WASHINGTON, DC - The Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, chaired by Rep. Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), today examined the Takata airbag recalls - the largest auto safety recall in U.S. history. The hearing continued the subcommittee’s push for a faster resolution of the recalls now impacting nearly 34 million defective Takata airbags. Members questioned Takata and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, their progress in finding the root cause of the airbag ruptures, and also questioned the manufacturers’ and NHTSA’s response plans as they work to ensure American families are safe on the roads.
Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Michael C. Burgess, M.D. delivering his opening statement.
“While it has now been confirmed that there is a defect affecting at least six Takata airbag inflators, we still don’t have any great clarity about what was the root cause and how we know that we are safe going forward. Clarity and transparency are needed. … The American people deserve much more. They deserve to know when a national recall is announced if their car is part of the recall," said Burgess.
From left to right: Kevin Kennedy, David Kelly, Mitch Bainwol, and John Bozzella
“You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to see that more needs to be done and that it should have been done sooner. When lives are put in jeopardy, delay is deadly," added Chairman Upton. “When it comes to auto safety, ‘maybe’ is not an acceptable answer, and ‘later’ is not an acceptable timetable."
