Auto safety bill heads to full House
Legislation giving regulators more power to force auto recalls and create standards to prevent unintended acceleration is headed to the full House.
Prompted by industry and regulatory shortcomings identified in the congressional investigation of recent Toyota Motor Corp. recalls, the most sweeping auto safety legislation in nearly a decade would increase caps on fines and mandate regulations for vehicle data recorders.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved the bill 31 to 21 on Wednesday, sending it to the full House for consideration.
A deal between committee Chairman Henry A. Waxman (D-Beverly Hills) and industry ally Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.), eased some portions of the bill and is expected to improve its chances of passage in the Democratic-led House.
For instance, Waxman’s original bill would have removed the limit on government-imposed fines, now at $16.4 million. But the proposal adopted by the committee would cap civil penalties at $200 million.
Another change would let automakers weigh in on any plan by regulators to force a recall if the government considered a vehicle defect an imminent threat to safety.
Republicans are expected to try to amend the legislation on the House floor, with some calling it too tough on an industry trying to regain its footing after the economic downturn.
If approved by the House, the measure would have to be reconciled with similar legislation working its way through the Senate.
Toyota has recalled more than 8.5 million vehicles worldwide since October, mainly for unintended acceleration in popular brands. Most of the recalls were in the United States.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating reports alleging that up to 89 crash deaths since 2000 may be related to the acceleration problems.
