[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

[[Page H35]]

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.

[[Page H36]]

  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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