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REPAIR Act and SMART Act Research Papers Argue Right to Repair Solutions Needed in Wake of Advancing Technology
WASHINGTON, Sept. 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The CAR Coalition, a growing group of independent automotive parts, management and repair companies, associations, and insurers committed to preserving consumer choice and affordable vehicle repair, today released two official research papers focused on the impact of right to repair legislation in the auto industry. The two papers, which are focused on the REPAIR Act ( H.R. 6570 ), authored by Aaron Perzanowski of University of Michigan Law School, and the SMART Act ( H.R. 3664 ), authored by Joshua Sarnoff of DePaul University College of Law, argue that in the face of rising costs and restrictions to auto repairs, consumers will face even higher costs without legislative action.
"Repair restrictions on automobiles are driving prices higher at a time when many Americans can least afford it," said Justin Rzepka, Executive Director of the CAR Coalition. "These research papers demonstrate the impacts of these restrictions on consumers' bottom lines. As technology develops, policy surrounding these issues must as well. It's time for Congress to get serious about solutions, including the REPAIR Act and SMART Act, to ensure consumers have options for quality, safe, affordable auto repairs and more control over their data."
Key excerpts from Professor Aaron Perzanowski's paper focused on the REPAIR Act include:
Read the full paper HERE.
Key excerpts from Professor Joshua Sarnoff on the SMART Act include:
Read the full paper HERE.
In states and Washington, D.C., the auto right to repair movement is gaining ground. In January of 2022, in the days leading up to the Biden administration White House Competition Council meeting, President Biden tweeted, "When you own a product, you should be able to repair it yourself. That's why I included support for the 'right to repair' in my Executive Order." Then in February, Congressman Bobby Rush (D-IL) introduced the REPAIR Act (H.R. 6570), and throughout 2022, the bill has gained 12 additional cosponsors: six Republicans and six Democrats. The SMART Act was introduced by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) in 2021 and currently has three Republican and three Democrat sponsors.
The REPAIR Act will:
The SMART Act will:
For more information about the REPAIR and SMART Acts, please visit carcoaltion.com.
ABOUT THE CAR COALITIONThe CAR Coalition is committed to preserving and protecting consumer choice and affordable vehicle repair by ensuring competition in the automotive collision parts industry. Members include: Allstate, American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA), Automotive Body Parts Association (ABPA), Automotive Manufacturers Equipment Compliance Agency, Inc. (AMECA), AutoZone, Carparts.com, Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA), Diamond Standard, Farmers, KSI Auto Parts, LKQ Corporation, and Tire Pros. Learn more at carcoalition.com.
Follow us on Twitter @TheCARCoalition
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SOURCE CAR Coalition