Statement by the Honorable Bobby L. Rush Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations

WASHINGTON ––  "Good morning, Mr. Chairman.  I seek unanimous consent to be recognized for the purposes of delivering an opening statement and participating in today's hearing.

"Currently there are more than 205 million licensed motorists in the United States.  As our families and work force become increasingly mobile, our society has, likewise, become more dependent on the so-called "smartness," energy efficiency, and safety of our automobiles.  Understanding this reality all too well, automakers—especially manufacturers of the high quality that Toyota has historically represented—basically brag, in all sorts of slick advertising, that their vehicle is the biggest, baddest and, indeed, the safest car on the road.

"So what happened to Toyota?

"Hear me when I say that I am profoundly disturbed by the findings of our Committee staff.

"My concerns go beyond Toyota's safety practices and recall decisions. They extend to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's apparent sluggishness in re-inventing itself.  It appears as if NHTSA failed to assign an appropriate mixture of staff and resources to keep up with evolving changes in auto design technology, especially with respect to increased computerization.

"I am adamant about getting to the bottom of the causes for sudden, unintended acceleration in Toyota's fleet of passenger vehicles. As Chairman of the Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection Subcommittee, I will be conducting a separate hearing, in March, to look further into NHTSA's resources, staffing, and management philosophies as part of that agency's reauthorization.

"My sympathies and condolences go out to those families who have lost loved ones and, certainly, those consumers who have sustained grave injuries in crashes and accidents involving faulty Toyota and Lexus automobiles. I also extend these sentiments to any automobile driver on the highways, streets, and byways of our nation who had the misfortune of encountering one of these faulty vehicles.

"The fact is that when these motorists and passengers took the simple, routine step of getting into their cars, they had no idea that their trusted vehicles had the potential to become, literal, ‘killing machines.' This is beyond unacceptable. 
"I, along with millions of Americans, will be paying close attention to the answers given here, today, as well as to your testimony before other congressional committees, today, and in the future.

"Quite frankly, if some of the alleged behavior and failure to act that I've read in the media turns out to be true, then Toyota is, perhaps, looking at an inquiry by the Justice Department.

"I promise all motorists, passengers, and pedestrians that my Subcommittee will do everything in its power to restore confidence in NHTSA.  I will also work to ensure that affected Toyota and Lexus owners have full and immediate recourse to whatever equipment they need to remedy these safety defects.  My hope is that consumers will, once again, have peace of mind when they turn on their vehicles and, yes, when they apply their brakes. 
 
"Thank you Mr. Chairman and Subcommittee Members for consenting to my procedural request to participate in this important hearing. With that, I yield back the balance of my time."  

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NOTE:  Here's a link to the Energy and Commerce Committee website that includes copies of all hearing testimony as well as links to video streams of all panelists: