CARE Applauds Added Sponsorship for Legislation During August Recess

The Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act, H.R. 2048, introduced in the U.S. House May 3, 2005, is gaining ground with progress on many fronts, according to the Coalition for Auto Repair Equality (CARE). To date, there are 41 House co-sponsors. Thirty-two members, including Chairman Joe Barton, sponsor and chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, and Rep. Edolphus Towns have expressed their confidence in the bill by returning as main co-sponsors, while nine new co-sponsors join the list. A bipartisan bill, to date there are 25 Democrats, 15 Republicans and one Independent supporting the bill.

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act, H.R. 2048, introduced in the U.S. House May 3, 2005, is gaining ground with progress on many fronts, according to the Coalition for Auto Repair Equality (CARE). To date, there are 41 House co-sponsors. Thirty-two members, including Chairman Joe Barton, sponsor and chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, and Rep. Edolphus Towns have expressed their confidence in the bill by returning as main co-sponsors, while nine new co-sponsors join the list. A bipartisan bill, to date there are 25 Democrats, 15 Republicans and one Independent supporting the bill.

Said David Parde, president of CARE, “The Right to Repair Act is a pro-consumer, pro-safety bill. It’s as American as apple pie. It ensures that motoring consumers have a right in a free-market society to choose where, how and by whom to have their vehicles repaired, whose parts they wish to purchase, even work on their vehicles themselves.”

He added, “At this point in the game, we feel confident our bill will continue to move forward. The bill has already had one hearing in June before the Small Business Subcommittee on Workforce, Empowerment and Government Programs, although Energy and Commerce retains jurisdiction.”

Parde said, “The Subcommittee heard testimony on how the bill meets the need for motoring consumers to have a choice in their vehicle repairs and for small business owners to have the ability to compete with car companies on a level playing field. It’s the basis of America’s entrepreneurial principles.”

CARE represents major companies in the automotive aftermarket (NAPA, CARQUEST, Advance Auto, AutoZone, CSK Auto, O’Reilly and others.) Said Parde, “On behalf of our 500 million people strong, $200 billion a year aftermarket industry in over 495,000 locations nationwide, I’d like to thank the following members for their support for this critical bill.”

Returning co-sponsors, state, state district and their date on the bill include: