WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Motor & Equipment Remanufacturers Association (MERA) and the Washington, D.C., office of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) have announced that a bipartisan group of lawmakers has written the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to request a study of government use of remanufactured motor vehicle parts in federal vehicle fleets. The associations say this action is a direct result of a tour by a member of Congress of a MERA member facility immediately following the Remanufacturing Legislative Summit in September 2011.
In a Dec. 12 letter to GAO Comptroller General Eugene Dodaro, 18 senators and representatives – led by Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Rep. Todd Rokita (R-Ind.) – requested a study that would examine the use of remanufactured parts compared to new parts, which categories are seeing the greatest and the least use of remanufactured parts and components, regional or local trends, any impediments to use of remanufactured parts and any fiscal benefits that are being realized.
“MERA members are very grateful to the members of the House and Senate that have asked the GAO to study the government’s use of remanufactured products within their vehicle fleets,” said John Chalifoux, president and COO of MERA. “We hope that the study will provide a baseline on government usage and offer insight on how the federal government might better take advantage of the benefits of remanufactured products. This study is a tremendous first step in that process.”
“The remanufacturing industry supports nearly 300,000 American jobs, saves people money and reduces pollution,” said Sen. Stabenow. “In order to use taxpayer dollars more efficiently, the federal government should consider utilizing remanufactured parts for federal fleets.”
“I am confident that the GAO report will confirm that using remanufactured parts is a smart way to save taxpayer dollars, and ultimately support Indiana manufacturing jobs,” commented Rep. Rokita.
Other lawmakers signing the letter were Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Dan Coats (R- Ind.), Carl Levin (D-Mich.), James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Reps. Dan Burton (R-Ind.), Tom Cole (R-Okla.), Gregg Harper (R-Miss.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Billy Long (R-Mo.), Mike Pence (R-Ind.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Todd Platts (R-Ind.), Dennis Ross (R-Fla.), and John Sullivan (R- Okla.).
