* Support H.R. 5638 *

Following a hearing before the Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary in February 2008, we are pleased to announce that Rep. Zoe Lofgren (CA-16) has introduced H.R. 5638, legislation that would amend Title 35, U.S. Code (Patents) to provide design patent exemption for alternative repair parts used for the purpose of repairing a vehicle to its original appearance. Co-sponsors of H.R. 5638 include Representatives Rick Boucher (VA-9), Sheila Jackson-Lee (TX-18), Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX-30), Steve Cohen (TN-9), William D. Delahunt (MA-10) and G.K. Butterfield (NC-1) and Charles A. Wilson (OH-6). You can track the progress of H.R. 5638 here.

The bill is supported by a growing list of national and regional automotive groups, repair shops, insurance industry representatives and seniors, many of whom are members of the Quality Parts Coalition. View the full list of H.R. 5638 supporters.

For decades, companies have offered high-quality alternative replacement parts to compete with parts produced by original equipment manufacturers (OEM). This competition means savings of up to $1.2 billion each year.

As the Consumer Federation of America and fellow advocates for consumer rights testified before the Subcommittee, keeping prices fair and the automotive collision parts marketplace free by adding a “repair clause” to United States design patent law is critical to preserving consumer choice. Click here to read February testimony, letters and press releases from this and other consumer groups in support of a “repair clause.”

Interested in voicing your support of H.R. 5638?

• Contact hudson@qualitypartscoalition.com for more information; and
• Reach out to your Representative and urge him/her to save consumer choice by cosponsoring H.R. 5638. Don’t know who represents your district? Visit http://www.house.gov/ and type in your ZIP code.

The Quality Parts Coalition sent a letter to Rep. Zoe Lofgren (CA-16) to thank her for her dedication to consumer choice and to demonstrate its support for H.R. 5638.

RetireSafe distributed a letter to the members of the House of Representatives, urging them to ensure the widest possible access to high-quality, low-cost replacement collision parts for America’s seniors by supporting H.R. 5638.

Members of the Alliance of State Automotive Aftermarket Associations (ASAAA) at the state level have started a letter writing campaign.

• View the letter from Kentucky/Indiana Automotive Wholesalers Association to Representative Pence (IN-6).
  
  
• View the letters from the California/Nevada/Arizona Automotive Wholesalers' Association to Representatives Berman (CA-28); Sherman (CA-27); Gallegly (CA-24) and Schiff (CA-29);
  and Waters (CA-35).
  
  
• View the letters from the Automotive Aftermarket Association of the Carolinas & Tennessee, Inc. to Representatives Coble (NC-6); Cohen (TN-9) and Watt (NC-12).
  
  
• View the letter from the New York State Automotive Aftermarket Association, Inc. to Representatives Weiner (NY-9) and Nadler (NY-9).
  
  
• View the letter from the Automotive Aftermarket Association Southeast to Representative Johnson (GA-4).

A number of QPC members and allies are spreading the word about H.R. 5638:

• Read the Quality Parts Coalition press release.
  
  
• Read the RetireSafe press release.
  
  
• Read the Alliance of State Automotive Aftermarket Associations press release.
  
  
• Read the Aftermarket Automotive Industry Association press release.
  
  
• Read the Automotive Body Parts Association press release.
  
  
• Read the Coalition for Auto Repair Equality press release.