Cohen Gets White House Administrator's Attention on Check Engine Light Issue

Press Release

Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN-9) today sent a letter to Cass Sunstein, Administrator for the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), thanking the Administrator for his interest in the "check engine" light issue and asking him to review the new regulations for the vehicle inspection program.

Sunstein -- who just yesterday released a new directive requiring federal agencies to consider the "cumulative effects" of rules -- said Congressman Cohen's concern sounded like the type of rule his office might look into (E&E Daily, March 21 -- article posted below).

"President Obama has tasked Administrator Sunstein with the job of identifying onerous and burdensome federal regulations and removing them," Congressman Cohen said. "The "check engine' light issue is a perfect example of a well-intended but flawed federal regulation that forces my constituents to pay for unnecessary repairs in order to legally drive their cars."

On Wednesday, Administrator Sunstein testified before the House Subcommittee on Courts, Commercial and Administrative Law on the subject of regulatory reform under the Obama Administration, where Congressman Cohen spoke about the "check engine" light issue in his opening remarks. The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs operates within the Office of Management and Budget and was created by Congress under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980. OIRA's mission is the development and implementation of information quality and statistical standards throughout the federal government.

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