MEMA Again Calls for Senate Action on the Bipartisan AV START Act

The Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association has renewed a call for passage of the bipartisan AV START Act (S. 1885) in a letter to Senate leadership.

The letter, addressed to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, says “now is the time to pass the bill.”

“The AV START Act represents an historic opportunity for Congress to establish a regulatory framework to advance these groundbreaking technologies while supporting research and investment in the United States,” the letter says. “We urge you to advance S. 1885 to the Senate floor so that members can vote to pass this important legislation.”

The legislation, which has garnered bipartisan support, will provide a clear delineation of federal and state roles with respect to highly automated vehicles — a critical aspect that will result in federal regulation of automated vehicles, and protect against a patchwork of state regulations that could stifle innovation, job growth, and the development of safety technologies that will reduce the number of lives lost on U.S. roadways. The legislation will also strengthen existing oversight by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and establish a Vehicle Data Access Advisory Committee that will develop recommendations to Congress on the ownership, control, and access to vehicle data. 

The letter is the most recent call from MEMA for the passage of the bill. In July, MEMA, as part of the Coalition for Future Mobility, joined over 100 other organizations in sending a letter to the U.S. Senate to prioritize action on the AV START Act. The House passed its version of the legislation earlier this year (the SELF DRIVE Act), and the AV START Act passed the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation last October.