Trump backs the freedom to fix. Now Congress must act

Last Wednesday, President Donald Trump signed a short-term funding bill that extends federal highway and transit program authority — funding that was originally set to expire at the end of the month — through Dec. 11. That buys Congress a few more months to finally codify the right to vehicle repair into law, something lawmakers have been dragging their feet on this legislative session.

This need can’t be overstated. Nearly 30% of independent mechanics have reported a decline in the number of cars they service because they lack access to necessary data or software, and many are watching their shops close for good.