[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 4 (Wednesday, January 8, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H34-H36]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1245
CLEAN AIR ACT AMENDMENT
Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 724) to amend the Clean Air Act to remove the requirement for
dealer certification of new light-duty motor vehicles.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 724
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. REMOVAL OF REQUIREMENT FOR DEALER CERTIFICATION OF
NEW LIGHT-DUTY MOTOR VEHICLES.
Section 207(h) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7541(h)) is
amended--
(1) by striking paragraph (1); and
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs
(1) and (2), respectively.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Ohio (Mr. Latta) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Peters) each will
control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio.
General Leave
Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
insert extraneous materials into the Record on the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Ohio?
There was no objection.
Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be the lead sponsor of H.R. 724, along
with my colleague, Congressman Gary Peters of Michigan. This bipartisan
bill, which has 106 cosponsors, repeals an obsolete regulatory
requirement that no longer
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makes sense. This legislation is fully supported by the auto industry,
and I have a letter that I would like to submit for the Record from the
five leading automotive trade associations, including the National
Automobile Dealers Association, highlighting their support.
Since 1981, automobile dealers who deliver a new vehicle for sale
have been required to provide a certificate to the purchaser,
indicating the vehicle conforms to Clean Air Act emissions
requirements. However, modern technology and standard vehicle
warranties have rendered this paperwork requirement unnecessary and
redundant for a number of reasons.
First, every new vehicle must comply with Clean Air Act requirements
before it can enter the stream of commerce. Second, information
certifying a vehicle is Clean Air Act compliant can already be found in
a number of other locations, including under the hood of a vehicle, in
a vehicle's manual, or on the EPA's Web site. And, finally, many new
sale warranties range from tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands
of miles or a number of years which far exceed the protections provided
for in the regulatory requirement.
During recent years, we have seen an unprecedented amount of Federal
regulation proposed and enacted. This bureaucratic creep not only
threatens the scope of entrepreneurial freedom but also comes at a
heavy cost which, by some estimations, is approximately $1.7 trillion
annually. In my district, when I am out visiting with the small
businesses community and hardworking American taxpayers, the number one
concern I hear about is the burdensome regulations and the need to pare
back Federal Government interference.
H.R. 724 is simple, direct, and sends a clear message that small
business owners, and specifically auto dealers, should not be burdened
with redundant regulatory requirements. This legislation will make the
car-buying process a little simpler and let auto dealers spend less
time complying with obsolete regulatory requirements and more time
developing their businesses, investing in local communities, and
creating jobs.
I look forward to continuing to find ways that reduce unnecessary red
tape on the small business community. As H.R. 724 represents, this is
not only a policy goal both sides of the aisle can agree on, but it is
a policy goal that can actually get done. I urge support from my
colleagues.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
American International Automobile Dealers, NADA, NAMAD, Auto Alliance,
and Global Automakers,
January 7, 2014.
Dear Representative: We, the undersigned automotive trade
associations, are writing regarding our strong support for
H.R. 724, a bipartisan bill that would repeal an outdated
paperwork mandate on franchised automobile dealers requiring
dealer certification of a new vehicle's emission system. This
legislation was introduced on February 14, 2013 by Reps. Bob
Latta (R-OH) and Gary Peters (D-MI) and currently has 105
bipartisan cosponsors. H.R. 724 was reported out of the House
Energy and Commerce Committee on December 11, 2013 by voice
vote. This bill is scheduled to be considered by the House of
Representatives on January 8, 2014.
For over 30 years, automobile dealers who sell a new
vehicle have been required to provide customers with a
certificate which states that the vehicle conforms to Clean
Air Act (CAA) emissions requirements. However, subsequently
passed laws and dealer contractual obligations have rendered
this statutory mandate redundant and obsolete.
Currently, every new vehicle must comply with CAA
requirements before entering the stream of commerce, making
it unnecessary for a dealer to also provide a customer with
written notification that the vehicle is CAA compliant. Next,
information can be found under the hood of the vehicle
certifying that the vehicle is CAA compliant, making another
form given by the dealer to the customer duplicative.
Finally, other information contained in the form is either no
longer relevant or can be found in the owner's manual and
supplements provided by the manufacturer.
H.R. 724 is narrowly drafted to eliminate this one
statutory mandate only. The bill does not amend or impact
other provisions of the Clean Air Act.
This legislation is an excellent example of Congress
working on a bipartisan basis to repeal an outdated law that
no longer benefits the public. We urge you to vote ``Yes'' on
H.R. 724 to end this unnecessary requirement. Thank you for
your consideration.
Sincerely,
Peter K. Welch,
President, National Automobile Dealers Association.
Mitch Bainwol,
President and CEO, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.
Damon Lester,
President, National Association of Minority Automobile
Dealers.
Cody Lusk,
President, American International Automobile Dealers
Association.
Michael J. Stanton,
President and CEO, Association of Global Automakers, Inc.
Mr. PETERS of Michigan. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 724; and I would like to
start off by thanking the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Latta) for his
leadership on this issue and for his willingness to work with me in
writing this bill.
This legislation is simple and straightforward. It cuts red tape for
small businesses and allows auto dealers to focus on selling cars and
creating jobs, not unnecessary paperwork. This bill also benefits
consumers. It is one less piece of paper when buying a car, so
consumers can focus on what is really important to them, and that is
their purchase.
When I came to Congress in 2009, it was a very dark period for our
entire economy but particularly for the auto industry. I will never
forget the meeting I had during that time with Chrysler's CEO and his
management team. They told me that they were not only weeks away from
bankruptcy, but that without access to government loans, they would not
have the resources to reorganize and would have been forced to
liquidate the company. A liquidation of any of the major auto
manufacturers would have wreaked havoc on the supply chain and dragged
the entire industry down with it, eliminating millions of good-paying
U.S. jobs.
My State of Michigan has helped build our Nation's middle class. Our
history is proof that you cannot have a strong middle class without a
strong manufacturing sector, and you cannot have a strong manufacturing
sector without a thriving auto industry. That is why I was proud to
fight for Michigan workers and middle class families and our auto
industry to secure the loans that they needed to weather this economic
storm.
Fast forward to today. Our auto industry is now driving our economic
recovery and paving the way to rebuilding our middle class. Vehicle
sales are at the highest point they have been since May of 2007; and
vehicle manufacturers and suppliers are ramping up production, hiring
more workers, and investing in innovation. That is why it is critical
that Congress continue to support our auto industry and our middle
class.
I am glad to work with the gentleman from Ohio, Congressman Latta, on
a commonsense solution to eliminate outdated and unnecessary burdens on
small businesses. Auto dealers should not have to provide additional
paperwork confirming that a vehicle complies with the Clean Air Act
since every new vehicle entering the market already meets that
standard. Compliance with the Clean Air Act is certainly very
important, but redundant paperwork just slows down our small businesses
and our consumers.
Auto dealers are upstanding community citizens. They sponsor Little
League teams, scholarships, and volunteer their time to help others.
Dealers provide significant value and expertise when consumers want to
purchase a new car or truck and work to make financing a vehicle
affordable.
Today's new vehicles feature innovations ranging from safety
technology that makes our roads safer for all of us to infotainment
packages that provide convenience and an enhanced riding experience,
features that knowledgeable dealers play a very important role in
educating the car-buying public about.
So I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 724 to end this
outdated burden on the small businesses that can be found in every
community in our country.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Pennsylvania.
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Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I am actually a new car dealer and have been a new car
dealer for many, many years, since 1970, at a store my dad started in
1953 after coming back from the war. So I have got to tell you, it used
to be so easy to deliver a car to a customer, and the excitement about
getting that new car was just one of the biggest things a family could
do. They would come into the showroom, and they were so excited about
taking delivery of a new car, being able to drive off that lot, drive
around America, do whatever they wanted to do.
And the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Peters) referred to dealers in
the community. I can tell you, if you really want to know the
significance of new car dealers, go to any town anywhere in this
country and look at the outfield fence where Little Leagues play. Open
up any program to any high school performance and see who the sponsors
are. Look at any of the fundraising opportunities that take place in
each community, and you will find that it is the automobile dealers who
are there first and foremost and are always there. That is just what we
do.
In addition to providing good transportation, we support our
communities. We hire people. We allow people to work in our
communities. They do great things in our communities.
Now, when we talk about H.R. 724, the question becomes then, Why do
we continue to layer time after time, paper after paper on somebody
just trying to take delivery of a new car? In a recent survey, the
number one thing that consumers don't like about buying a car is the
paperwork. It is endless.
When I first started in 1969 selling cars, all you had to do was sign
the retail order form and sign the temporary registration and send it
in. Well, now we have volumes of papers that must be signed. They not
only have to sign that they agree to something; they have to sign that
they agree not to do something, and that it was offered to somebody
else and to them also. So this full declaration has gotten crazy.
And when it comes to the Clean Air Act, I can take anybody out in the
lot. In fact, we can go out in the street right now. Open the hood of
your car. There is a sticker underneath that says exactly what that
vehicle performs like, and how does it meet the requirements of the
Clean Air Act. It is there. On the manufacturer's statement of origin,
when customers take delivery of a car, they sign that certificate.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. LATTA. I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.
Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. This just makes so much sense. At a time
when America looks at this institution and says why don't you just work
together to get rid of some of this overregulation, this
overburdensome, adding cost to almost everything that we do, we can do
it.
I appreciate what Mr. Latta has done and what Mr. Peters has done.
There are over 105 of us that sit right here in this room that agree it
needs to be done right now. So let's not hold that up. Let's make sure
that we simplify it and make it easier for people to go ahead and take
delivery of their new car. It takes away cost, and adds that money
which we don't spend back into the communities. It could go back into
building our businesses. It could go back into rebuilding America.
Mr. PETERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Kelly) for his comments and certainly
for his support of what I think is a very practical, commonsense bill
that deals with an issue that we need to address. And I think it is
very encouraging to see us come together in a bipartisan way to deal
with this issue in a very commonsense approach.
With that, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, it appears that I, too, have no further
requests for time on my side, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Latta) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 724.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
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