Nine more members of Congress have joined in the support of Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act, rounding the legislation's number of co-sponsors to 60 in the House of Representatives.


Reps. Michael Arcuri (D-N.Y.), Anh "Joseph" Cao (R-La.), Barney Frank (D-Mass.), Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.), James Sensenbrenner, Jr. (R-Wis.), Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), Glenn Thompson (R-Pa.), Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.) and Charles Wilson (D-Ohio) have joined the effort.

Because vehicles are becoming increasingly sophisticated with virtually every system either monitored or controlled by computers, servicing these vehicle systems requires ready access to complete and accurate information, tools and software from vehicle manufacturers. Although it is primarily aimed at the auto business, the language in the bill would affect commercial vehicle repair as well.

"The Right to Repair Act does not cost tax payers money, does not create a new agency and, more importantly, does not ask taxpayers for a bailout," said Ray Pohlman, president of the Coalition for Auto Repair Equality (CARE). "It simply requires that vehicle manufacturers provide car owners and their trusted neighborhood repair shops with the same access to the same safety alerts, technical service bulletins, diagnostic tools and repair information they provide to their dealer network - nothing more, nothing less."

The Senate version of the Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act (S 3181) was recently introduced with bipartisan support by Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Sam Brownback (R-Kan.).

"Allowing independent repair shops to compete on a level playing field promotes fair competition and ensures that car owners throughout the country continue to have access to affordable and convenient automotive repair," said Kathleen Schmatz, president and CEO of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA).

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.