In the last 10 days, two committees in the House of Representatives have turned their attention to separate issues facing bikers. On July 12th, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials held a markup on H.R. 1435, the Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act. By a vote of 13 to 8, the bill was forwarded onto the full Energy and Commerce Committee for consideration. This is a critical step in the legislative process. If the full committee also advances the bill, we may see the entire House of Representatives vote on the bill by the end of 2023.
Tuesday, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet held a hearing titled “Is There a Right to Repair?” Subcommittee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) stressed the need for federal guidelines on the right to repair. He pointed to several states that have their own laws on the topic, which has created a patchwork of differing rules. Without a federal standard, consumers, repair shops, and original equipment manufacturers are left to navigate a maze of regulations that vary across the country. The hearing was educational in nature, with law professors and CEOs answering questions from legislators about strategies and avenues to address this issue.
Holding hearings and conducting markups are ways politicians signal what they are focused on, and what their priorities are for the future. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation is pleased to see action on these two issues that impact motorcyclists. It also makes it the perfect time to tell Congress your thoughts on these issues!
If you haven’t already, click here to ask your member of the House to cosponsor H.R. 1435, the Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act.
If you missed the call-to-action last week, you still have time to show your support for federal standards on the right to repair. Click here to ask your lawmaker to cosponsor H.R. 906 the Repair Act.
