2015: Schweikert Voted Against Creating New Regulations From Vehicle Safety And Recalls As Part Of A Five Year Surface Transportation Reauthorization. In December 2015, Schweikert voted against changing vehicle recall regulations as part of a five year surface transportation reauthorization. According to Congressional Quarterly, the conference report "The agreement include[d] a number of provisions to enhance NHTSA's ability to order safety recalls of motor vehicles and promote consumer awareness of such recalls. [...] NHTSA would be required to ensure that motor vehicle safety recall information is readily accessible to the public and easy to use, and it must publicly provide detailed online guidance for consumers to submit safety complaints. [...] Finally, it requires that vehicle rental companies correct any problems that are the subject of a recall before the vehicle can be rented or sold, and it prohibits rental companies from disabling any safety devices in vehicles. It also expands an existing study examining the completion of safety recalls on rental cars to include rental trucks." The underlying legislation would have "reauthorize[d] federal-aid highway and transit programs for five years, through fiscal 2020, at increased levels." The vote was on the conference report. The House approved the legislation by a vote of 359 to 65. The Senate later passed the legislation and the president later signed the legislation. [House Vote 673, 12/3/15; Congressional Quarterly, 12/3/15; Congressional Quarterly, 12/3/15; Congressional Actions, H.R. 22]
Legislation Requires The NHTSA To Develop Minimum Fuel Efficiency Standards For Passenger Vehicle Tires. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The agreement requires NHTSA to develop minimum fuel efficiency performance standards for passenger vehicle tires. NHTSA must also develop minimum tire performance standards for wet traction to ensure that wet traction capability is not reduced as a means of meeting fuel efficiency standards." [Congressional Quarterly, 12/3/15]
Legislation States Data From Vehicle Data Recorders Are The Property Of The Vehicle Owner. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The agreement clarifies that data from vehicle event data recorders is the property of the vehicle owner, and it establishes privacy rights regarding the data." [Congressional Quarterly, 12/3/15]
Legislation Exempts Certain Low-Volume Manufactures From Some Vehicle Safety Standards. According to Congressional Quarterly, "It also exempts low-volume manufacturers from certain vehicle safety standards, and it requires NHTSA to revise its crash investigation data collection system to gather additional information for crashes that involved children who were in a child restraint system." [Congressional Quarterly, 12/3/15]