Congressional Support for Right to Repair Reaches 51

Congressional support for the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act (HR 2057) has reached 51, it was announced recently by Kathleen Schmatz, president and CEO of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association.

Reps. Brian Bilbray (R-CA), Donna Christensen (D-VI), Elijah Cummings (D-MD), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Collin Peterson (DFL-MN) and Laura Richardson (D-CA) are the most recent co-sponsors of the Right to Repair Act, which has gained steady support since its introduction.

“We applaud these seven members of Congress for backing this critical piece of pro-consumer and pro-small business legislation,” Schmatz said. “Every single person who owns or operates a vehicle stands to suffer economically if the Right to Repair Act is not passed.”

“The automotive aftermarket and its independent repair shops are a central part of the U.S. economy. With significant dollars at stake, it’s not hard to figure out why the car manufacturers want to retain control of the non-proprietary repair information, tools and software needed by independent repair shops to service late model vehicles,” said Ray Pohlman, president of the Coalition for Auto Repair Equality. “Passage of the Right to Repair Act will prevent a vehicle repair monopoly by ensuring that consumers have safe and affordable choices when it comes to auto repair.”

The Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act, which was introduced by Reps. Edolphus Towns (D-NY), Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and George Miller (D-CA), would require car companies to make the same service information and tools capabilities that they provide to their franchised dealer networks available to independent repair shops. The legislation further provides car companies with strong protections for their trade secrets unless that information is provided to the franchised new car dealers. The bill clarifies the responsibilities of the Federal Trade Commission in enforcing the bill’s requirements, but has languished in subcommittees for years, with various versions of the bill never moving to a floor vote in the House.

For more information about the Right to Repair Act, visit www.righttorepair.org