MEMA Applauds Senate Passage of the Federal Vehicle Repair Cost Savings Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) applauds the Senate for passing S.565 the Federal Vehicle Repair Cost Savings Act with unanimous consent. The bill, introduced earlier this year by Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and James Lankford (R-OK), would require all federal agencies to consider using remanufactured parts when maintaining the federal vehicle fleet.

“This legislation has the potential to save millions of dollars for the Federal Government and would promote America’s remanufacturing industry,” said Steve Handschuh, MEMA president and CEO.

The legislation follows a 2013 report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) which confirmed the benefits of remanufactured motor vehicle parts. The Federal Government has over 580,000 vehicles in its agency fleets, and spends $975 million dollars a year on vehicle maintenance. The GAO report also confirmed that the use of remanufactured parts can save up to 20 percent in costs.

“We thank Senators Peters and Lankford for their leadership on this legislation, and we look forward to House approval as soon as possible,” said John Chalifoux, president of the Motor & Equipment Remanufacturers Association (MERA), a division of MEMA.

Companion legislation, H.R.1613 has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.) and Brad Ashford (D-Neb.) and is awaiting approval at the committee level.

Learn more about the Federal Vehicle Repair Cost Savings Act legislation and America’s remanufacturing industry, contact Tom Lehner at MEMA, tlehner@mema.org.

ABOUT MEMA

The Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) represents more than 1,000 companies that manufacture or remanufacture components and systems for use in motor vehicles and equipment in the light vehicle and heavy-duty, on- and off-highway commercial vehicle markets for the original equipment and aftermarket industries. Motor vehicle component manufacturers are the nation’s largest manufacturing sector with a total employment impact of 3.62 million employees – for every direct job in the motor vehicle supplier industry, another five jobs are created. MEMA represents its members through four divisions: Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association (HDMA), Motor & Equipment Remanufacturers Association (MERA) and Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA). For more information on the motor vehicle component supplier industry, visit www.mema.org.