With the added support of House of Representatives members from Massachusetts, Indiana and Illinois, Congressional support for the Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act (H.R. 2694) has reached 51 sponsors.
Reps. Michael Capuano (D-Mass.), Andre Carson (D-Ind.) and Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) recently declared their support for the pending legislation.
"As the cost of vehicle ownership soars due to higher fuel costs, the need for the 'Right to Repair Act' has become more critical in order to protect consumers from the added costs that would be created by a vehicle repair monopoly," says Kathleen Schmatz, CEO and president of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA).
The AAIA's position is that the legislation is necessary "to ensure that car owners and their trusted repair shops have the same access to safety alerts and repair information as the franchised new car dealer network."
"If motorists are forced back to the dealer for service, particularly if there is no dealership in their area, convenient and affordable auto repair will become a thing of the past," says Schmatz.
A complete list of co-sponsors and a copy of the Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act (HR 2694) can be found by visiting www.righttorepair.org.
