[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 140 (Monday, October 30, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2024]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TRANSPORTATION RECALL ENHANCEMENT, ACCOUNTABILITY AND DOCUMENTATION ACT

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                          HON. GARY A. CONDIT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 30, 2000

  Mr. CONDIT. Mr. Speaker, on October 10, the House of Representatives 
passed by voice vote the Transportation Recall Enhancement, 
Accountability and Documentation Act.
  The quick passage of this bill was a direct result of the public's 
concern over the safety of automobile tires. This was a good and proper 
beginning. However, I am hopeful that next year, in the new session of 
Congress, we can take a more comprehensive look at all automobile 
safety issues. In particular, Congress should closely examine the 
availability of information necessary to repair vehicles.
  Oftentimes, consumers and repair shops do not have access to adequate 
information on how to properly repair and maintain vehicles. When 
information concerning the proper repairs and appropriate replacement 
parts for automobiles is withheld or tightly controlled, motorists are 
put in jeopardy. This situation can lead to unsafe vehicles on the road 
and must be addressed.
  In the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments, Congress required new vehicles 
include an On-Board Diagnostic System to monitor vehicle emissions. At 
that time, Congress also mandated that the information necessary to 
make emission repairs be made available to all those who repair the 
vehicles, including the after market.
  Since this time, diagnostics have evolved to monitor most car systems 
such as brakes and air bags. Yet the information required to make 
repairs on these systems is not made available to the car owner or the 
local repair shop. It is time for Congress to carefully consider the 
benefits of extending the information sharing requirements to cover all 
the systems in an automobile.

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