LAX Leader

Of course, I planned to speak on this bill last week, but Republicans imploded in their dysfunction and prevented Congress from working.

American families want answers to the high prices they see in the grocery stores.

They want answers to why their children are being shot and killed in their places of worship and at graduation.

They want answers to why Republicans are targeting their LGBTQ family members and loved ones.

And Republicans are responding to these pressing issues by talking about what stove you can own. For a party that touts freedom, there seems to be some confusion about what that word actually means. Because some people might want the freedom to purchase an energy efficient stove that actually helps the environment. So, let's get into it.

This legislation would prohibit the Department of Energy from moving forward with a Congressionally-mandated efficiency standard. A standard, by the way, that would help people with their energy bills. A Department of Energy, by the way, that doesn't have the authority to ban your gas stoves.

And this is a Republican messaging bill. What's the message? That Republicans can't govern? That they are not in tune with the American people? That they don't care about the real issues?

I would give you some credit if Republicans talked about the issues of the day, like the fact that the front runner for the Republican Party — already found liable of sexual assault — was arraigned today on 37 counts of federal criminal charges, including violating the Espionage Act, which is reserved for enemies of the state.

A stove is not an enemy of the state.

Or the fact that we've had more mass shootings than days in the year, and we just passed a bill to make handguns more dangerous. Do you want to keep people safe? Regulate guns, not stoves. Convict criminals, not cooktops!

Because stoves are not killing people. Stoves are not accelerating homelessness. Stoves are not exacerbating crime. We could be talking about any number of pressing issues of substantive things to legislate, but stoves?

I actually told folks in my District that Republicans care more about how you cook your cupcakes than how to keep your children alive. If this is an example of Republican messaging, we have a real problem.

I will say it again: the American people want us to focus on issues like immigration, climate change, gun violence, the right to have an abortion, the questionable ethics of SCOTUS justices, the need to regain competitive status with global allies, bringing home U.S. hostages, rebuilding our infrastructure, getting people out of poverty, feeding children, protecting caregivers who take care of our children and our elderly, protecting firefighters from toxic chemicals, fighting against gender violence home and abroad. Real issues where America can lead – not how you cook with your stove.