Cruz and Comer investigate if Biden worked with environmentalists on gas stove ban.

Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) have accused a coalition of environmentalist groups of working with the Biden administration on a “hidden pressure campaign” to ban gas stoves.

A group of lawmakers, including Republicans and Democrats, have sought to block any potential bans on gas stoves after Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) member Richard Trumka Jr. raised the possibility of a ban during a December interview with the United States Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG). Two of the lawmakers—Cruz, the ranking member on the Senate Commerce Committee, and Comer, the chairman of the House Oversight Committee—have gone further in investigating which groups may have coordinated with the Biden administration to promote a gas stove ban.

Investigation into Environmental Groups

In March, Cruz sent letters to an environmental group called the Climate Imperative Foundation (CIF) and another environmental group called Rewiring America, requesting they describe what communications they may have had with the CPSC or the Biden White House regarding new gas stove regulations. Cruz also sent a similar set of questions to Consumer Reports, a product research and consumer advocacy organization that took a $375,000 payment from the CIF for the underlying research on an Oct. 4, 2022 article titled “Is Your Gas Range a Health Risk?”

In a set of April 26 letters, Cruz and Comer accused CIF, Rewiring America, and Consumer Reports of dodging Cruz’s questions about whether they coordinated with the Biden administration or the CPSC to promote gas stove bans.

“We look forward to your forthcoming prompt and complete response,” Comer and Cruz told the three institutions.

CIF Identified as Financial Nexus

Cruz’s March letters appeared to identify CIF as a financial nexus for a number of groups that either researched health concerns related to gas stoves or platformed calls for banning or otherwise regulating such cooking appliances.

In his initial March letter to CIF, Cruz noted that the organization has opposed gas stoves for years. As one example, Cruz pointed out that CIF Executive Director Bruce Nilles co-authored a New York Times article in May of 2019 titled “Your Gas Stove Is Bad for You and the Planet.”

Consumer Reports Denies Advocating for Ban

Consumer Reports told NTD News that it had received Cruz and Comer’s latest communication.

“Consumer Reports is not advocating for a ban on gas stoves,” a spokeswoman for the organization wrote in an emailed statement. “Last year, CR tested gas stoves for emissions, and found high levels of nitrogen oxide in some scenarios. We advised people how to reduce the risks with ventilation, like opening a window or installing a range hood. We also offer the pros and cons of going electric. Our tests and results are always completely independent from any outside organization or influence.”

NTD News reached out to CIF, Rewiring America, the CPSC, and the White House for comment, but none of these bodies had responded by the time this article was published.

Lawmakers Seek to Block Potential Bans

A group of lawmakers, including Republicans and Democrats, have sought to block any potential bans on gas stoves after Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) member Richard Trumka Jr. raised the possibility of a ban during a December interview with the United States Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG).

Two of the lawmakers—Cruz, the ranking member on the Senate Commerce Committee, and Comer, the chairman of the House Oversight Committee—have gone further in investigating which groups may have coordinated with the Biden administration to promote a gas stove ban.

Comer’s inclusion in the latest round of letters could compel more forthcoming responses from the three organizations, because he has subpoena power as a House committee chairman.

Conclusion

It remains to be seen whether the environmental groups accused of pushing for a gas stove ban will respond to Cruz and Comer’s inquiries. However, the lawmakers’ efforts to block any potential bans on gas stoves have gained bipartisan support, indicating that there is significant opposition to such a ban.