The Motor & Equipment Remanufacturers Association
(MERA) and the Washington, D.C., office of the Motor & Equipment
Manufacturers Association (MEMA) have announced that a bipartisan group
of lawmakers has written the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to
request a study of government use of remanufactured motor vehicle parts
in federal vehicle fleets.

 

In a Dec. 12 letter to GAO Comptroller General Eugene Dodaro, 18
senators and representatives – led by Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and
Rep. Todd Rokita (R-Ind.) – requested a study that would examine the
use of remanufactured parts compared to new parts, which categories are
seeing the greatest and the least use of remanufactured parts and
components, regional or local trends, any impediments to use of
remanufactured parts and any fiscal benefits that are being realized.

 

“MERA members are very grateful to the members of the House and Senate
that have asked the GAO to study the government’s use of remanufactured
products within their vehicle fleets,” said John Chalifoux, president
and COO of MERA. “We hope that the study will provide a baseline on
government usage and offer insight on how the federal government might
better take advantage of the benefits of remanufactured products. This
study is a tremendous first step in that process.”

 

“The remanufacturing industry supports nearly 300,000 American jobs,
saves people money and reduces pollution,” said Sen. Stabenow. “In order
to use taxpayer dollars more efficiently, the federal government should
consider utilizing remanufactured parts for federal fleets.”

 

“I am confident that the GAO report will confirm that using
remanufactured parts is a smart way to save taxpayer dollars, and
ultimately support Indiana manufacturing jobs,” commented Rep. Rokita.

 

Other lawmakers signing the letter were Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio),
Dan Coats (R- Ind.), Carl Levin (D-Mich.), James Inhofe (R-Okla.),
Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Reps. Dan Burton
(R-Ind.), Tom Cole (R-Okla.), Gregg Harper (R-Miss.), James Lankford
(R-Okla.), Billy Long (R-Mo.), Mike Pence (R-Ind.), Gary Peters
(D-Mich.), Todd Platts (R-Ind.), Dennis Ross (R-Fla.), and John Sullivan
(R- Okla.).