BETHESDA, MD — Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, was strongly optimistic in predicting passage this year of the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act legislation that he will re-introduce to the 109th Congress during remarks to more than 250 attendees at the Aftermarket Legislative Summit last week.
Wearing a “Support the Right to Repair Act” button, Congressman Barton urged summit attendees to follow-up on their experience in Washington, D.C. by meeting with their elected officials in their home district, reinforcing the value of grass roots advocacy efforts. Barton’s encouraging remarks preceded 200 appointments with legislators and key staff from 37 states.
“Everyone at the summit was energized by the encouraging words from Rep. Barton, the bill’s sponsor and chairman of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee,” said Kathleen Schmatz, president and CEO of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA). “There is truly a sense that momentum and support for our legislation is growing.”
The legislation achieved a milestone last year with 118 co-sponsors. While 5,400 bills were introduced in Congress last year, only 4 percent were able to collect 100 or more co-sponsors.
Summit attendees also heard from Rep. Joe Knollenberg, R-Mich., sponsor of the Stop Counterfeiting in Manufactured Goods Act of 2005 (H.R. 32). Rep. Knollenberg explained how the legislation would tighten existing criminal sanctions against counterfeiters by mandating the destruction of equipment and materials used for making and packaging counterfeit goods.
More than 300 aftermarket representatives and congressional leaders and staffers attended a special reception at the Rayburn House Office Building on Tuesday evening. Ray Evernham, NASCAR team owner and president and CEO of Evernham Motorsports, was on hand to talk with guests and take photos.
Other issues addressed at the summit were asbestos litigation reform and association health plans.
Co-sponsors of the summit included: Alliance of Automotive Service Providers (AASP); Automotive Maintenance and Repair Association (AMRA); Automotive Parts and Rebuilders Association (AOPRA); Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA); Alliance of State Automotive Aftermarket Associations (ASAAA); Coalition for Auto Repair Equality (CARE); Heavy Duty Distribution Association (HDDA); International Truck Parts Association (ITPA); Service Station Dealers of America (SSDA) and Tire Industry Association (TIA)
To learn more about the the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act, and other legislative issues of importance to the independent aftermarket, visit: www.aftermarket.org.
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