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AAIA, CARE Thank Congressional Co-Sponsors of Right to Repair Act

BETHESDA, Md., Oct. 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With crucial mid-term elections less than three weeks away, the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) and the Coalition for Auto Repair Equality (CARE) want to thank the 76 members of Congress who have co-sponsored the Motor Vehicle Owners Right to Repair Act (S 3181/HR 2057).

"We want to acknowledge those members of Congress who have come out in support of small business and the individual rights of every American who owns or operates a motor vehicle," said Kathleen Schmatz, president and CEO of AAIA. "By co-sponsoring the pro-consumer and pro-small business Right to Repair Act, these members of Congress have demonstrated by their actions that they are committed to a competitive vehicle repair market. The Right to Repair Act ensures that all vehicle owners can continue to enjoy the convenience and affordability of having their vehicle serviced at the repair shop of their choice, whether at their neighborhood repair shop or a new car dealership."

The Right to Repair Act protects motoring consumers from a growing and potentially hazardous vehicle repair monopoly by requiring that car companies provide full access at a reasonable cost to all non-proprietary service information, tools and safety-related bulletins needed to repair motor vehicles. The legislation provides car companies with strong protections for their trade secrets, only requiring them to make available the same diagnostic and repair information they provide their franchised dealers to the independent vehicle repair market. A broad group of state and national consumer and industry organizations support passage of right to repair legislation including AAA, American Military Society, Automotive Recyclers Association, National Grange, Motorcycle Riders Foundation, RetireSafe and 60 Plus.

The Right to Repair Act has bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress. The House version (HR 2057) was introduced by Reps. Edolphus Towns (D-NY), Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and George Miller (D-CA) and currently has the following 71 co-sponsors:

                                    Rep Arcuri, Michael A.
    Rep Altmire, Jason [PA-4]       [NY-24]
                                    Rep Berman, Howard L.
    Rep Berkley, Shelley [NV-1]     [CA-28]
    Rep Bilbray, Brian P. [CA-50]  Rep Boucher, Rick [VA-9]
                                    Rep Butterfield, G. K.
    Rep Brown, Corrine [FL-3]       [NC-1]
                                    Rep Capuano, Michael E.
    Rep Cao, Anh "Joseph" [LA-2]    [MA-8]
    Rep Carney, Christopher P.      Rep Christensen, Donna M.
     [PA-10]                        [VI]
    Rep Clarke, Yvette D. [NY-11]  Rep Clay, Wm. Lacy [MO-1]
                                    Rep Conaway, K. Michael
    Rep Cohen, Steve [TN-9] 9       [TX-11]
    Rep Connolly, Gerald E.
     "Gerry" [VA-11]               Rep Courtney, Joe [CT-2]
    Rep Cummings, Elijah E. [MD-    Rep Davis, Danny K. [IL-
     7]                             7]
                                    Rep Delahunt, Bill [MA-
    Rep DeFazio, Peter A. [OR-4]    10]
                                    Rep Eshoo, Anna G. [CA-
    Rep Doggett, Lloyd [TX-25]      14]
    Rep Etheridge, Bob [NC-2]      Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51]
                                    Rep Fudge, Marcia L. [OH-
    Rep Frank, Barney [MA-4]        11]
    Rep Garamendi, John [CA-10]    Rep Gerlach, Jim [PA-6]
                                    Rep Hastings, Alcee L.
    Rep Hare, Phil [IL-17]          [FL-23]
    Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-    Rep Honda, Michael M.
     22]                            [CA-15]
    Rep Jackson, Jesse L., Jr.      Rep Jackson-Lee, Sheila
     [IL-2]                         [TX-18]
                                    Rep Larson, John B. [CT-
    Rep Kagen, Steve [WI-8]         1]
    Rep Lee, Barbara [CA-9]        Rep Lewis, John [GA-5]
                                    Rep McGovern, James P.
    Rep Lofgren, Zoe [CA-16]        [MA-3]
                                    Rep Meeks, Gregory W.
    Rep McIntyre, Mike [NC-7]       [NY-6]
    Rep Miller, Brad [NC-13]       Rep Miller, George [CA-7]
                                    Rep Nadler, Jerrold [NY-
    Rep Moran, James P. [VA-8]      8]
    Rep Napolitano, Grace F. [CA-
     38]                           Rep Olver, John W. [MA-1]
                                    Rep Perriello, Thomas
    Rep Payne, Donald M. [NJ-10]    S.P. [VA-5]
    Rep Peterson, Collin C. [MN-    Rep Platts, Todd Russell
     7]                             [PA-19]
                                    Rep Richardson, Laura
    Rep Price, David E. [NC-4]      [CA-37]
                                    Rep Rothman, Steven R.
    Rep Rogers, Mike D. [AL-3]      [NJ-9]
                                    Rep Sensenbrenner, F.
    Rep Sanchez, Loretta [CA-47]    James, Jr. [WI-5]
                                    Rep Shea-Porter, Carol
    Rep Sestak, Joe [PA-7]          [NH-1]
    Rep Shuler, Heath [NC-11]      Rep Sires, Albio [NJ-13]
                                    Rep Stark, Fortney Pete
    Rep Speier, Jackie [CA-12] 0    [CA-13]
    Rep Thompson, Bennie G. [MS-    Rep Thompson, Glenn [PA-
     2]                             5]
    Rep Tonko, Paul D. [NY-21]     Rep Welch, Peter [VT]
    Rep Wilson, Charles A. [OH-6]

The Senate version of the bill (S 3181) was recently introduced by Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Sam Brownback (R-KS) and has the following co-sponsors:

    Sen Brownback, Sam [KS]        Sen Burris, Roland [IL]
    Sen Dodd, Christopher J. [CT]  Sen Isakson, Johnny [GA]
    Sen Kerry, John F. [MA]

"We are expecting more members of Congress to sign on co-sponsors post-election," said Sandy Bass-Cors, executive director of CARE. "During this time of lost jobs and a recession, it's more important than ever that motoring consumers know that there are members of Congress who stand up for them and their personal property choices by co-sponsoring the pro-consumer, pro-competition Right to Repair Act."

About Right to Repair:

The Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act (S 3181) was introduced into the Senate by Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Sam Brownback (R-KS). The House version of the bill (HR 2057) was introduced by Reps. Edolphus Towns (D-NY), Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and George Miller (D-CA). The Right to Repair Act protects consumers from a growing vehicle repair monopoly by requiring 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. For more information about the Right to Repair Act, visit www.righttorepair.org.

SOURCE Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association