House approves Burgess NHTSA amendment to expedite permanent Takata recall solution

Washington, D.C., -- The House of Representatives passed Congressman Michael C. Burgess’ amendment to the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2016. The policy affords an additional $4 million to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for policing the safety of auto manufacturer’s products.

The proposed adjustment comes just one day after the House Energy & Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade (CMT) held a hearing to investigate ongoing Takata airbag failures and recalls. In the hearing, NHTSA’s new Administrator, Mark Rosekind, argued that the agency would have been better equipped to identify and mandate recalls with more resources in recent years.

“The Takata recalls stem from an issue that should have been solved long ago,” Rep. Burgess said. “But In the interest of saving lives – from new Chairman to new Administrator – I’m offering an olive branch. It is my sincere hope that these funds help implement a permanent solution to this problem.”

The $4 million increase was offset by cutting extra funding the bill provided to the Secretary of Transportation’s office.

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