House Commerce Committee passes TREAD Act unanimously

WASHINGTON (Oct. 6)—By a unanimous vote of 42-0, the House Commerce Committee sent on to the full House the Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability and Documentation Act. The TREAD Act enhances the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration´s powers to gather information related to product defects and recalls, and gives it the power to levy criminal penalties of up to 15 years in prison to tire and auto executives who knowingly sell defective products which result in motorists´ injuries or deaths. As amended in the committee, the bill also makes it a federal crime to sell tires named in recalls and directs NHTSA to write a rule requiring a warning light in vehicles to indicate low tire pressures. Rep. Billy Tauzin, R-La., said he hoped the bill could reach the House floor Oct. 10, but two holds placed on similar Senate legislation makes it dicey that a NHTSA reform bill can pass before the scheduled Oct. 13 adjournment.