Letter opposing HR 1640 and 1615

June 6, 2023

Dear Representative,

As a group of health, consumer, and climate advocacy organizations, we are concerned by and opposed to two bills which seek to limit the U.S. Government’s ability to protect the public from health-harming pollution, save consumers money, and reduce energy use through efficiency standards. We ask you to vote no on H.R. 1640 and H.R. 1615 to safeguard public health, reduce energy use, and help consumers save money on their energy bills. 

Gas stoves should not be exempted from energy efficiency standards that apply to many other types of appliances, from refrigerators to water heaters. H.R. 1640 prohibits the Department of Energy (DOE) from finalizing a rule that requires new consumer cooking equipment, including gas stoves, to be energy-efficient. If it comes to a vote, we ask you to vote no on H.R. 1640 because it prevents DOE from promulgating the same type of efficiency standards that have been applied to other product categories for decades, all of which have saved consumers money and catalyzed innovation in the marketplace. Many gas stoves already meet the proposed efficiency standards and quickly boil water, as demonstrated by DOE testing. In addition to saving consumers money, energy efficiency standards reduce local air pollution that can harm human health and the climate. 

Eliminating DOE’s authority to establish an efficiency standard for appliances including gas stoves would harm consumers. Consumers overwhelmingly want more energy-efficient appliances; 75% of consumers support federal energy efficiency standards, according to a 2022 poll. This proposed federal efficiency standard has strong public support across numerous environmental, energy efficiency, and health advocates as well as 14 State and City Attorneys General. Efficiency standards help reduce operational costs for consumers. Plus, DOE’s analysis demonstrated economic, energy, and emissions savings from its proposed stove standards would provide a net benefit; DOE estimates saving $1.7 billion in consumer spending, reducing energy use by an estimate of 30 percent, and cutting 52,000 tons of nitrogen oxides and 22 million metric tons of carbon dioxide – equal to nearly 4.7 million new cars on the road – over the next 30 years.

H.R. 1615 prohibits the CPSC from doing its job and investigating the health and safety impacts of gas stoves. We ask you to vote no on H.R. 1615. For decades, the CPSC has successfully protected consumers from dangerous household products, from cleaning supplies to washing machines, ensuring that everyday products don’t pose undue risks to families. H.R. 1615 would remove the CPSC’s ability to do what it is legally required to do by preventing the agency from taking any action that would address the risks associated with gas stoves.This bill sets a dangerous precedent. If this law had been in place earlier this year, it may have prevented the CPSC from recalling a line of gas stoves that were emitting dangerously high levels of carbon monoxide and threatening lives. This proposed bill is in opposition to what the majority of people in America want from the CPSC. 

Consumers support CPSC’s regulatory authority; polling shows that nearly 70% of adults support the CPSC authority to regulate safety levels for gas stoves; notably, around 50% of Republicans support this. Polling also shows that after learning of the health harms of gas stoves, nearly 60% of parents would consider switching from a gas to an electric stove. As a consumer product, gas stoves should be addressed by the CPSC. 

The American Medical Association and the American Public Health Association have both recognized the health harms of gas stoves. There are decades of health studies showing the health risks of gas stoves, particularly to children. Gas stoves produce several pollutants known to harm health, including nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and a dangerous carcinogen, benzene. Documents between the CPSC and the Environmental Protection Agency show that there was concern about the health impacts of gas stoves in 1986. We commend the CPSC for issuing a Request for Information (RFI) in March 2023 on chronic hazards associated with gas ranges and proposed solutions to those hazards. Upon the RFI’s closing in May 2023, these letters had amassed tremendous support, including from 100+ advocate organizations, 200+ health professionals, 42 elected officials, 25 chefs, and 11 Attorneys General, among others. It is clear that people want the CPSC to be able to do its job and ensure the safety of all products – from cribs to gas stoves.

Exempting gas stoves from appliance efficiency standards and safety protections only hurts children and families who may have to pay more to operate their gas stoves and may suffer from unchecked health and safety hazards. These two bills go against established standards set for appliances. We urge you to vote no on H.R. 1640 and H.R. 1615. 

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Arizona PIRG

CalPIRG

CASA

Chesapeake Physicians for Social Responsibility

CLASP

Climate Reality Greater Maryland

ConnPIRG

CoPIRG

Earthjustice 

Elders Climate Action Maryland

Elders Climate Action Virginia

Elevate

Environment Alaska

Environment America

Environment California

Environment New Jersey

Envision Frederick County

Florida PIRG

Fresh Energy

Georgia PIRG

Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility

Green & Healthy Homes Initiative

Green Sanctuary committee, Unitarian Universalist Church of Silver Spring (MD)

Illinois PIRG

Iowa PIRG

Maryland Energy Advocates Coalition

Maryland PIRG

MASSPIRG

MoPIRG

Mobilize Frederick

National Center for Healthy Housing

NCPIRG

New Jersey PIRG

NHPIRG

NMPIRG

OSPIRG

PennPIRG

Physicians for Social Responsibility

Physicians for Social Responsibility Pennsylvania

PIRGIM

Respiratory Health Association

Rewiring America

RIPIRG

RMI

Sierra Club

TexPIRG

Third Act DMV

U.S. PIRG

WashPIRG

WE ACT for Environmental Justice

WISPIRG

ZeroCarbonMA