WASHINGTON, DC -- Four Democratic representatives have withdrawn their support for HR 2048 – The Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act – according to Congress Daily, a Washington, D.C., newspaper covering events on Capitol Hill. The bill recently reached a milestone number of Congressional supporters. As of last week, the bill was up to 106 co-sponsors.

HR 2048, which has been introduced by House Energy and Commerce Chairman Joe Barton (R-TX) in the last three Congresses, would ensure that independent repair shops have access to the same information and tools that are available to new car dealers. The House Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection Subcommittee voted to move the bill to full committee review after a mark-up session late last month.

Removed from the bill during last month’s mark-up session were specific details about what manufacturers must make available to shops. Other amendments included prohibiting civil lawsuits for violations (though the FTC could still sue) and adding that the bill would not override state consumer protection laws.

According to two recent news reports, on June 8 Colorado Rep. Diana DeGette, Illinois Rep. Janice Schakwosky, Massachusetts Rep. Ed Markey and Wisconsin Rep. Tammy Baldwin each requested to have their names withdrawn as co-sponsors of the bill. The four Democrats cited the recent changes to the bill among several reasons for withdrawing their support.

"The bill that was introduced by Chairman Barton under the same name was drastically different, and we took the very rare step of actually removing her [DeGette’s] name as a co-sponsor because the bill was so different," a spokespman for DeGette told Congress Daily.

Ranking member Rep. Schakowsky said the recent amendments to the bill removed too many consumer protections, rendering the bill “toothless.” Concerns over a lack of evidence that automakers were denying repair shops access to information was also a concern, according to the report.

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