In a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee legislative hearing today, lawmakers – including full Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rogers (R-WA) – and auto industry professionals discussed how bipartisan measures like the Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair (REPAIR) Act (H.R. 906) will counteract anticompetitive practices impacting drivers and independent auto shops.
As lead REPAIR Act sponsor Rep. Neal Dunn (R-FL) and subcommittee Ranking Member Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) noted:
“It’s the right of owners to repair their equipment, their vehicles, and to choose where to repair…Forcing auto owners back into dealerships for repairs not only leaves a huge existing industry behind, it veers towards vertical integration and monopolistic behavior. The REPAIR Act fixes this, just like the hard-working mechanics who fix our cars.”
– Rep. Neal Dunn (R-FL), Lead Sponsor, REPAIR Act
“[Independent repairers have a] right to get the information that they need to be able to do those repairs – and not to have restrictions on who actually has the information…That is another piece of legislation – the right to repair – and I am very much supportive of that.”
– Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Ranking Member, House Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce
In testimony, Kathleen Callahan, a Florida independent auto repair shop owner, explained how OEM data restrictions have forced her to “stop servicing certain vehicle makes and models completely.”
“…[T]he data I need to diagnose the complex computer network of modern vehicles is inaccessible through our scan tools, and we must send our clients to a dealership for answers and, often, a much higher repair bill…”
“The REPAIR Act allows the free market to work by prohibiting competition-busting barriers that vehicle manufacturers use to protect their competitive advantage. It will guarantee that our shops, chosen by the vehicle owner, can access the data they need to safely diagnose and repair vehicles today and in the future…”
“Currently, many European auto manufacturers do not participate in the MOUs that we’ve had in place since 2002…[T]his would be me entrusting the future and my legacy of my business…and my children’s future. I’m not willing to risk on a handshake…where they could back out any time...”
– Kathleen Callahan, Owner, Xpertech Auto Repair in Englewood, FL
The REPAIR Act now has 43 Republican and Democratic co-sponsors.
If you agree that consumers and independent business owners deserve protections afforded by bills like the REPAIR Act and the Save Money on Auto Repair Transportation (SMART) Act, join us in urging Congress to take action today!
