[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 19]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 25374]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          SUPPORT THE MOTOR VEHICLE OWNERS RIGHT TO REPAIR ACT

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                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 21, 2009

  Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to discuss a problem that many 
of us, and many of our constituents, often face, a problem that be 
easily resolved with legislation that I, joined by Representatives Anna 
Eshoo and George Miller, have reintroduced. HR 2057, The Motor Vehicle 
Owners' Right to Repair Act, ensures that motoring consumers have the 
ability to choose where, how and by whom they have their vehicles 
repaired and serviced, even those recently out of warranty.
  Vehicles that are 1994 and newer are equipped with computers that 
control most of the vehicles' systems, from air bags and brakes, to 
tire pressure, oil changes, electronics, ignition systems and keys. In 
fact, there are more computers on today's vehicles than were on the 
Apollo 11 moon mission.
  Independent repair shops, which comprise a large number of the small 
businesses in all of our districts, are experiencing a great deal of 
difficulty in locating and obtaining the information, tools and 
software needed to completely repair late model vehicles. These shops 
often must turn away their valued customers, forcing them to return to 
new car dealerships, which, on average, are 34 percent more expensive. 
Not only is that a loss of business for the over 200,000 independent 
repair shops in our nation, but it is a financial burden for our 
constituents.
  I have heard several complaints in my office of problems that 
independent repair shops have experienced in repairing later model 
vehicles. One independent aftermarket technician in New York was 
attempting to diagnose a Subaru and was told that the car company would 
not sell the independent repair shop the proper tools needed to 
diagnose and repair a drivability problem.
  Another New York repair shop was told they would have to wait up to 
two days to obtain the software from Ford needed to update the computer 
on a Ford Escape. The repairer had to pay for towing and then pay the 
new car dealership a fee.
  I have another example from Massachusetts. But you get the point.
  82% of car owners and 94% of independent repair shops indicate that 
they favor the passage of this bill. It allows repair shops to offer 
their clients better service and doesn't cost the taxpayers or the 
government any money. Instead, it's a way that we can provide 
affordable choices to car owners who continue to struggle in this 
difficult economy.
  The car companies have argued that this bill would lead to 
infringements on their intellectual property. HR 2057 does NOT request 
or require proprietary information and I have inserted language to 
ensure that. Similar legislation has been passed in the California 
state legislature, and there were no breaches of proprietary 
information; the only result was that emissions systems were repaired 
faster and better. It's time that Congress keep our motoring 
constituents in the driver's seat when it comes to repairing their 
vehicles, and it's time we helped ensure the economic survival of the 
small, independent repair shops that have been so good to our 
constituents.
  Please join with me, Congresswoman Anna Eshoo and Congressman George 
Miller, to give our constituents a choice of where to repair their 
cars.

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