WASHINGTON, DC - House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) and Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) are currently representing the Energy and Commerce Committee as part of the House-Senate Conference Committee on the surface transportation bill. Included in the House approved highway bill were a number of provisions to improve auto safety for American drivers and several bills from committee members to boost America’s energy security.
Chairman Upton’s opening statement for today’s conference is as follows:
Opening Statement of Chairman Fred Upton
Highway Bill Conference Meeting
Nov. 18, 2015
(As Prepared for Delivery)
Everyone knows that I am from the auto state. And in Michigan we are proud of what our auto industry does for this nation, the jobs it creates, and what owning a car means for folks and their families. We are currently in the midst of a remarkable time of automotive ingenuity. With the deployment of vehicle-to-vehicle communications right around the corner and the availability of automatic safety features and applications already on the market today, the future is bright for innovation and safety.
The recall hearings in Energy and Commerce the last two years have demonstrated a need for important upgrades in three areas: the recall process, the industry’s commitment to safety, and in NHTSA itself. There are good government reforms that are important to ensure NHTSA is focused on and capable of fulfilling its core safety mission in the 21st century. In other places, we need to make sure we are considering the impact on our local small businesses when we write new requirements targeted at the big companies.
I am hopeful that we can resolve the outstanding issues between the House and the Senate and move auto safety forward. Together, these reforms will help automakers and NHTSA identify defects in vehicles earlier, remove them from the road sooner, and get them repaired faster, which will enhance safety for all travelers.
I look forward to making solid progress now by advancing important safety and NHTSA reforms, and collaborating more in the future to keep everybody safe on the road.
I am also pleased that the House adopted my amendment that adds a new title to address some of our committee’s energy-security priorities. The Senate amendment contained language that draws down oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to pay for the Highway Bill. Any drawdown of the SPR should also include upgrades to our energy security infrastructure. These additional provisions all had bipartisan support when they were reported out of the committee. We focus on ensuring that our energy infrastructure, including the electric grid, is safer, more secure, and resilient to 21st century risks, including physical attack, cyber attacks, and extreme weather.
