Federal Vehicle Repair Cost Savings Act of 2015

Floor Speech

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Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise today in support of S. 565, the Federal Vehicle Repair Cost Savings Act of 2015. This bill is a bipartisan and bicameral effort designed to reduce the costs of maintenance for the Federal vehicle fleet.

The Federal Vehicle Repair Cost Savings Act encourages agencies to use remanufactured vehicle components when doing so will reduce maintenance costs while also maintain quality.

The term ``remanufactured vehicle components'' refers to components that have been returned to same-as-new or better condition and performance by a standardized industrial process that incorporates technical specifications.

In 2013, a Government Accountability Office report found that remanufactured vehicle components, such as engines, starters, alternators, steering racks, and clutches, tend to be less expensive than comparable new parts.

In fact, a 2012 study by the U.S. International Trade Commission found that remanufacturing parts can result in savings of 85 percent of the energy and material used to manufacture equivalent new parts. Further, this study found that remanufactured parts are, on average, 20 to 50 percent less expensive.

Requiring agency heads under this bill to encourage their Federal vehicle maintenance staff to use remanufactured components will reduce maintenance costs, which totaled $975 million in 2011, for 588,000 vehicles.

This bill is also supported by the Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association, which directly employs over 734,000 people in U.S. manufacturing jobs.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Congressmen HUIZENGA and ASHFORD for their work on the House companion bill. I also want to thank Senators PETERS and LANKFORD for their work on this legislation.

I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan cost savings legislation.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

In closing, having heard the comments on this, I urge the adoption of this commonsense bill that encourages also us doing an environmental thing as well in using resources that we have.

I ask that my colleagues support this commonsense bill.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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