Washington, DC - Today, Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15), a recognized champion of consumer protection, participated in an Energy and Commerce Committee hearing about the Waxman-Rush discussion draft bill to reauthorize and strengthen the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).  Dingell asked probing questions of the hearing’s witnesses to examine the achievability of a number of provisions in the draft legislation, as well as their benefit to consumers.

“The Waxman-Rush bill is a step in the right direction toward modernizing NHTSA and ensuring the federal government has adequate and appropriate authorities and resources with which to protect American motorists,” said Dingell.  “As with most first drafts of legislation, the Waxman-Rush bill has provisions that, in my view, require improvement, especially as they relate to the bill’s practicability, both for federal regulators and those subject to federal regulation.  I look forward to working with the Committee to enhance the bill going forward, hopefully in a bipartisan manner.”

During today’s hearing on the Waxman-Rush bill, Dingell asked pointed questions of NHTSA Administrator David Strickland concerning the feasibility and fairness of many of the bill’s provisions.  In particular, Dingell questioned whether the timeframes established in the bill for new vehicle safety standards were practicable and overly prescriptive.  With respect to the bill’s so-called “imminent hazard authority” for the Secretary of Transportation, Dingell asked if it should be subject to ex ante judicial review, as is the case with similar authorities granted to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

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