Automotive Service Association ASA
 

"Right to Repair" Legislation Marked-Up This Week
ASA members urged to contact their representatives

May 23, 2006

A hearing on H.R. 2048, the Motor Vehicle Owner's Right to Repair Act, was held last week in front of U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection. This subcommittee will mark-up H.R. 2048 on Thursday, May 25.

The Automotive Service Association (ASA) is urging its members and supporters to contact their elected representatives immediately, asking him or her to oppose the legislation, especially if your elected representative is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection (see list at the end of this message). The proposed legislation would put at risk the progress that has been made through the Automotive Service Association-Automaker Agreement, which already provides the repair industry, including independent repair shops, with access to service, tool and training information.

Click here to send a message to your representative, or call the Congressional Switchboard at (202) 224-3121.

H.R. 2048 should be opposed for the following reasons:


A Letter from ASA President Ron Pyle

You are probably tired of receiving messages and requests to take action on H.R. 2048. However, please take this additional plea seriously because it just might be the opportunity to put this issue to rest.

ASA's Government Affairs Committee and our Washington D.C. office have been working very hard to determine how best to finally defeat this proposed legislation and allow ASA to move on to more important opportunities to protect and promote a healthy independent service and repair marketplace. At this point, they believe that phone calls to the members of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee, opposing this intrusive legislation, would be the most effective.

Many of you have never called your congressional representative and might feel uncomfortable doing so, but just remember that they are supposed to represent you and your best interests and they won't know what those are unless you tell them. I can assure you that a single call does have an impact and in this particular case may even be the one that influences your representative to choose to oppose this legislation.

I would also ask one other favor from you. When you do call, would you send me an e-mail letting me know that you did. I would like to be able to show our leadership that we can be effective in mounting a strong grassroots effort.

Thank you for considering this request.

Best regards,

Ron Pyle
ASA president and chief staff executive


House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee
Holds Hearing on Right to Repair Legislation

The U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection held another hearing last week to further discuss H.R. 2048, the Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act.

H.R. 2048 seeks to have the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) responsible for service information in the automotive repair industry.

During questions by Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., chairman of the subcommittee, the FTC admitted it has very limited knowledge or background in the automotive repair industry and lacked the resources to perform this particular task.

During the hearing, Deborah Platt Majoras, chairman of the FTC, testified that the FTC "continues to believe that the best approach to resolve particular disputes between the parties, including the determination of the composition of any governing board (NASTF), should be decided and implemented by industry participants rather than the government. Such an approach is preferable because the parties' full faith in the board is imperative for it to accomplish the goals of a self-regulatory process, and that full faith would best be obtained by consensus in determining its composition."

In response to further questions by the subcommittee, Majoras responded that of the 500 automotive complaints to the FTC in 2006, not one involved automotive service information.

Many of the subcommittee representatives present aggressively questioned the panelists, expressing concern over the H.R. 2048 legislation. Specifically, Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., said he finds that H.R. 2048 is merely a "solution in search of a problem."


Members of the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection

Below is a list of representatives serving on the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection. The representatives may be contacted via phone through the Congressional Switchboard at (202) 224-3121, or by clicking here . Also included are the fax numbers of each of the representative's Washington, D.C., office.

Rep. Cliff Stearns - Florida
Ocala, Orange Park, Gainesville
202-225-3973

Rep. John Dingell - Michigan
Dearborn, Monroe, Yspilanti
202-226-0371

Rep. Fred Upton - Michigan
Kalamazoo, St Joseph
202-225-4986

Rep. Nathan Deal - Georgia
Gainesville, LaFayette, Dalton
202-22508272

Rep. Barbara Cubin - Wyoming
Casper, Rock Springs, Cheyenne
202-225-3057

Rep. George Radanovich - California
Fresno, Turlock
202-225-3402

Rep. Charles Bass - New Hampshire
Concord, Nashua, Littleton, Keene
202-225-2946 Rep. Joe Pitts - Pennsylvania
Lancaster, Unionville
202-225-2411

Rep. Jan Schakowsky - Illinois
Chicago, Evanston, Park Ridge
202-226-6890

Rep. Mike Ross - Arkansas
Pine Bluff, Prescott, El Dorado, Hot Springs
202-225-1314

Rep. Ed Markey - Massachusetts
Medford, Framingham
202-226-0092

Rep. Ed Towns - New York
Brooklyn (4 offices)
202-225-1018

Rep. Sherrod Brown - Ohio
Lorain, Akron
202-225-2266

Rep. Bobby Rush - Illinois
Chicago, Midlothian
202-226-0333

Rep. Gene Green - Texas
Houston (2 offices)
202-225-9903

Rep. Mary Bono - California
Palm Springs, Hemet
202-225-2961

Rep. Lee Terry - Nebraska
Omaha
202-226-5452

Rep. Mike Ferguson - New Jersey
Warren
202-225-9460

Rep. Mike Rogers - Michigan
Lansing
202-225-5820

Rep. Butch Otter - Idaho
Boise, Couer d' Alene, Lewiston, Nampa
202-225-3389

Rep. Sue Myrick - North Carolina
Charlotte, Gastonia
202-225-3389

Rep. Tim Murphy - Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Greensburg
202-225-1844

Rep. Marsha Blackburn - Tennessee
Memphis, Clarksville, Franklin
202-225-3004

Rep. Ted Strickland - Ohio
Marietta, Wheelersburg, Boardman, Martins Ferry
202-22-5907

Rep. Diana DeGette - Colorado
Denver
202-225-5657

Rep. Jim Davis - Florida
Tampa, St. Petersburg
202-225-5652

Rep. Charlie Gonzalez - Texas
San Antonio
202-225-1915

Rep. Tammy Baldwin - Wisconsin
Madison, Beloit
202-225-6942

For more information on H.R. 2048, visit ASA's legislative Web site at www.TakingTheHill.com.