas stoves—it is also targeting dishwashers, refrigerators, water heaters, furnaces, and air conditioners.

So while Americans suffer under the weight of inflation—that has not let up—the Biden Administration is trying to make Americans’ lives even more expensive. 

The Biden Administration doesn’t seem to understand it is supposed to be government “of the people, for the people, by the people.”

Or maybe it does and that it is why it is taking such effort to hide its agenda from the American people.

For example, today we have another Biden Administration agency refusing to testify about a rulemaking that is affecting so many Americans.

The Department of Energy ought to be at this hearing. To answer questions about its rulemaking on gas stoves. But it is not.

The Department of Energy refused to come, claiming that the rulemaking process is ongoing. That is exactly when Congress should be asking questions. Not when it is finished!

What is the Department of Energy hiding? Why is it afraid to come and answer questions about one of its priorities before elected representatives?

Well, they cannot keep hiding. That is why Chairman Comer and I have just sent an invitation for Under Secretary Dr. Geri Richmond to testify about not just this rulemaking, but the entire Department of Energy rulemaking agenda for home appliances.

I ask unanimous consent to enter this letter into the record.

The American people deserve to understand the Biden Administration’s efforts to regulate their stoves, their furnaces, their appliances. 

That said, I thank the witnesses for appearing here today and for their willingness to testify on this important issue.

And with that, I yield to Ranking Member Bush for her opening statement.