An amendment from U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) removing $27 billion for an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) "slush fund" and preventing the Biden administration from banning gas stoves has passed the U.S. House of Representatives.
The drama began in early January after a member of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) told Bloomberg that "any option is on the table" regarding a potential gas stove ban, saying gas stoves were a "hidden hazard."
The Department of Energy later moved ahead with strict restrictions on future stove purchases.
The announcement immediately drew the ire of Republican members of Congress, who vowed legislative action against any attempts to restrict gas appliances.
House Resolution 1 (HR1), also called the Lower Energy Cost Act, sponsored by House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), passed the U.S. House of Representatives with a 251 to 181 vote on Wednesday, with two significant amendments from Palmer.
"This is a vote to provide solutions to high energy costs and to end Biden's energy crisis," said Palmer. "H.R. 1 will reduce home energy costs for American families and enhances our national security. It includes two provisions that I drafted, one prohibits unelected bureaucrats from banning natural gas stoves, and the other repeals the $27 billion EPA' slush fund' for green advocacy groups. This vote is a win for the American people."
The" slush fund" addressed by Palmer refers to the $27 billion grant program provided in the Biden administration's Inflation Reduction Act, the act's largest grant program.
The act provided $20 billion for the General Assistance and Low-Income and Disadvantaged Communities Program and $7 billion for the Zero-Emissions Technology Program.
He continued, "Energy costs are one of the biggest drivers of inflation. Inflation has risen to 6.5% since President Biden took office because of reckless spending, massive regulation, and higher energy costs. President Biden's policies have also made our country more reliant on foreign adversaries, like China, instead of using the abundant natural resources we have here. Thankfully, the bi-partisan H.R. 1 is a step in the right direction. The Senate needs to take up this important legislation without delay."
Despite 29 Democrats voting for Palmer's amendments, he did bash the majority of House Democrats who voted against them.
"Despite all their words to the contrary, House Democrats are supportive of federal bureaucrats' attempts to ban gas stoves. By voting against my amendment to prevent the Department of Energy from implementing its anti-natural gas agenda, they have shown themselves to be complicit," Palmer told Fox News.
"Clearly, the plan to ban gas stoves was already in the works even before federal bureaucrats said the quiet part out loud earlier this year," he added. "Republicans are meeting this attempt to dismantle American energy head-on and will continue to empower Americans to choose what appliances belong in their kitchens, not have it dictated to them by a bureaucrat with a political agenda."
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
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