Congress Unanimously Passes Peters-Stabenow Measure to Cut Red Tape for Auto Dealers

Today, in a joint effort led by U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Senate Manufacturing Caucus, and U.S. Representative Gary Peters, Congressional Auto Caucus Co-Chair, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan bill to cut red tape for Michigan auto dealers and consumers. The Peters-Stabenow bill eliminates a redundant and outdated provision of The Clean Air Act requiring auto dealers to provide consumers with a certificate confirming a vehicle's compliance with the law even though every new model meets that standard.

"Cutting red tape is a win-win for Michigan small businesses and consumers," said Sen. Stabenow. "Eliminating redundant paperwork is just common sense and will allow our auto dealers to focus on selling cars and trucks and the needs of their customers. I want to thank Congressman Peters for his leadership on this important issue and getting this bipartisan legislation passed in Congress."

"This is a simple and straightforward way to get rid of needless paperwork and reduce the burden of duplicative regulation on Michigan's small businesses," said Peters. "This bill cuts red tape for Michigan auto dealers and consumers so folks can focus on what matters - finding the right car for themselves and their families."

The bill has earned critical support from the National Auto Dealers Association (NADA), the Auto Alliance, the National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers, Global Automakers, and the American International Automobile Dealers Association. A letter in support is attached.

"The National Automobile Dealers Association commends Rep. Peters, Rep. Bob Latta, Sen. Debbie Stabenow, and Sen. Deb Fischer, for their leadership on behalf of small business auto dealers to cut red tape and reduce unnecessary regulation. Because of their bipartisan efforts, auto dealers can focus on helping customers instead of pointless paperwork," said Peter Welch president of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA).

Senator Stabenow has led the effort to cut red tape for small businesses, successfully repealing a burdensome regulation that would have increased IRS 1099 paperwork by 2000 percent for 40 million small businesses. Stabenow helped lead the effort in the Senate with Sen. Carl Levin to pass the State Small Business Credit Initiative and the Small Business Jobs Act to spur lending to small businesses and boost job growth. Earlier this year, the U.S. Treasury Department announced that Michigan is the number one state in the country in State Small Business Credit Initiative lending.

Peters is an outspoken champion for Michigan's auto industry, manufacturing, workers and small businesses. As Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Auto Caucus, Peters has been instrumental in drafting legislation to support the American auto industry. Peters also helped write and pass the Small Business Jobs Act and authored the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) which provides necessary credit so that small businesses can grow and create jobs.