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News Briefs

New Cosponsor Added to H.R. 2735

Last week Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA) was added as the 20th cosponsor to the Motor Vehicle Owner’s Right To Repair Bill (H.R. 2735). AAIA’s members had the opportunity to meet with Rep. Deal to discuss this legislation at an in-district meeting. As always, AAIA members are encouraged to thank Rep. Deal and all cosponsors of H.R. 2735 for their support. For additional details, see .

House Conducts TREAD Hearing

The U.S. House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection heard testimony from officials of the National Highway & Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Dept. of Transportation and Office of Management & Budget (OMB) on Thursday, Feb. 28 regarding implementation of the TREAD Act, passed in late 2000. Of particular concern to Congress is NHTSA’s ability to process, protect and make use of the tremendous volume of safety data due to be collected by the Agency from car companies and parts manufacturers. The Subcommittee also discussed the controversy surrounding the type of tire pressure monitoring systems that will be required on all new cars starting in 2004. NHTSA favors a direct sensing system that monitors all four tires simultaneously, while OMB prefers an indirect system that monitors differences in rotational speed and is tied to the car’s ABS.

Bankruptcy Reform May Move Forward

Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) and Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) have indicated that long-stalled bankruptcy reform legislation (H.R. 333) may finally be moving forward. The legislation is designed to force more bankruptcies to be filed under Chapter 13, which requires some repayment of debts, rather than under Chapter 7, which requires little or no repayment. The bill’s opponents maintain that it is too hard on debtors, while supporters insist that the nation’s bankruptcy laws make it far too easy to avoid debt. Rep. Sensenbrenner has promised that a compromise bill will be on the President’s desk by April.

Proposals on Unemployment Insurance Refinancing Reform

Chairman of the House Ways and Means Human Resources Subcommittee Wally Herger (R-CA) recently announced plans for a hearing on March 5th to review proposals that would reform administrative financing of unemployment compensation and employment security programs as part of the president’s fiscal year 2003 budget. The proposal would reduce the current Federal Unemployment Tax Act payroll tax, as well as lower federal transfers to states for their administrative costs of unemployment insurance systems. However, states would still retain their authority to raise taxes in order to meet targeted administrative funding needs.

California Schedules Further Consumer Product Regulation

California Air Resources Board (CARB) announced a series of workshops in April regarding the soon to be proposed Clean Air Plan. The Plan will set the long-term agenda for further emissions reductions from both vehicles and consumer products, including automotive chemical and appearance products. CARB plans to release the much-anticipated Plan on March 15th, with workshops scheduled in Sacramento for April 2 – 5. Full Board consideration is planned for April 25-26.

Labor Issuing Guidelines In Place Of Ergonomics Rule

Fiscal year 2003 budget documents indicate that the Department of Labor will issue operational specific guidelines to protect workers from motion-related injuries and fatalities in lieu of issuing regulations. Industry and labor groups as well as many Members of Congress will have to wait until March 14 for details of the Agency’s ergonomics plan when Labor Secretary, Elaine Chao is scheduled to testify before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.

Fuel-Efficiency Tax Credit

President Bush disclosed his proposed $3 billion tax credit plan for purchasers of hybrid or fuel cell vehicles. By encouraging research and development and providing tax credits, the federal government hopes to speed development of hybrid and fuel cell technologies and therefore reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil. The proposal will be debated in the Senate in the next two weeks as part of the consideration of the broad energy bill (S. 517) introduced by Senator Tom Daschle (D-SD) and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM).

Current Legislation Pending

House of Congress House

Bill Number H.R. 1774

Title Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2001

Lead Sponsor Rep. Ernest L Fletcher

Date Introduced 05/09/01

Latest Activity Referred to Committee 5/9/01; Referred to Subcommittee

Committee Refs. House Education and the Workforce; Subcommittee on

Description Establishes rules governing association health plans

Web Link

Outlook

APSA Position Support

Segments Affected All

House of Congress House

Bill Number H.R. 1805

Title Small Business Liability Reform Act

Lead Sponsor Asa Hutchinson (R – AR)

Date Introduced 05/10/01

Latest Activity Referred to Subcommittee on 5/22/01

Committee Refs. Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer

Description Abolishes joint liability for non-economic damages, protects

product lessors and renters from liability, caps punitive

damages against small businesses. Companion to S. 865.

Web Link

Outlook Slight chance of passage this year

APSA Position Strongly supports

Segments Affected All

House of Congress House

Bill Number H.R. 203

Title National Small Business Reg. Assistance Act

Lead Sponsor John Sweeney (R-NY)

Date Introduced 01/06/01

Latest Activity Passed House, Referred to Senate Committee

Committee Refs. Sen. Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship

Description Establishes pilot program for Small Business Development

Centers to provide regulatory compliance assistance to small

businesses, including establishing information clearinghouse.

Web Link

Outlook

APSA Position Support

Segments Affected All

House of Congress House

Bill Number H.R. 2563

Title Bipartisan Patient Protection Act

Lead Sponsor Rep. Greg Ganske

Date Introduced 07/19/01

Latest Activity Passed the House 226 - 203 on 8/2/2001; Received in the

Committee Refs.

Description Title IV, Subtitle B. would allow for the establishment of

association health plans.

Web Link

Outlook It seems unlikely that the Senate will act on the House

APSA Position AAIA supports the association health plan provisions

Segments Affected All

House of Congress House

Bill Number H.R. 2735

Title Motor Vehicle Owner's Right to Repair Act

Lead Sponsor Joe Barton (R-TX)

Date Introduced 08/02/01

Latest Activity Referred to committee; new cosponsor added 2/27/2002.

Committee Refs. Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade & Consumer Protection

Description Ensures consumers and their designated repair facility access

to computer codes and diagnostic information necessary to

maintain and repair 1996 and newer cars.

Web Link

Outlook Hearings expected Spring 2002

APSA Position Strongly support

Segments Affected All

House of Congress House

Bill Number H.R. 327

Title Small Business Paperwork Relief Act

Lead Sponsor Dan Burton (R-IN)

Date Introduced 01/31/01

Latest Activity Passed House, Referred to Senate Committee

Committee Refs. Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs

Description Establishes several program to streamline paperwork

requirements for small businesses, including single point of

contact in each agency for information on paperwork

compliance.

Web Link

Outlook

APSA Position Support

Segments Affected All

House of Congress House

Bill Number H.R. 333

Title Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention & Consumer Protect Act

Lead Sponsor George Gekas (R-PA)

Date Introduced 01/31/01

Latest Activity Passed Senate on 7/17/01

Committee Refs. Awaiting conference

Description Makes changes to the current bankruptcy system, including

encouraging more bankruptcies to repay debts.

Web Link

Outlook Possible movement in 2nd or 3rd quarter 2002

APSA Position Neutral

Segments Affected All

House of Congress House

Bill Number H.R. 877

Title Skilled Workforce Enhancement Act of 2001

Lead Sponsor Rep. Mark Foley

Date Introduced 03/06/01

Latest Activity Referred to Committee on 3/6/01

Committee Refs. House Committee on Ways and Means

Description To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide

small employers with a tax credit for highly skilled trades

training for employees.

Web Link

Outlook

APSA Position Support an amendment to include automotive technicians on

Segments Affected All

House of Congress Senate

Bill Number S. 1271

Title Small Business Paperwork Relief Act

Lead Sponsor George Voinovich (R-OH)

Date Introduced 07/30/01

Latest Activity Passed Senate on 12/17/01

Committee Refs. Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs

Description Establishes several program to streamline paperwork

requirements for small businesses, including single point of

contact in each agency for information on paperwork

compliance. Companion to H. R. 327.

Web Link

Outlook

APSA Position Support

Segments Affected All

House of Congress Senate

Bill Number S. 1766

Title Energy Policy Act of 2002

Lead Sponsor Thomas Daschle (D-SD)

Date Introduced 12/05/01

Latest Activity Introduced

Committee Refs. N/A (straight to floor consideration)

Description Energy strategies for the nation, including Section 832

(formerly sec. 803), which provides assistance to states to

implement scrappage programs to retire fuel-inefficient motor

vehicles.

Web Link

Outlook Floor debate expected early March 2002

APSA Position Strongly opposed to Section 832

Segments Affected All

House of Congress Senate

Bill Number S.865

Title Small Business Liability Reform Act

Lead Sponsor Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

Date Introduced 05/10/01

Latest Activity Referred to committee on 5/10/01

Committee Refs. Committee on the Judiciary

Description Abolishes joint liability for non-economic damages, protects

product lessors and renters from liability, caps punitive

damages against small businesses. Companion to H. R. 1805.

Web Link

Outlook Slim chance of being considered this Congress

APSA Position Strongly supports

Segments Affected All

House of Congress Senate

Bill Number S.R. 858

Title Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2001

Lead Sponsor Sen. Tim Hutchinson

Date Introduced 05/09/01

Latest Activity Referred to Committee on 5/9/01

Committee Refs. Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

Description Establishes rules governing association health plans

Web Link

Outlook

APSA Position Support

Segments Affected All

Current Regulations Pending

Agency DOT (NHTSA)

Title Improved Tire Information and Consumer Awareness

Description Directs NHTSA to improve the labeling of tires and to take whatever

action is appropriate to educate the public on the importance of tire load limits and proper tire inflation levels.

Status In proposal stage. Date of final rule: June 2002

Latest Activity Notice of Proposed Rulemaking published 12-19-01. NHTSA currently reviewing comments. Docket No. 11157

Web Link

APSA Position Neutral on tire info. Support consumer education

Segments Affected Automotive

Agency DOT (NHTSA)

Title Reimbursement of Pre-recall Expenses

Description Requires manufacturers to reimburse motorists for repair of defects before recall has been ordered.

Status In proposal stage. Date for final rule: not announced

Latest Activity Notice of Proposed Rulemaking published 12-11-01. NHTSA currently reviewing comments. Docket No. 11107

Web Link

APSA Position supports reimbursement of pre-recall expenses

Segments Affected All

Agency EPA

Title OBD II Service Information Rule

Description Rule requiring vehicle manufacturers to share OBDII codes with

independent repair facilities to maintain and repair emissions systems of model year 1996 and newer cars.

Status Proposed - Expected to be finalized Summer/Fall 2002

Latest Activity APSA submitted comments on proposed rule July 2001

Web Link

APSA Position Supports

Segments Affected All

Agency Labor (OSHA)

Title Ergonomics Proposal

Description The Dept. of Labor is preparing a comprehensive plan to address

musculoskeletal injuries in the workplace.

Status

Latest Activity The Secretary of Labor held public hearings in Summer 2001

Web Link

APSA Position Opposed to onerous requirements imposed on employers

Segments Affected All

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Contents

News Briefs……………………………. 1

Current Legislation Pending….…. 3

Current Regulations Pending……. 5

Weekly Federal Issues Update

March 4, 2002

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