Florida Congressman Cliff Stearns, Subcommittee Chairman, Votes for Motoring Consumers and Independent Auto Repair Industry, States CARE

ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 31, 2006 -- "Florida's motoring consumers and the Florida automotive aftermarket thank U.S. Representative Cliff Stearns (R-Fl-Gainesville, Ocala, Orange Park) for voting for The Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act, HR 2048, in his Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection, where he serves as Chairman, on May 25, 2006," stated David Parde, president, The Coalition for Auto Repair Equality (CARE). The vote was a battle and close, 14 to 13, in favor of consumers and small business.

"The Right to Repair Act," as it is often known, was reintroduced in May 2005, by Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, to address the dissatisfaction voiced by motoring consumers and the automotive aftermarket that 1994 and newer vehicles (and some earlier models) which are equipped with computer systems must be repaired by the car dealerships, rather than the consumers' repair shops of choice.

The vehicles' computer systems control the repair, maintenance and parts replacement on vital systems such as: air bags, brakes, steering mechanisms, batteries, oil changes, tire pressure, check engine and dome lights, climate control, ignition keys and much more. Following the introduction of The Right to Repair Act, the car companies, which have complete access to the repair information, released some information, but not enough for the automotive aftermarket to repair the "entire" vehicle. This inability to repair the entire vehicle forces many consumers back to the car dealerships for higher- priced repairs.

"It's very simple," stated Parde. "When consumers own their vehicles they should have the ability to make their own judgment calls on that property. But, unfortunately, the car companies disagree with that free-market philosophy. When asked in a May 17, 2006, Legislative Hearing in the same Subcommittee, if consumers have the right to their own repair {auto} information, Mike Stanton, spokesman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers stated, 'No. Because anyone could have it...and, manufacturers don't have a duty and consumers don't have a right.'"

"Fortunately for Florida's motoring consumers and small business, Rep. Stearns believes that consumer choice is a fundamental American right," stated Parde.

The next step for The Right to Repair Act is the House Energy and Commerce Committee (of which the Subcommittee is a part), where Chairman Stearns will again have the opportunity to vote for HR 2048. Another Florida Representative who serves on the Subcommittee for Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection, Rep. Jim Davis (D-Tampa, St. Petersburg), who is also a Gubernatorial candidate, has never cosponsored The Right to Repair Act and voted against it in the Subcommittee.

Florida Representative Michael Bilirakis (R-Palm Harbor, Tampa, Tarpon Springs) is a long-time cosponsor of The Right to Repair Act. Rep. Bilirakis will also have the opportunity to cast his first vote for the bill in the full Energy and Commerce Committee.

"Florida Representatives could be the deciding factor whether motoring consumers have choices in their vehicle repairs and whether the automotive aftermarket will be able to fully compete in the market place," concluded Parde.

The Coalition for Auto Repair Equality (CARE) is a national organization representing companies in the automotive aftermarket, among them: NAPA, CARQUEST, AutoZone, Advance Auto, O'Reilly's and CSK Auto (parent company of Checker, Schuck's, Kragen). Five million people nationwide are employed in the automotive aftermarket in over 495,000 locations, including "mom and pop" shops. Florida's aftermarket locations number approximately 12,265.