BETHESDA, MD — Since the Motor Vehicle Owners Right to Repair Act (H.R. 2048) was reintroduced in Congress on May 3 by Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX), Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-NY) and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), 22 additional congressmen have signed on as co-sponsors in support of the bill.
“We want to thank Rep. Barton, Towns and Issa for spearheading this crucial piece of legislation that affects everyone who works in the aftermarket. The momentum in support of this bill is incredible as evidenced by the support of 22 additional congressmen,” said Kathleen Schmatz, president and CEO of AAIA. “However, our work is just beginning. Based on the strong opposition that the car companies have been expressing on Capitol Hill, we will need many more legislators signing on the bill to get it through during the current Congress.”
The Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act is truly a bi-partisan bill. Of the 25 congressmen who currently support the bill, 12 are Democrats, 12 are Republicans and one is Independent.
The legislation would require the car companies to make the same service information and tools capabilities available to independent repair shops that they provide their franchised dealer networks. Architects of the Right to Repair Act added new language to clarify that car company trade secrets are protected unless that information is provided to the franchised new car dealer. New language also provides more detail on the role of the Federal Trade Commission’s role in enforcing the legislation.
“It’s not about taking trade secrets and proprietary information from the car companies — these are clearly protected in the legislation,” continued Schmatz. “It is about fair trade and protecting consumer choice.”
For more information about the “Right to Repair Act” visit righttorepair.org.
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