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Capps' rental car safety bill moves to the US Senate

C-SPAN

A rental car safety bill is headed to the U.S. Senate after passage in the House on Thursday.

The legislation was introduced in the House by Central Coast Congresswoman Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) and, if signed by President Obama, would make it illegal for rental car companies to distribute vehicles that are part of a known recall.

The bill is called the Raechel and Jacqueline Houck Safe Rental Car Act, named for a pair of sisters from Ojai who were killed when the car they rented malfunctioned. The vehicle had been recalled.

Rep. Capps said Thursday that she's happy the bill passed with bi-partisan support, but was disappointed that an amendment was adopted allowing an exemption for auto dealers.

“I am thrilled that my colleagues joined me in supporting this common-sense legislation, which will help protect consumers and ensure that the tragedy of Raechel and Jacqueline Houck’s death will never happen again,” Capps said in a written statement. “Everyone getting a rental or loaner car should know with certainty that the vehicle is safe to drive. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House and Senate to ensure that this language is signed into law and unsafe cars are taken off the road once and for all.”

Capps first introduced the bill in 2012, and reintroduced an updated bipartisan version (H.R. 22) earlier this year.