WASHINGTON, DC - The Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA), today held a hearing with General Motors CEO Mary Barra and internal investigator Anton Valukas to examine Valukas’ investigation of the ignition switch recall and compare his report to the committee’s own findings. Members of the subcommittee expressed disbelief and frustration over a culture that did not prioritize safety or act quickly to investigate failures.
In response to the Valukas report, Barra identified a number of changes the company is making to improve safety, but members today expressed concerns over whether these changes could fix the long-standing problems.
Chairman Murphy said, “The failures at GM were ones of accountability and culture. If employees do not have the moral fiber to do the right thing, and do not have the awareness to recognize when mistakes are being made, then the answer must be to change the people or change the culture." During questioning, Murphy asked Barra, “How does someone who has spent an entire career within the culture of GM change the culture of GM? I believe there are 210,000 employees or so at GM, and you mentioned 15 were fired, that’s 99.999 percent - if my math is right - of the people that are the same. If you haven’t changed the people, how do you change the culture?"
Full Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) told Barra, “I want specifics on whether the changes you have already put in place have made a difference." Watch the full hearing online here.
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