Growing Support in Congress for 'Right to Repair'

Reps. Berkley, Brown, Clay Co-Sponsor HR 2057

BETHESDA, Md., May 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act (HR 2057) gained more co-sponsors again this week. Reps. Shelley Berkley (D-NV), Corrine Brown (D-FL) and Wm. Lacy Clay (D-MO) have joined the growing list of co-sponsors.

"Since its introduction less than a month ago, congressional support for the Right to Repair Act has grown each week," said Kathleen Schmatz, president and CEO of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA). "We are very pleased to have Reps. Berkley, Brown and Clay add their names to the bill's growing list co-sponsors. We applaud their commitment to ensuring that convenient, affordable local auto repair remains available to motorists in their districts."

Because vehicles are becoming increasingly sophisticated with virtually every system either monitored or controlled by computers, servicing these vehicle systems to keep them in safe working condition requires ready access to complete and accurate information, tools and software from the car companies. Reps. Towns (D-NY), Eshoo (D-CA) and Miller (D-CA) introduced the Right to Repair Act into the 111th Congress to ensure that car owners are in the driver's seat when it comes to where and by whom repairs to their vehicle are performed.

A complete list of co-sponsors and a copy of the Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act (HR 2057) can be found by visiting www.righttorepair.org.

About Right to Repair:

The Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act, which was introduced by Reps. Edolphus Towns (D-NY), Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and George Miller (D-CA), would require car companies to make the same service information and tools capabilities available to independent repair shops that they provide to their franchised dealer networks. The legislation further provides car companies with strong protections for their trade secrets unless that information is provided to the franchised new car dealers. The bill clarifies the responsibilities of the Federal Trade Commission in enforcing the bill's requirements. For more information about the Right to Repair Act, visit www.righttorepair.org.