Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have come together to develop the Federal Vehicle Repair Cost Savings Act of 2015, a bill that would encourage federal agencies to use remanufactured components in their vehicles in an effort to reduce costs. The legislation was introduced by Senator Gary Peters (D-Ind.) and Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.), and has already been approved without amendment by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform must now approve it before it goes to a full vote, where it is expected to receive bipartisan support. The bill calls for the head of each governmental agency to encourage the use of remanufactured parts so long as their quality is as good as that of new components. Industry representatives are welcoming the proposed legislation.
"We're pleased to see our government leaders take these actions around remanufactured parts," said Bendix director of remanufacturing Henry Foxx. "In the commercial vehicle industry, increasing numbers of fleets, technicians, and drivers are turning to remanufactured parts as an alternative to new parts and to low-cost — and potentially unsafe — knockoffs. The government can reap the same benefits offered by remanufactured components."
As we reported recently, Bendix has recently expanded its remanufactured options amid growing demand from the commercial vehicle industry. An increased push from federal authorities, which own close to 450,000 vehicles, could lead other companies to do the same. The Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), which represents over 1,000 companies, helped develop the bill.
Proper testing is essential to ensure that there is no dropoff in quality when using remanufactured components. Greening Inc. is a leader in this area, with a state-of-the-art laboratory that guarantees the accuracy and timeliness of all results.