[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 148 (Thursday, September 29, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S6262]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO CLARENCE M. DITLOW III

  Mr. MARKEY. Madam President, today I wish to recognize and thank Mr. 
Clarence M. Ditlow III for his commitment to protecting the American 
people. Through a lifetime of work improving automotive and safety 
laws, Mr. Ditlow has helped save thousands of lives and prevented many 
more injuries than would otherwise have occurred. A tireless champion 
for consumers, his work has resulted in better government oversight of 
automakers, the installation of key safety features, and the exposure 
of safety defects in millions of cars, SUVs, and other trucks.
  A 1965 chemical engineering graduate of Lehigh University, Mr. Ditlow 
pivoted to the legal profession following the completion of a JD from 
Georgetown University in 1970 and an LLM from Harvard Law School in 
1971. Since then, he has been instrumental in improving auto safety, 
reliability, and efficiency as executive director of the Center for 
Auto Safety.
  Mr. Ditlow's discovery of numerous automotive defects, combined with 
his persistent pressure on safety agencies and automakers alike, led to 
the removal of many unsafe vehicles from the road. His direct efforts 
led to the automotive recalls of 6.7 million Chevrolets with defective 
engine mounts, 15 million Firestone 500 tires, 1.5 million Ford Pintos 
and 2 million Jeeps with exploding gas tanks, 3 million Evenflo child 
seats with defective latches, 7 million Toyotas because of sudden 
acceleration defects, 2 million GM vehicles with defective ignition 
switches, and over 30 million Takata airbag inflators. He also led 
consumer efforts to get ``lemon laws'' passed in all 50 States.
  I offer my sincere appreciation to Mr. Clarence M. Ditlow III and the 
Center for Automotive Safety for indefatigable dedication to auto 
safety and vigilance in uncovering automotive safety threats. Clarence 
demonstrates the impact a devoted industry watchdog can have on 
informing the public and saving lives. I am grateful for his years of 
collaboration with and assistance to Members of Congress, Federal and 
State safety agencies, and a myriad of other stakeholders, to improve 
automotive and public safety.

                          ____________________