Statement of U.S. Transportation Secretary Slater Concerning Critical Motor Vehicle Safety Defect Investigation Legislation

Topics:  Rodney E. Slater, Firestone

U.S. Department of Transportation
October 5, 2000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, October 5, 2000
Contact: Ben Langer
Telephone: 202-366-5580
DOT 191-00

Today’s action by the House Committee on Commerce to address critical motor vehicle safety concerns is an important step toward resolving issues raised by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) on-going Firestone tire investigation. I wish to commend committee members for their unanimous support of this essential measure which will enhance the regulatory authority of NHTSA.

I would like to commend the several Members of the House for their efforts in shaping this significant legislation: Chairman Thomas Bliley, Ranking Member John Dingell and Congressmen W. J. Tauzin, Edward Markey and Fred Upton.

I also wish to acknowledge the key action by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation in expeditiously reporting similar legislation by a unanimous vote. Chairman John McCain, Ranking Member Ernest Hollings and Senator Richard Bryan are to be commended for their leadership.

Each of these bills contains several key provisions proposed by the Clinton-Gore Administration in our earlier submission. We continue to be focused on ensuring that NHTSA, an agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation, obtain increased authority to seek and receive information on potential defects; receive sufficient funding to complete its expanded responsibilities; and have the authority to impose stiffer penalties to ensure compliance with U.S. motor vehicle safety laws. The House and Senate bills go a long way toward meeting these needs.

In these final days of the 106th Congress, we have a real opportunity to save lives and prevent injuries. I encourage Members of Congress to expeditiously complete work on this critical legislation. I pledge that the U.S. Department of Transportation will do everything it can to help in this effort.