Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma Stands Up for Consumers, Small Business - Co-Sponsors 'Right to Repair Act'

BETHESDA, Md., Nov. 22, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) has stood up again for Oklahoma's consumers and small businesses by becoming a co-sponsor of the Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act (S 3181) which was introduced into the Senate by Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Sam Brownback (R-KS).  The bill has also gained support from Sens. Roland Burris (D-IL), Chris Dodd (D-CT), Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and John Kerry (D-MA).

"We want to thank Sen. Inhofe for supporting this very important piece of pro-consumer and pro-small business legislation," said Kathleen Schmatz, president and CEO of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA). "The top priority of the Right to Repair Act is motoring consumer safety, ensuring that motorists know what is happening with their vehicles. The bill 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 Right to Repair Act protects motoring consumers from a growing and potentially hazardous vehicle repair monopoly by requiring that car companies provide full access at a reasonable cost to all non-proprietary service information, tools and safety-related bulletins needed to repair motor vehicles, thus leveling the competitive playing field between dealerships and independent repair shops. The legislation further provides car companies with strong protections for their trade secrets, only requiring them to make available the same diagnostic and repair information they provide their franchised dealers.

"Oklahoma is home to nearly 22,000 aftermarket employees working in nearly 3,000 establishments who stand ready to help motoring consumers. The Right to Repair Act ensures that motorists continue to have access to quality, affordable vehicle repair, especially important during these tough economic times," said Ray Pohlman, president of the Coalition for Auto Repair Equality (CARE). "The Right to Repair Act does not cost tax payers money and does not create a new agency, but instead keeps motorists in the driver's seat by making sure that they, and not the vehicle manufacturers, have the final say on where a car is taken for service."

The House version of the Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act (HR 2057) was introduced by Reps. Edolphus Towns (D-NY), Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and George Miller (D-CA) and currently has the bipartisan support of 72 co-sponsors.  

About Right to Repair:

The Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act (S 3181) was introduced into the Senate by Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Sam Brownback (R-KS). The House version of the bill (HR 2057) was introduced by Reps. Edolphus Towns (D-NY), Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and George Miller (D-CA).  The Right to Repair Act protects consumers from a growing vehicle repair monopoly by requiring car companies to make the same service information and tools capabilities available to independent repair shops that they provide to their franchised dealer networks. The legislation further provides car companies with strong protections for their trade secrets. For more information about the Right to Repair Act, visit www.righttorepair.org.

SOURCE Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association

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