Right to Repair gets second chance in Washington

June 18, 2007

An updated version of the Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act, H.R. 2694, has been introduced to the House of Representatives. An earlier version of the bill, H.R. 2048, was passed by the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection 13 months ago, but stalled out later in the year.

This time around, "motoring consumers and small business can and should expect Congress to pass this pro-consumer, pro-safety, pro-environment and pro-competition bill," says David Parde, president of the Coalition for Auto Repair Equality, a major Right to Repair supporter.

"American consumers have every right to choose their mechanics and determine who will repair their vehicles and where those repairs will be done," says New York Congressman Edolphus Thomas (D), who formally introduced H.R. 2694 last week.