To date, 28 members of Congress support the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act (HR 1449). The legislation was introduced last year into the 112th Congress.
“The Right to Repair Act is really about who owns the vehicle’s repair information, the car owner or the car company. After spending thousands of dollars to purchase a vehicle, consumers should not be denied the right to have that vehicle repaired at the facility of their choice,” said Sandy Bass-Cors, executive director of the Coalition for Auto Repair Equality (CARE).
“The Right to Repair Act does not cost taxpayers money, but makes sure that motorists, and not the vehicle manufacturers, have the final say on where their car is taken for service – a basic American right of private ownership.”
The bipartisan-sponsored Right to Repair Act was introduced by Reps. Edolphus Towns (D-NY) and Todd Russell Platts (R-PA). Joining them as co-sponsors of HR 1449 are Reps. Michael Capuano (D-MA), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Bob Filner (D-CA), Michael Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Barney Frank (D-MA), Marcia Fudge (D-OH), Jim Gerlach (R-PA), Michael Honda (D-CA), John Lewis (D-GA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Tom Marino (R-PA), James McGovern (D-MA), Mike McIntyre (D-NC), Brad Miller (D-NC), James Moran (D-VA), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Charles Rangel (D-NY), Laura Richardson (D-CA), James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), Heath Shuler (D-NC), Pete Stark (D-CA), Glenn Thompson (R-PA), Niki Tsongas (D-MA) and Peter Welch (D-VT).
“We are very pleased and encouraged by the growing Congressional support for the Right to Repair Act,” said Kathleen Schmatz, president and CEO of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA). “The momentum for this important legislation demonstrates the commitment by many members of Congress to ensure that motorists in their districts can continue to obtain affordable and convenient repairs for their vehicles.”
There has also been widespread support at the grassroots level as well (see Right to Repair: 43,000 letters of support).
For more information about the Right to Repair Act, visit www.righttorepair.org.
