CONGRESSMAN MORELLE, CONGRESSWOMAN GLUESENKAMP PEREZ, AND SENATOR LUJÁN CONTINUE FIGHT FOR CONSUMERS’ RIGHT TO REPAIR

(Rochester, N.Y.)—Today, Congressman Joe Morelle (D, NY-25), Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D, WA-03), and Senator Ben Ray Luján (D, NM) introduced the Fair Repair Act, legislation authored by Morelle to guarantee consumers and small businesses a right to repair their own products by requiring manufacturers to make diagnostic repair information, parts, and tools readily available.

“It’s just common sense, when you buy something, you should be able to fix it,” said Congressman Joe Morelle. “Our bill, the Fair Repair Act, makes repairs more affordable and puts power back in the hands of consumers, not big corporations. I’m grateful to Congresswoman Gluesenkamp Perez and Senator Luján for joining me in leading this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to join us in passing it into law.”

“The amount of money, time and emissions that are wasted every year by the multinationals who profit off planned obsolescence disgusts every red blooded American. We are not children or hapless consumers—we deserve the right to fix our own stuff, from laptops to tractors to washing machines,” said Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez. “I’m excited to support the Fair Repair Act, which would affirm that people have the right to repair their own property or take it to a more convenient shop.”

“For far too long, the wealthiest individuals and largest corporations have made it more difficult for Americans to repair the products they own," said Senator Luján. “The costs of these barriers can add up to a significant financial burden for families each year. This legislation will make it easier and more affordable for Americans to get repairs from third-party repair shops for devices like phones, laptops, and other essential electronics. I’m proud to reintroduce this legislation with Congressman Morelle and Congresswoman Gluesenkamp Perez to give power back to the consumers.”

Currently, many electronics manufacturers require that repairs, or parts to complete a repair, be made by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) itself or through one of their authorized vendors, making the process costly and burdensome for consumers. The Fair Repair Act will require OEMs to make diagnostic and repair information, parts, and tools available to third-party repairers and owners in a timely manner and on fair and reasonable terms, helping consumers and repair shops to avoid unnecessary and costly delays while also reducing waste.

Research by U.S. PIRG suggests enaction of the Fair Repair Act could reduce household spending on electronics by 22 percent, leading to a savings of around $330 per year for each family and approximately $40 billion of total savings nationally per year.

Stacey Higginbotham, a Policy Fellow at Consumer Reports, said: "Consumer Reports strongly supports consumers' right to repair the products they own. Access to independent repair services saves consumers money, boosts local businesses, and reduces waste.”

Gay Gordon-Byrne, Executive Director of Repair.org, said: “We're excited to see Rep Morelle, our original bill sponsor from 2015 in New York, continue to press for our collective rights to repair the things we buy.   His work has stood the test of time and is the basis of laws in 11 states with more underway.   We shouldn't have to fight the same battle in 50 states and multiple territories when Congress can do the job for all.”

Nathan Proctor, Senior Director, U.S. PIRG Campaign for the Right to Repair, said: "Repair is essential—it saves consumers money, it prevents electronic waste. That's why Right to Repair has been a topic in every state in the country, and now law in nearly a dozen states. Everyone, everywhere deserves the same right to repair our stuff."

George Slover, Senior Counsel for Competition Policy, Center for Democracy & Technology: "This important legislation helps ensure that in the Age of Technology, consumers still have the basic right they have enjoyed for centuries -- the right to choose where and how we fix what we own. By requiring that independent businesses have access to the resources they need to fix a product, consumers will be given the opportunity to find the repair service that's right for them and their budget -- rather than being forced to use a repair shop hand-picked by the manufacturer."

Patrick Gallaher, Senior Policy Advocate at Public Knowledge, said: "Consumers should not have to throw away broken devices or overspend on pricey ‘official' repair channels. The Fair Repair Act recognizes that consumers have a right to repair the devices they own, and that practical and legal obstacles should not stand in the way. Ensuring that people can repair devices and use independent repair shops doesn't just save them money; it has significant environmental benefits as well, reducing e-waste and carbon use. We commend Rep. Morelle and Sen. Luján for leading on this issue."

To learn more about the Fair Repair Act, read the full text of the bill here.

###