Boxer, Schumer, McCaskill Re-Introduce 'Safe Rental Car Act' to Keep Rental Cars Under Safety Recall Off the Roads

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Charles, E. Schumer (D-NY), Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Bill Nelson (D-FL) announced the introduction of the Raechel and Jacqueline Houck Safe Rental Car Act of 2015. The bill would, for the first time, hold rental companies to the same standard as auto dealers, who are prohibited from selling a new car under recall unless the defect has been remedied. The legislation, which already has the support of General Motors and all the major rental car companies, the American Car Rental Association, Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety, and a broad coalition of auto safety and consumer groups, was first introduced in 2013. The bill is named after two sisters from Santa Cruz, CA, Raechel and Jacqueline Houck, who were killed driving a rental car that had been recalled for a power steering hose defect but had not been repaired. Representatives Lois Capps (D-CA), Walter B. Jones (R-NC), G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) also today introduced a companion bill in the House.

"Consumers should know that the cars and trucks they rent are safe to drive," said Senator Boxer. "It is long past time for us to honor the memory of Raechel and Jacqueline Houck by passing this bill to protect the American people."

"Whether they come from the renter's lot or a dealership, cars under recall should be not be on the road until their defect is repaired," said Senator Schumer. "This common sense legislation closes the dangerous loophole and holds rental companies to the same standard as auto dealers."

"The millions of Americans who get behind the wheel of a rental car each year have a right to the peace of mind that the car they're driving is safe," said Senator McCaskill. "This bill aims to keep dangerous vehicles off the road with the requirement that rental cars subject to a recall must be fixed before they can be rented to a customer."

"We've learned from recent incidents involving airbags made by Takata that people can be seriously injured or even killed if a car has a serious safety defect," said U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL). "It only makes sense that you shouldn't be renting out a car that has a safety recall on it."

"It's been over ten years since my beautiful, precious daughters Raechel and Jacqueline were killed by an unsafe, recalled rental car," said Carol "Cally" Houck. "All of the major rental car companies, and many of the smaller ones, have been working on our side to make the federal legislation named after them the law of the land. They have also adopted responsible policies and are grounding recalled cars until they are repaired. It's time for Congress to act, to protect ALL families from suffering our devastating loss."

"The American public is overwhelmingly in favor of ensuring that rental cars are safe and free from lethal safety defects," said Rosemary Shahan, President of Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety. "About 95% of the rental car industry is also in favor. This is a common-sense bill that should be passing unanimously. The President is eager to sign it. It's time for Congress to get off the dime."