Summary

The Senate Commerce Committee holds hearings on Toyota automobile recalls and the government's response. Those appearing are: Senator Kay Baily Hutchinson, Transportation Ray La Hood; David Strickland, National Highway Transportation Safety Administration; Clarence Ditlow, Executive Director of the Center for Auto Safety. Toyota officals: Mr. Shinichi Sasaki, Executive Vice President, Toyota Motor Corporation Mr. Takeshi Uchiyamada, Executive Vice President, Toyota Motor Corporation Mr. Yoshimi Inaba, President and Chief Executive Officer, Toyota Motor North America, Inc 10:02:20 . >> IT'S ABOUT THEIR SAFETY AND 10:03:38 SECURITY, AND NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT. 10:03:42 WE ARE ALL HERE TODAY BECAUSE WE KNOW SOMETHING HAS GONE TERRIBLY 10:03:46 WRONG. THE SYSTEM MEANT TO SAFEGUARD 10:03:50 AGAINST FAULTY VEHICLES HAS FAILED AND IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED, 10:03:56 AND IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED RIGHT AWAY. 10:03:59 THIS IS AN IMPORTANT HEARING. ONCE WE HAVE DEDICATED ENTIRE 10:04:06 DAY, WHICH HAVE NOT DONE THAT BEFORE, TO ONE SUBJECT SO THAT 10:04:10 WE CAN EXAMINE THE PROBLEMS AND GET AFTER THE SOLUTION IT IS -- 10:04:18 THEFT HOW WE CAN GET TO THE SOLUTION. 10:04:22 IT IS ABOUT TOYOTA AND THE SAFETY OVERSIGHT SYSTEM AND HOW 10:04:27 TO FIX IT. IT IS NOT JUST FOR A FUTURE 10:04:30 PROBLEM, BUT RIGHT NOW. IN ORDER TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF 10:04:35 THE DANGERS OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION, WHICH ARE NOT 10:04:39 ADDRESSED IN THE RECALLS. HARDLY THE WAY WE RESPOND WILL 10:04:44 AND MUST HAVE A LEFT INTACT ON THE CAR MAKER AND ITS EMPLOYEES, 10:04:50 THE FEDERAL AGENCY CHARGED WITH OVERSEEING SAFETY AND ON THE 10:04:55 CONFIDENCE OF THE PUBLIC FOR YEARS TO COME. 10:04:58 THIS HEARING WILL FOCUS ON THE GOVERNMENT'S ROLFES AND THIS 10:05:02 AFTERNOON WE WILL FOCUS ON THE COMPANY'S LOTH. 10:05:08 -- COMPANY ROLL. IT IS NO SECRET THAT TOYOTA IS 10:05:14 VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR NATIONAL ECONOMY. 10:05:18 THE CARMAKER OPERATES 10 PLANTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. 10:05:24 I'VE WORKED VERY HARD TO BRING A TOYOTA ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION 10:05:30 PLANT TO BUFFALO, WEST VIRGINIA BECAUSE I KNEW TOYOTA WAS BUILT 10:05:36 ON THE PHILOSOPHY OF QUALITY FIRST. 10:05:40 IF THEY DESIGNED AND BUILT THE MOST OFT SAFECARD POSSIBLE, JOBS 10:05:45 WILL FOLLOW. SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY, PUBLIC 10:05:50 SAFETY TOOK A BACKSEAT AND CORPORATE PROFITS DROVE COMPANY 10:05:54 DECISIONS FIFTH IF TOYOTA WANTS TO REMAIN SUCCESSFUL AND GAIN 10:06:01 CONSUMER TRUST, IT NEEDS TO FIND THIS BALANCE ONCE AGAIN. 10:06:06 TOYOTA'S CONSUMERS AND INCREDIBLE OF EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE 10:06:10 WON ALL SORTS OF AWARDS AND DESERVE NOTHING LESS THAN THIS. 10:06:14 THEY DRIVE A TOYOTA IS TO. -- THEY DRIVE A TOYOTA SCHIEDAM, 10:06:21 TOO. THEY NEED GREATER RESOURCES AND 10:06:29 AUTHORITY IN THE FUTURE. THEIR ACTIONS AND LACK OF ACTION 10:06:34 IN THE YEARS LEADING UP TO TODAY ARE DEEPLY TO CUT A -- DEEPLY 10:06:39 TROUBLING. THEY COUNT ON THE AMERICAN 10:06:41 PEOPLE TO PROTECT THEM, AND PROVIDE THEM WITH CLEAR AND 10:06:46 RELIABLE INFORMATION. TODAY, THAT PICTURE IS NOT 10:06:49 CLEAR. ONCE MORE, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE 10:06:53 NOT YET CLEARLY UNDERSTAND HOW THIS HAPPENED AND HOW IT WILL BE 10:06:57 SOLVED, WHICH DEFECTS HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED AND WHICH DANGERS 10:07:02 REMAIN AND WHAT THE RECALLS ARE FIXING AND NOT FIXING. 10:07:07 WE NEED TO LOOK BACK AND FOCUS FORWARD. 10:07:11 WE WILL HEAR FROM EXECUTIVES ABOUT HOW THESE PROBLEMS 10:07:16 OCCURRED AND WHY THE COMPANY DID NOT RESPOND MORE QUICKLY. 10:07:20 I ALSO WANT TO KNOW ABOUT PLANS TO FIX THE ONGOING PROBLEMS 10:07:26 WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND SET ITSELF ON A NEW COURSE TO 10:07:31 IDENTIFY NEEDED RECALLS IN THE FUTURE AND PREVENT NEW DEFECTS. 10:07:35 A BIG COMPANY, SERIOUS PROBLEMS, VERY IMPORTANT TO BE FIXED FOR 10:07:39 THE FUTURE AND RIGHT AWAY. WE WILL HEAR FROM NHTSA AND THE 10:07:45 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS AS TO WHY THEY DID NOT 10:07:50 ADEQUATELY CONNECT THE DOTS AND MOVE AGGRESSIVELY TO 10:07:53 INVESTIGATE. I ALSO WANT TO KNOW THE PLAN OF 10:07:57 NHTSA TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION, INDUSTRY- 10:08:01 WIDE, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT IT HAS THE RESOURCES AND THE 10:08:06 AUTHORITY TO FULFILL THAT MISSION. 10:08:09 LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, WE WILL HEAR IN A PANEL FOLLOWING THIS 10:08:17 ONE, WHO THE CENTER WHICH THE CENTER FOR AUTO SAFETY -- THE 10:08:23 CENTER FOR AUTO SAFETY. I DO INTEND TO WORK ON 10:08:28 COMPREHENSIVE LEGISLATION TO GET AT ALL OF THESE ISSUES IN A REAL 10:08:31 WAY. I WILL DISCUSS THAT AT THE END 10:08:33 OF THE DAY. WE NEED TO LOOK AT CURRENT LAW 10:08:39 AND ASKED IF IT IS STRONG ENOUGH TO PREVENT IF SOMETHING 10:08:44 -- TO PREVENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. 10:08:48 I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES HAVE CONTRIBUTED AND I WELCOME THAT. 10:08:53 THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE A TOP TO BOTTOM REVIEW, NOT JUST 10:08:59 THE PAST ERRORS, BUT THE ROAD AHEAD. 10:09:02 THEY DESERVE MORE THAN REASSURANCES. 10:09:06 THEY DESERVE FULL DISCLOSURES, ACCOUNTABILITY AND SOLUTIONS. 10:09:10 THANK YOU FOR ALL OF OUR WITNESSES FOR PARTICIPATING AND 10:09:16 WORKING WITH OUR COMMITTEE. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM 10:09:20 ALL OF YOU. >> THANK YOU. 10:09:31 THANK YOU, VERY MUCH SIR. THE PAST FEW WEEKS HAVE BEEN 10:09:39 EXTRAORDINARY. WHENEVER YOU TURN ON THE 10:09:44 TELEVISION SET OR LISTEN TO THE RADIO, WATCH THE PRINTED PAGES, 10:09:51 JUST ABOUT EVERY ARTICLE IS ON TOYOTA -- THE FRONT-PAGE 10:09:56 ARTICLES. THE TOYOTA PROBLEM. 10:10:00 WE HAVE HAD INTERVIEWS OF ATTORNEYS WHO ARE BRINGING CLASS 10:10:05 SINCE. WE HAVE TALK SHOWS DETERMINING 10:10:09 HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE THIS COMPANY TO RESTORE ITS 10:10:13 CREDIBILITY AND I SUPPOSE THAT IT WOULD BE JUSTIFIED FOR 10:10:21 AMERICANS TO GET THE IMPRESSION THAT THIS IS A TOYOTA PROBLEM. 10:10:28 MR. CHAIRMAN, I DECIDED TO DO A LITTLE RESEARCH AND I WOULD LIKE 10:10:33 TO SHARE SOME OF THESE NUMBERS WITH YOU. 10:10:37 THESE NUMBERS WERE PREPARED BY THE NHTSA, PREPARED YESTERDAY, 10:10:49 MARCH THE FIRST, 2010. IT IS VERY CURRENT. 10:10:55 IT RUNS FROM THE CALENDAR YEAR 2000 TO AND INCLUDING YESTERDAY. 10:11:04 IN THE YEAR 2000, A TOTAL OF 7,827,164 VEHICLES WERE 10:11:12 RECALLED. OF THAT NUMBER, FORD MOTOR CO., 10:11:22 7,485,466, TOYOTA 8379, ON DAY 338,003 AND 19. 10:11:32 IN THE YEAR 2001, A TOTAL OF 11,466,361 VEHICLES WERE 10:11:41 RECALLED. GENERAL MOTORS -- 2 MILLION. 10:11:48 CHRYSLER, TWO MILLION 609,045. FORD, 5,000,600. 10:12:00 MITSUBISHI, 379919. TOYOTA, -- 10:12:15 2002, 15,186,000 CARS WERE RECALLED. 10:12:21 DURING THAT YEAR, GENERAL MOTORS 4 MILLION. 10:12:28 FORD 2 MILLION. CHRYSLER 6 MILLION. 10:12:39 ALTHOUGH THE 496,000. I WOULD LIKE TO PUT THE REST OF 10:12:45 THE NUMBERS IN THE RECORD. A DECIDED TO READ THESE NUMBERS 10:12:50 AND THEY ARE VERY INTERESTING. IT IS NOT A TOYOTA PROBLEM, IT 10:12:55 IS AN INDUSTRY PROBLEM. LOOKING AT THESE NUMBERS, ONE 10:13:03 WITH THE IMPRESSION THAT MAYBE IT IS FORD MOTORS, OR CHRYSLER, 10:13:07 OR GENERAL MOTORS, AND I THINK WE SHOULD BE HONEST WITH 10:13:11 OURSELVES. IF IT IS AN INDUSTRY PROBLEM, WE 10:13:16 SHOULD HEAR FROM THE INDUSTRY, NOT JUST TOYOTA. 10:13:21 I WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND NHTSA FOR COMPILING THE STATISTICS. 10:13:27 THEY ARE VERY HELPFUL. IT GIVES A CLEAR PICTURE. 10:13:32 IF I MAY RESPECTFULLY SUGGEST THE INVESTIGATION AND INQUIRY 10:13:38 SHOULD BE BASED UPON THE INDUSTRY INSTEAD OF JUST TOYOTA. 10:13:43 THANK YOU, VERY MUCH, SIR. >> THANK YOU. 10:13:51 FOLLOWING BOTH THIS MORNING FROM THE STATEMENTS AND THIS 10:13:55 AFTERNOON'S STATEMENTS, PEOPLE GO BY SENIORITY. 10:14:01 >> SENT -- MR. CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 10:14:07 THIS IS AN INTERESTING ISSUE. WE TRAVELED ONLY AS FAST AS A 10:14:12 HORSE COULD CARRY US FROM THE ROMAN LEGION TO LEWIS AND CLARK. 10:14:17 NOW, ALMOST EVERYONE HAS IT HIGHER. 10:14:21 THAT ARE MADE BIGGER AND FASTER AND SAFER. 10:14:26 EXCEPT, THIS ISSUE OF SAFER, NOT ALL CARS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE 10:14:31 SAME STANDARDS. WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF FREE CALLS. 10:14:35 AT FIRST, EARLY ON, THE MANUFACTURERS WERE NOT 10:14:39 ENTHRALLED WITH RECALLS. YOU WILL RECALL THE PINTO AND 10:14:46 THE FIRES AND THE INDUSTRY WAS FORCED TO UNDERSTAND THE NEED 10:14:50 FOR RECALL AND TO OWN UP TO DEFECTS. 10:14:55 THE SPECIFIC OTHER DAY IS GOING TO -- IS DEDICATED TO TOYOTA. 10:15:00 IT IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST THERE IS A QUESTION OF SUDDEN 10:15:05 ACCELERATION IN CERTAIN MODELS. PEOPLE DIED, THEIR RELATIVES 10:15:11 COMPLAINED, MORE PEOPLE DIED, AND MORE PEOPLE COMPLAINED. 10:15:16 THE QUESTION FOR THIS HEARING IS WHAT ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT 10:15:21 AGENCIES THAT ARE ENGAGED IN A WORRIED ABOUT SAFETY ISSUES? 10:15:25 DID THEY TAKE THESE THINGS SERIOUSLY? 10:15:28 TODAY'S SERIOUSLY INVESTIGATE? WERE THEY FIERCE ADVOCATES FOR 10:15:31 THE PUBLIC GOOD, OR DID THEY BECOME PAPER TIGERS? 10:15:38 I THINK THIS HERE IN WILL GIVE US A LOT OF INFORMATION. 10:15:42 THIS AFTERNOON, IT IS IF -- IT IS WITH RESPECT TO THE 10:15:46 AUTOMOBILE COMPANY, IN THIS CASE TOYOTA, WHAT DID THEY KNOW 10:15:51 AND WHAT DID THEY DO WITH WHAT THEY KNEW? 10:15:54 WHAT KIND OF INFORMATION TO DESCRIBE TO THE FEDERAL 10:15:58 AGENCIES? ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE VERY 10:16:02 IMPORTANT . IT IS ABOUT A MATTER OF TRUST, 10:16:06 THE AMERICAN PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO TRUST THE COMPANY THEY 10:16:08 BELIEVE WILL SELL THEM AN AUTOMOBILE THAT A SAFEwMo AND, 10:16:14 PEOPLE HAVING TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN A FEDERAL AGENCY 10:16:17 THAT IS DESIGNED TO q l3 ADDRES SAFETY ISSUES. 10:16:20 I AMR> NOT AN EXQURT, BUT E READ AS MUCH AS I COULD RECENTLY 10:16:25 ON THE HEARING SET OUT AND HELD END OF THE CROWN THAT HAS BEEN 10:16:29 PROVIDED TO US, I THINK THEY'E VERY SERIOUS QUESTIONS OF A 10:16:33 WELL-ROUNDED -- ALL THE WAY AROUND PEOPLE EXPERIENCED TRAGIC 10:16:41 CONSEQUENCES BECAUSE OF THE ACCELERATION AND THE COMPANY 10:16:44 PUSHED THAT UP, SAYING THAT THAT IS A FLOOR MAT ISSUE OR 10:16:49 SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THERE IS ALSO SOME EVIDENCE THAT 10:16:53 THE FEDERAL AGENCY DID NOT TAKE IT AS SERIOUSLY AS I WISH A 10:16:58 FEDERAL AGENCY WOULD. WE WILL HAVE THE CHANCE TO TEST 10:17:01 SOME DIFFICULT AND TOUGH QUESTIONS. 10:17:06 WHATEVER THE CONSEQUENCES AND WHAT IS HAPPENING GOING FOR TO 10:17:09 MAKE SURE THIS IS NOT HAPPENING AGAIN? 10:17:12 >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. 10:17:18 LAST AUGUST, A CALIFORNIA PATROL OFFICER, HIS DAUGHTER, AND 10:17:26 BROTHER-IN-LAW WERE KILLED IN A TRAGIC ACCIDENT. 10:17:29 A HEART WRENCHING 911 CALL PLACED SECONDS BEFORE THE CALL 10:17:36 DESCRIBED A TERRIFIC SCENE IN WHICH THEIR RENTED LEXUS REACHED 10:17:39 SPEEDS OF 120 MILES PER HOUR WITH NO WAY OF STOPPING IN THE 10:17:44 END, OF A FAMILY COULD DO WAS PRAY. 10:17:48 THIS TRAGEDY SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED AND WE ARE HERE TO 10:17:52 INSURE THAT IT NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN. 10:17:55 THE RECALLS AND TRAGIC DEATHS ASSOCIATED WITH TOYOTA MODELS 10:18:02 HAS REIGNED -- HAS RAISED SERIOUS QUESTIONS. 10:18:06 NHTSA HAS CONDUCTED EIGHT INVESTIGATIONS, BUT MR. 10:18:11 SECRETARY, MY FRIEND, I WANT TO ASK YOU IF YOU THINK THEYK 10:18:18 INVESTIGATIONS. IN ADDITION, I WANT TO AS YOUR 10:18:23 OPINION BECAUSE YOU HAVE IT -- BECAUSE I HAVE SO MUCH RESPECT 10:18:27 FOR YOU, I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT REPORTS THAT FORMER NHTSA 10:18:32 EMPLOYEES WHO WERE LATER EMPLOYED BY TOYOTA MAY HAVE 10:18:38 PLAYED A ROLE IN INFLUENCING THE RESULTS. 10:18:42 I WANT TO SUBMIT A RECORD FROM A CBS REPORT. 10:18:53 THE JOB AT NHTSA WAS CONDUCT STUDIES. 10:19:00 IN 2002, HE GAVE HIS TWO-WEEK NOTICE, AND JOINED TOYOTA'S TEAM 10:19:07 AND WORKED UNDER THE MAN WHO HAD BEEN HIS TOYOTA CONTACT. 10:19:10 THE TWO HELPED NEGOTIATE WITH FORMER NHTSA COLLEAGUES TO 10:19:15 LIMIT PROBES INTO TOYOTA. THEY CONVINCED NHTSA TO FOCUS 10:19:23 ONLY ON THE BRIEF BURSTS OF ACCELERATIONS, REALLY NOT EVEN 10:19:28 SAID HAVE ALLEGEDLY LEFT -- RULING OUT ACCELERATION THAT HAS 10:19:33 LEFT -- LED TO THE DEATHS. NO UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN IN THE 10:19:40 CAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN CARRYING Y CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN. 10:19:44 I BELIEVE THAT EVERY TOYOTA MODEL SHOULD BE ANALYZED BY AN 10:19:48 OBJECTIVE PARTY. EVERY FIX, BY AN OBJECTIVE 10:19:53 PARTY. EVERY CAR OWNER SHOULD HAVE THE 10:19:57 ABILITY TO HAVE THE CAR FIXED AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE TIME. 10:20:02 I TRUST THAT UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP, THIS COMMITTEE'S 10:20:06 WORK WILL MOVE US TOWARD THOSE STEPS. 10:20:08 [ >> THANK YOU. q MRS. SNOWE. 10:20:15 1' >> THANK YOU. WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO 10:20:18 DETERMINE WHERE THESE MASSIVE BREAKDOWNS OCCURREDokq BOTH IN E 10:20:25 COMPANY AND THE FEDERALq AGENCY THAT LED TO THE PERPETUATION OF 10:20:30 DEFECTS RESULTED IN A LOSS OF LIFE -- AND A LOSS OF LIFE . 10:20:37 NHTSA HAD 26% INCREASE % INCREASE IN COMPLAINTS. 10:20:49 THE FAILED TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE. 10:20:53 IT POINTS TO NHTSA'S ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM. 10:20:57 IT IS OUTDATED. IT LETS SOFTWARE EXPERTISExD D 10:21:02 EXPERTS NECESSARY. ALSO, WE HAVE A COMPANY THAT 10:21:09 EXPLOITED NHTSA'S WEAKNESSES IN AVOIDING COMPULSORY REPORTING OF 10:21:17 INFORMATION. MANY OF US HERE ARE REMINDED F 10:21:22 THE TIME AND IN WHICH WE HAVE THE FIRESTONE TIRE RECALL, A 10:21:26 SESSION JUST ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO. AT THAT TIME, TRANSPORTATION 10:21:31 SECRETARY RODNEY SLATER APPEARED BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE ASKING TO 10:21:38 GRANT NHTSA AUTHORITIES THAT THEY CAN GET THE DATA THAT THEY 10:21:42 REQUIRED. WITHIN MONTHS, WE PASSED AN AT 10:21:47 THAT CREATED AN EARLY WARNING REPORTING t( SYSTEM, REQUIRING 10:21:51 MANUFACTURERS TO REPORT DEFECTS THAT RESULTED IN INJURIES OR 10:21:55 ECONOMIC DAMAGES. WHAT IS AMAZING IS THAT IN THE 10:22:01 DIRECT AFTERMATH, THERE WAS A NUMBER OF REPORTS REGARDING 10:22:04 TOYOTA'S ACCELERATIONS. THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE 10:22:09 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ISSUED TWO REPORTS CRITICIZING 10:22:14 NHTSA FOR FAILING TO ACT ON ITS OWN REPORTS AND FAILING TO SET 10:22:20 UP BASE THIS -- SET UP A SYSTEM ADEQUATE TO DO THIS 10:22:25 INVESTIGATION. THOSE OF US THAT WERE HERE WILL 10:22:29 REMEMBER THAT IT IS A DISTURBING PATTERN THAT IS ALL TOO 10:22:32 FAMILIAR. STATE FARM NOTIFIED NHTSA OF THE 10:22:39 FIRESTONE PROBLEM. IN 2004, STATE FARM THE TO FIGHT 10:22:46 NHTSA THAT THERE WAS A TREND OCCURRING WITH RESPECT TO TOYOTA 10:22:51 ACCELERATION. THEY CLOSED THE INVESTIGATION, 10:22:56 SAYING THAT THE AGENCY'S RESOURCES WERE NOT WARPa 10:23:00 FURTHER EXAMINING THIS ISSUE. INq 2004, STATE FARM AGAIN 10:23:06 NOTIFIED NHTSA BUT DID NOT EXPAND IT INTO A INDEPENDENT 10:23:14 INVESTIGATION. WE KNOW TOYOTA HAD A RECALL OF 10:23:17 IN EUROPE. IT WAS ONLY AFTER THE CRASH THAT 10:23:21 SENATOR BOXER IS REFERRING TO, THAT RESULTED IN A SIGNIFICANT 10:23:27 RECALL. LAST WEEK, YOU HAVE THE TOYOTA 10:23:32 USA PRESIDENT SAYING THAT HE WAS NOT SURE ABOUT RULING OUT q THE 10:23:39 ELECTRONIC SYSTEM. THE VERY NEXT DAY, THE PRESIDENT 10:23:43 SEEMS AT SOME OF THE CONTINENT THERE WERE NO FLAWS IN THE 10:23:46 DESIGN SYSTEM. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT WE HAVE 10:23:50 A HUGE PROBLEM. NHTSA CAN NOT INDEPENDENTLY 10:23:53 VERIFIED OR CORROBORATE MISINFORMATION THE CONTRADICTORY 10:23:56 ASSERTIONS THAT ARE OCCURRING EITHER BECAUSE THEY LACK THE 10:24:00 EXPERTISE, OR THEY HAVE NOT CONTACTED IT OUT, WHATEVER THEY 10:24:05 NEED TO DO IN AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION. 10:24:08 THEY ALLOWED A COMPANY TO HIDE BEHIND PROPRIETARY DATA AND 10:24:12 CORPORATE RECORDS. NHTSA'S PRIMARY MISSION IS TO 10:24:15 SAVE LIVES AND PREVENT INJURIES. IF THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THE 10:24:21 POLICE A PRIMARY DESIGN FLAW IN A MAJOR AUTO MAKER, HOW CAN WE 10:24:25 HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT THEY CAN LEAD OF -- LIVE UP TO THE 10:24:30 IMPORTANT WORD IN THEIR NAME, THAT OF COURSE IS "SAFE BEEPER 10:24:33 TEL -- "SAFETY." . 10:24:41 CLOCKS PROFITS SHOULD -- >> PROFITS SHOULD NEVER TRUMP 10:24:49 SAFETY. I AM HIGHLY SKEPTICAL, BORDERING 10:24:54 ON CYNICAL, WHEN IT COMES TO THE AUTO INDUSTRY, AND NOW WE HAVE 10:25:00 ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THEM DRAGGING FEET WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY. 10:25:04 I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS A YOUNG CONGRESSMAN, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE 10:25:09 TO PUT IN ON A TRIAL BASIS, AIR BAGS. 10:25:13 A GRANDMOTHER AND A GRANDDAUGHTER GOING DOWN A TWO- 10:25:20 LANE HIGHWAY HAD A HEAD ON COLLISION AND THAT GRANDMOTHER 10:25:28 AND GRANDDAUGHTER WALKED AWAY FROM THAT HEAD ON COLLISION. 10:25:33 YET, OVER AND OVER THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY PROHIBITED 10:25:38 US FROM HAVING AIR BAGS UNTIL ENOUGH PEOPLE DIED AND NOW, OF 10:25:46 COURSE, IT IS STANDARD ISSUE. HERE WE COME WITH A SIMILAR 10:25:51 ISSUE. WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR US TO WAKE 10:25:55 UP? THE SAD THING IS WE ARE IN THE 10:25:59 MIDDLE OF A RECESSION, AND GUS WHO IS BEING HURT? 10:26:04 BUT TOYOTA DEALERS. U.S. ANYONE WHETHER OR NOT THEY 10:26:09 THINK A TOYOTA IS SAFE, AND YOU WOULD BE SHOT AT THE PERCENTAGE 10:26:14 OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD SAVE NO AND THERE ARE VOTING WITH THEIR FEET 10:26:18 BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT WALKING INTO THE TOYOTA DEALERS. 10:26:22 IT IS HURTING THEM, THEIR SUPPLIERS, AND ALL OF THE SMALL 10:26:27 BUSINESSES THAT ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A RECESSION. 10:26:29 THANK YOU FOR GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS. 10:26:35 A ONE TO THINK THE SECRETARY. HE HAS BEEN STRAIGHTFORWARD, 10:26:39 VERY CLEAR. KEEP AT IT. 10:26:44 >> THANK YOU. CENTER PRIOR -- SENATOR PRYOR. 10:26:53 >> I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HAVING THIS HEARING. 10:26:57 YOU D!Y MAT THIS IS NOT A WITCH HUNT. 10:27:01 WE WANT TO LOOK AT WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE FIELD AND WHAT TOYOTA 10:27:07 HAS BEEN DOING AND HOW THIS HAS BEEN HANDLED. 10:27:10 WE ARE DOING OUR OVERSIGHT HERE TODAY. 10:27:13 I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. t(I HAVE SEEN SOME DOCUMENTS THT 10:27:20 I WOULD LIKE TO PASS OUT TO THE COMMITTEE WHEN THE TIME IS 10:27:23 APPROPRIATE TO LOOK AT DOCUMENTS THAT NHTSA PROVIDED TO THE 10:27:30 COMMITTEE AND WE MAY HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR OUR NHTSA WITH 10:27:34 THIS. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. 10:27:38 THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT MATTER. qTHERE ARE 12 OWNERS ALL OVER TE 10:27:43 COUNTRY BETTER CONCERNED. -- THERE ARE TOYOTA OWNERS ALL 10:27:48 OVER THE COUNTRY THAT ARE CONCERNED. 10:27:51 WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO KEEP OUR ROADS SAFE. 10:27:57 >> THANK YOU, IF YOU ARE THE HEAD OF OUR SAFETY AND CONSUMR 10:28:03 SUBCOMMITTEE. YOUR WORDS COUNT. 10:28:07 CENTER EISA -- CENTER DARRELL ISSA. 10:28:17 >> TO LET MY FORMER COLLEAGUE RAY LAHOOD. 10:28:20 THE SPOKE TO TOYOTA DEALERS IN GEORGIA AND CALLED HIM TO SEE 10:28:27 HOW MY CONSTITUENTS WERE BEING CHEATED. 10:28:30 THE REPORT I GOT -- WERE BEING TREATED. 10:28:34 THE REPORT I GOT GAVE ME SOME VERY IMPRESSIVE NUMBERS, WHICH I 10:28:42 APPRECIATE, BUT IT CAUSED ME TO THINK IF WE HAVE BEEN JUST AS 10:28:47 QUICK TO RESPOND TO THE FIRST DEATH THAT TOOK PLACE IN ON THE 10:28:50 HIGHWAY, WE MAY HAVE SAVED LIVES. 10:28:56 THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR US TO HEAR IS WHAT IS THE 10:29:00 THRESHOLD? WE NEED TO ERR ON THE SIDE OF 10:29:04 CAUTION. WE OUGHT TO BE CONSERVATIVE OF 10:29:06 THE FIRST HINT. I THANK YOU FOR THE TIME, MR. 10:29:12 CHAIRMAN. >> THANK YOU. 10:29:22 >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HOLDING 10:29:28 TODAY'S HEARING AND TO LOOK -- AND THINK OUR WITNESSES. 10:29:36 THE ALSO WANT TO THANK THE WITNESSESw3 THAT WILL JOIN US 10:29:39 THROUGHOUT THE DAY. THE NECESSITY OF TODAY'S HEARING 10:29:44 IS UNFORTUNATE AND IT IS A MANIFESTATION OF AN OVERSIGHT 10:29:47 PROCESS THE TEST OF THE CONSUMER. 10:29:53 CLEARLY, THE RECENT RECALLS HAVE NOT BEEN HANDLED WELL BY EITHER 10:29:59 THE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES OR BY TOYOTA. 10:30:07 AFTER THE SEVERAL TRAGIC ACCIDENTS AND THE RECALLS, THE 10:30:11 INVESTIGATIONS HAVE INTENSIFIED AND THROUGHOUT THAT PROCESS WE 10:30:15 HAVE HEARD A CHANGING STORY ON THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. 10:30:20 I AM HOPING TODAY WILL SHED SOME LIGHT ON THAT SUBJECT. 10:30:25 WE HAVE HAD UNINTENDED ACCELERATION PROBLEMS THAT HAVE 10:30:28 BEEN LINKED TO 39 DEATHS. MANY WERE PREVENTABLE. 10:30:33 I THINK THE QUESTIONS THE NEED TO BE ANSWERED ARE WHEN WAS THE 10:30:38 PROBLEM FIRST IDENTIFIED PETS WITH TOYOTA TO SLOW TO REACT? 10:30:41 DOES EITHER TOYOTA OR THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION 10:30:48 SAFETY MINISTRATION KNOW THE TRUE CAUSE? 10:30:52 THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES FLEEING CARS INTO DEALERSHIPS HOPING 10:30:56 THEIR CARS WILL BE FIXED. A LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH 10:31:00 THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND MY COLLEAGUES ON THIS 10:31:03 COMMITTEE AS WE DIG DEEPER IN SEARCH OF THOSE ANSWERS. 10:31:07 >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, 10:31:15 SECRETARY LAHOOD, AND ADMINISTRATION AND STRICKLAND. 10:31:21 I BELIEVE A FULL INVESTIGATION OF TOYOTA'S RESPONSE TO THESE 10:31:27 COMPLAINTS MUST BE CONDUCTED, BUT I'M MOSTLY INTERESTED IN HOW 10:31:32 OUR GOVERNMENT RESPONDED. THIS IS A BASIC MATTER OF PUBLIC 10:31:38 SAFETY AND PUBLIC TRUST. I KNOW THE TWO OF YOU WERE NOT 10:31:42 IN CHARGE BEEN UP TO THIS TRAGIC SITUATION. 10:31:46 REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE, YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF 10:31:49 CLEANING IT UP I THINK THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM OF CULTURE HERE. 10:31:53 t(INDUSTRY EXECUTIVES CAN ROAE HALLS OF GOVERNMENT ON LIKE 10:32:01 CONSUMERS. THEY ARE NOT ON AN EQUAL PLAYING 10:32:02 FIELD. SOME SMALL BUSINESSES CANNOT 10:32:07 HAVE THE SAME ACCESS. IT WAS RECENTLY AT EXPOSED T 10:32:13 TOYOTA PREPARED AN INTERNAL SAVED MONEY BY HAVING A LIMITED 10:32:24 RECALL. THEY ALSO CLAIMED MILLIONS OF 10:32:28 DOLLARS IN SAVINGS BY DELAYING SAFETY REGULATIONS, AVOIDING 10:32:33 DEFECT INVESTIGATIONS, AND SLOWING DOWN OTHER INDUSTRY 10:32:35 REQUIREMENTS. THIS WAS ENTITLED "WINS FOR 10:32:43 TOYOTA." AMONG THOSE WHO LOST WERE SOME 10:32:50 FD5e )UUQ'TS. HE WAS DRIVING r HOME FRO' 10:32:57 AND AFTER TWO MILES OF HIGH- SPEEDw3 DRIVING, HE WAS ABLE TO 10:33:01 STOP THE CAR BY PUTTING IT INTO NEUTRAL. 10:33:03 HE SAYS THE FORMAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. 10:33:06 A FEW WEEKS AFTER TH INCI, YMt>NXX.j P'4B=- [?1r xDEK"TAE 10:33:22 RECEIVED A RESPONSE AND THE AGENCY DENIED HIS COMPLAINT. 10:33:27 AT THAT TIME, THEY WERE EXPECTING TOYOTA'S EXPLANATION. 10:33:32 IT ALWAYS MAKES HIS INNOCENT WONDER WHAT IS GOING ON AND WHAT 10:33:35 HAPPENED BETWEEN THE SYSTEM AND NHTSA. 10:33:39 IT WAS LIKE A HOCKEY PUCK GOING BACK AND FORTH ON THE ICE. 10:33:46 TOYOTA WOULD PROMISE TO ANSWER, THE REGULATORS WOULD COMPLAIN 10:33:50 ABOUT NOT RECEIVING INFORMATION. IN THE END, ALMOST NOTHING WAS 10:33:54 DONE. THE PUCK NEVER GOT INTO THE NET. 10:33:58 PEOPLE DIED. I HAVE FAITH IN BOTH OF YOU, 10:34:02 w3 SHE WILL i]d8 GET TO TL m UESTION I AM MOSTe"A q w3xD Y3O 10:34:10 THE AGENCY SUFFERED BECAUSE OF LEADERSHIP TURNOVER, WITH THE 10:34:15 AGENCY RELUCTANT TO USE INVESTIGATING POWERS? 10:34:20 DID NHTSA HAVE ALL THE TOOLS IT NEEDED? 10:34:22 WAS THE ?0't;Wn RELATIONSHIP TY BETWEEN TOYOTA AND THE RESTqxD F 10:34:26 DUSTRY? THOSE ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT THE 10:34:32 AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE ANSWERS FOR AS THEY BELIEVED AND HAVEA 10:34:36 RIGHT TO BELIEVE THAT NHTSA IS THERE TO PROTECT THEM. 10:34:41 >> THANK YOU. V >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN FOR, 10:34:46 IN THIS IMPORTANT HEARING w3w3. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT HAS 10:34:54 GRABBED THE ATTENTION OF ALL AMERICANS AND MANY OTHERS 10:34:59 WORLDWIDE. IT CERTAINLY WARRANTS A THOROUGH 10:35:01 INVESTIGATION ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ROLES IS INSURING THE 10:35:05 SAFETY OF AMERICAN MOTORISTS. THE TRAGIC ACCIDENT THAT TOOK 10:35:11 THE LIFE OF A HIGHWAY PATROLMAN BROUGHT NATIONAL ATTENTION TO A 10:35:17 PROBLEM OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN CERTAIN 10:35:21 VEHICLES. TOYOTA HAS RECALLED MILLIONS OF 10:35:24 POTENTIALLY EFFECTED VEHICLES. THE COVERAGE HAS EXPANDED HEAD 10:35:29 THE PUBLIC IS UNDERSTANDABLY CONCERNED. 10:35:33 SINCE THAT TIME, TOYOTA HAS UNDERTAKEN EXTENSIVE OUTREACH 10:35:38 AND EVEN TAKEN THE UNUSUAL STEPS zVOF HALTING SALES AND PRODUCTIN 10:35:41 OF CERTAIN MODELS. IN PLACE AND DEALERSHIPS HAVE 10:35:45 BEEN WORKING TIRELESSLY TO FIX EFFECTED VEHICLES. 10:35:49 THEY ARE BEAT -- THEY ARE TO BE COMMENDED. 10:35:52 THERE ARE LINGERING QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED SUCH 10:35:58 AS THE TIMELINESS OF THE RESPONSE, AND WHETHER A SOLUTION 10:36:02 HAS BEEN FOUND. WE WILL CONTINUE TO ASK THE 10:36:05 TOUGH QUESTIONS. I ALSO WANT TO EXPRESS THAT IT 10:36:08 IS IMPORTANT TO ALSO BE FAIR AND TO KEEP THE FACT IN PERSPECTIVE. 10:36:13 WE MUST NOT USE A DIFFERENT SET OF STANDARDS FOR ONE COMPANY 10:36:16 OVER THE OTHER. NHTSA AND THE DEPARTMENT OF 10:36:20 TRANSPORTATION HAVE BECOME VERY ACTIVE. 10:36:23 SECRETARY LAHOOD, MY FRIEND AND PUNT -- MY FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE 10:36:28 HAS BEEN DEDICATED TO EXAMINE THE PROBLEM AND THE POTENTIAL 10:36:35 FOR ELECTRONIC DEFECTS IN THE THROTTLE CONTROL. 10:36:39 WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO REVIEW WHAT NHTSA HAS BEEN DOING OVER 10:36:43 THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AS THESE ACCIDENTS WERE BEING REPORTED, 10:36:47 AND WHY THEY SEEM TO LIMIT THE SCOPE OF THEIR REVIEW. 10:36:50 I r r BELIEVE THERE AREt( STILL SEVERAL OUTSTANDING t(f E 10:36:54 x HAVE AN t( OBLIGATION TOw3M ] om ov vC5 U. 10:36:57 THE MOST IMPORTANT IS HAS THE PROBLEM OF UNINTENDED 10:37:02 ACCELERATION THEN CORRECTLY IDENTIFIED? 10:37:07 NEXT, I BELIEVE CONSUMER EDUCATION IS AN IMPORTANT 10:37:11 COMPONENT TO ENSURE SAFETY. TOYOTA HAS UNDERTAKEN A MASSIVE 10:37:17 CAMPAIGN TO GET INTERMISSION TO CUSTOMERS. 10:37:20 I EMPLOYED -- I APPLAUD TOYOTA FOR THIS EFFORT. 10:37:25 DO CONSUMERS NOW HOW TO GET THEIR -- KNOW HOW TO GET THEIR 10:37:32 CARS REPAIRED? FINALLY, WE NEED TO REVIEW THE 10:37:37 PROCESSES THAT THEY'RE IN PLACE, AND SEE IF CHANGES NEED TO BE 10:37:40 MADE TO HELP ENSURE THAT OWNERS AND THOSE ON THE ROAD ARE SAFE. 10:37:44 THERE IS A LOT OF -- THERE IS A LOT AT STAKE, AND WE NEED TO GET 10:37:49 IT RIGHT. ALL AMERICANS NEED TO FEEL 10:37:52 CONFIDENT THEY ARE TRAVELING IN SAFE VEHICLES. 10:37:55 IT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF TOYOTA TO CONTINUE OPERATING AND 10:37:59 WORKING HARD ON THESE PROBLEMS THEY HAVE BEEN A GOOD PARTNER IN 10:38:05 STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. LET THE RECORD SHOW THAT WITH 10:38:10 THE DEBT IS INVESTING $1.3 BILLION TO BUILD A NEW PLANT IN 10:38:15 NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI. ALTHOUGH THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN 10:38:18 HAS DELAYED THE OPENING, THE COMPANY HAS CONTINUED TO HONOR 10:38:22 ITS COMMITMENTS TO OUR STATE. AT THIS POINT, I WOULD LIKE TO 10:38:27 POINT OUT AND ASK THAT WE ENTERED INTO THE RECORD ONE OP- 10:38:32 ED WRITTEN BY A DEMOCRAT FROM MISSISSIPPI, THE EXECUTIVE 10:38:41 DIRECTOR OF THREE RIVERS PLANNING DISTRICT AND ANOTHER 10:38:45 HOTBED FROM "THE WASHINGTON POST." 10:39:01 HE SAYS AMONG OTHER THINGS, I WORRY THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RUSH 10:39:05 TO JUDGMENT. THE WAY THAT CONGRESS AND THE 10:39:10 OBAMA ADMINISTRATION RESPOND WILL HAVE REAL ECONOMIC 10:39:15 CONSEQUENCES. HE HOPES THAT THOSE INVOLVED 10:39:19 WILL "GIVE THE TOYOTA COMPANY THE SAME OPPORTUNITY TO DEAL 10:39:24 WITH ISSUES THAT THEY AFFORD OTHER AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURERS 10:39:28 THAT EXPERIENCE RECALLS." S THAT IS THE PLACE INTO THE 10:39:31 RECORD. >> THEY BOTH WILL BE INCLUDED. 10:39:37 >> TO ENSURE THE PARTNERSHIP CONTINUES TO FLOURISH, WE MUST 10:39:41 WORK TO PREVENT THESE ISSUES IN THE FUTURE, WORKED DILIGENTLY TO 10:39:46 ENSURE THE VEHICLES TESTED, AND THE PUBLIC IS PROTECTED. 10:39:51 AT THE SAME TIME, WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS 10:39:56 OF AMERICAN JOBS AT STAKE. I BELIEVE THIS HEARING IS ONLY 10:40:00 THE FIRST STEP IN A PROCESS THAT MUST REQUIRE CAREFUL ANALYSIS. 10:40:07 THANK YOU TO OUR WITNESSES. >> THANK YOU. 10:40:15 >> ONCE AGAIN, CHAIRMAN OF ROCKEFELLER, YOU ARE FOCUSING ON 10:40:21 CONSUMER PROTECTION AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT. 10:40:26 THIS. IS ABOUT INSURING THE SAFETY OF 10:40:30 AMERICAN DRIVERS AND UNCOVERING WHY HUNDREDS OF INSTANCES OF 10:40:35 SUDDEN ACCELERATION OR OCCURRED FOR SO LONG AND KILLED, INJURED, 10:40:40 OR INCONVENIENCED SO MANY WITHOUT ADEQUATE WAS FRONTS FROM 10:40:45 TOYOTA OR SAFETY OFFICIALS. FOR YEARS, TOYOTA HAS ENJOY A 10:40:51 STELLAR REPUTATION IN AMERICA AND AROUND THE WORLD. 10:40:55 I OWN A TOYOTA PRIUS AND ADD TO THAT FOR YEARS WITH PLEASURE D 10:40:59 NO SAFETY PROBLEMS. "THE BUZZ" THE REALITY IS THAT 10:41:04 TOO MANY IF -- THE REALITY IS THAT TOO MANY VEHICLES HAVE NOT 10:41:09 BEEN SAFE. DOZENS OF PEOPLE HAVE DIED. 10:41:11 HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HURT. 10:41:15 HARD-WORKING EMPLOYEES AT TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS IN MY HOME STATE OF 10:41:20 NEW MEXICO AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY NOW FACE A UNCERTAIN 10:41:26 FUTURE IN AN ALREADY UNCERTAIN ECONOMY. 10:41:28 WHILE ALL OF THIS WAS HAPPENING, TOYOTA CONTINUE TO PUT COMPANY 10:41:34 PROFITS ABOVE THE SAFETY OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. 10:41:37 THESE ARE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT THEIR VEHICLES, 10:41:41 DEPENDED ON THE PRODUCT, AND EXPECTED TOYOTA TO INFORM THEM 10:41:46 IMMEDIATELY IF SOMETHING HAD GONE WRONG. 10:41:49 PLEADED DID NOT JUST FELL, THEY DID IT KNOWINGLY AND WITHOUT 10:41:54 REMORSE. THEY WERE BRAGGING ABOUT OVER 10:41:59 TWO AND A $55 MILLION IN SAFETY IN -- IN SAFETY THROUGH RECALLS 10:42:03 AVOIDED. TOYOTA IS NOT ALONE 10:42:07 . NHTSA IS ALSO TO BLAME. 10:42:09 SINCE 2003, THEY HAVE CONDUCTD MORE THAN TWO DOZEN 10:42:22 INVESTIGATIONS THAT RESULTED IN A LESS-THAN-ADEQUATE RECALL IN 10:42:27 2007. ONLY AFTER THE RELEASE OF THE 10:42:32 TERRIFYING 911 CALL THE SENATOR BOXER MENTIONED, AND THAT CRASH 10:42:38 WITH THE HIGH WEIGHT CONTROL -- HIGHWAY PATROL OFFICER, DID IT 10:42:47 SEEM THAT THAT'S A STEP UP. THAT RECALL RESULTED IN THE 10:42:50 COMPLETE RECALL. ALTHOUGH THE TOYOTA SAFETY 10:42:57 ISSUES HAVE BEEN IN HEADLINES FOR MONTHS, AND HEARINGS WERE 10:43:00 HELD LAST WEEK, MANY QUESTIONS REMAIN. 10:43:04 BY, FOR ONE, WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE SAFETY ISSUES WENT 10:43:10 UNCHECKED FOR SO LONG, WHAT STEPS TOYOTA IS TAKING TO ENSURE 10:43:14 THE SAFETY OF THOSE THAT RELY ON THEIR VEHICLES, AND FINALLY, 10:43:19 WHAT STEPS NHTSA IS QUICK TO TAKE TO ENSURE THIS NEVER 10:43:23 HAPPENS AGAIN. IT IS WONDERFUL TO SEE YOU HERE, 10:43:27 SECRETARY LAHOOD AND ADMINISTRATOR OF STRICKLAND. 10:43:34 >> THANK YOU. >> MR. CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU. 10:43:41 EVERYTHING THAT TIME I WANTED TO SAY THIS PROBABLY THEN SAID. 10:43:46 I WILL BE BRIEF AND AVOID BEIG REPETITIOUS. 10:43:51 I WANT TO REFLECT ON SOMETHING, IF I COULD. 10:43:55 IT WAS NOT THAT LONG AGO BUT MR. SECRETARY, I WAS IN YOUR 10:44:00 POSITION AS A MEMBER OF THE CABINET. 10:44:04 DURING THOSE YEARS, ONE OF MY RESPONSIBILITIES AS SECRETARY OF 10:44:09 AGRICULTURE WAS FOOD SAFETY JIMMY AREA OF MEAT, -- FOOD 10:44:17 SAFETY IN THE AREA OF NEED, AND OTHER ISSUES. 10:44:22 FOOD SAFETY ISSUES AROSE FROM TIME TO TIME. 10:44:25 I ALWAYS CONSIDERED THOSE TO BE THE GREATEST RISK AND GREATEST 10:44:30 CHALLENGE THAT WE FACED AND THE GREATEST RESPONSIBILITY. 10:44:35 EACH TIME THAT I DEALT WITH THE NATION, I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT 10:44:40 WHAT I WONDERED ABOUT WAS WHAT ELSE IS OUT THERE? 10:44:48 YOU CANNOT KNOW WHAT YOU DO NOT KNOW. 10:44:53 AS WE CONDUCT THIS HEARING, I SUSPECTED TO BE EASY FOR US TO 10:44:58 DIG INTO THE DOCUMENTS, LOOKING BACK, I HAVE A HISTORY OF WHAT 10:45:02 HAS HAPPENED HERE. IT WILL BE RELATIVELY EASY TO 10:45:06 CONNECT THE DOTS ARE IN HINDSIGHT. 10:45:10 WHAT THAT DOES NOT POINT TO TELL US IS WHAT ELSE IS OUT THERE -- 10:45:16 WHAT OTHER COMPANIES MAY HAVE DONE, HAVE BRAGGED ABOUT HOW 10:45:24 THEY SOMEHOW EVADED BEING INVOLVED IN A RECALL. 10:45:30 AS YOU TESTIFY, I HOPE HE WILL SPEND SOME TIME TALKING TO US 10:45:35 ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING TO ASSURE US THAT THERE IS NOT 10:45:40 ANYTHING ELSE OF THERE, THAT OUR VEHICLES ARE SAFE, AND THAT WHEN 10:45:45 IT IS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THIS DEPARTMENT, IF THERE IS 10:45:49 A GOOD FOLLOW-UP. I ALSO WANT TO MENTION 10:45:54 SOMETHING. :GI3I WILL BE VERY BLUNT ABOUT . 10:45:58 THIS REALLY IRRITATED ME WHILE I WAS A SECRETARY OF OUR CULTURE. 10:46:06 ; 3 -- THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 10:46:09 qt(I FIRMLY BELIEVE THERE IS E FOR THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT 10:46:14 HERE TO STEP UP AND TO MAKE SE THAT WHAT THEY ARE SENDING TO 10:46:20 OUR BORDERS IS SAFE. THEY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY. 10:46:26 I WORKED WITH THE JAPANESE FOR YEARS ON ISSUES RELATED TO 10:46:32 LIVESTOCK. WE FOUND ONE ANIMAL, THERE HAS 10:46:37 NEVER BEEN A CASE OF BSE IN THE UNITED STATES, YET TO THIS DAY, 10:46:47 THERE BORDER IS LARGELY CLOSED TO OUR PRODUCT. 10:46:52 I WONDER WHAT THE RESPONSE WOULD BE IN JAPAN IF I SUGGESTED THAT 10:46:56 BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE DIED BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY HAVE CONDUCTED 10:47:00 THEMSELVES, BUT UNTIL THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT CAN ASSURE 10:47:06 US THAT ALL OF THE DEFECTS ARE OUT OF THESE VEHICLES, WE ARE 10:47:09 NOT WHEN TO EXPECT ANY VEHICLES FROM JAPAN. 10:47:14 THAT IS WHAT THEY DID WITH ONE OF OUR INDUSTRIES. 10:47:18 I START THIS HEARING VERY, VERY FRUSTRATED WITH EVERYTHING THAT 10:47:23 THIS HAPPENED. yMBUT NOTHING FOR CONSUMERS HAVE 10:47:26 BEEN TREATED RIGHT, NOT ONLYok Y WHAT HAS HAPPENED HERE IN THE 10:47:31 UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT, BUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN A 10:47:34 GOVERNMENT THAT HAS BEEN AN ALLY THROUGH THE YEARS BUT HAS NOT 10:47:39 TREATED AS FAIRLY IN TRADE ISSUES. 10:47:42 THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. >> THANK YOU. 10:47:46 >> THANK YOU. LET ME FIRST SAY, SECRETARY 10:47:51 LAHOOD AND ADMINISTRATORS STRICKLAND, -- IT IS ON? 10:48:02 IS THAT BETTER? MAYBE THERE IS A DEFECT. 10:48:11 I KNOW YOU ARE ALWAYS VERY DIRECT. 10:48:16 MY BIG ISSUE, NOT TO ECHO WHAT EVERYONE SAID HERE IS GOING TO 10:48:21 BE WHAT SYSTEMATIC CHANGES ARE NECESSARY TO ENSURE THE SAFETY 10:48:29 OF PRINCE YOU MOVE FORWARD ON OUR THEIR AND THAT YOU HAVE THE 10:48:35 -- INJURED THE SAFETY EFFORTS YOU MOVE FORWARD ON OUR THERE 10:48:41 AND YOU HAVE THE RESOURCES. WHAT IS FORD AND HOW WE CHANGE 10:48:46 THE SYSTEM AND THEN PROVE IT? THAT IS WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR, 10:48:51 SYSTEMATIC CHANGES. IT IS A LITTLE UNIQUE. 10:48:58 WHEN FOLKS IN THE RURAL ALASKA BARRAULT -- BY A VEHICLE, THE 10:49:04 BARGE IT UP. I OWN A TOYOTA AND I DROVE FROM 10:49:13 ALASKA TO WASHINGTON, D.C., AND IT IS GREAT. 10:49:17 IT IS A VERY GOOD CARD -- IT'S A VERY GOOD CAR. 10:49:23 WHEN THEY SHIP IT IN A BARGE, HOW TO THEY GET IT FIXED? 10:49:29 THERE WILL BE STATES WHERE E DEALER MAY BE MILES AND MILES 10:49:33 AWAY. HOW DO THEY MAKE THAT 10:49:36 CONNECTION? IN OUR STATE, THEY WILL HAVE O 10:49:42 FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET IT TAKEN CARE OF. 10:49:47 TO ok m qok kqVaR # 1ddE TESTIMONY rdhN TODAY, BUK 10:49:56 w3FOP3 g7.a nb y: TT WE NEED TO w3 DO f ANDE 10:50:05 THERE WAS A PROBLEM IN DELIVERY OF INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC AND 10:50:11 TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE UPHOLDING THE BEST VEHICLE QUALITY 10:50:15 POSSIBLE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. 10:50:18 >> THANK YOU. SECRETARY LAHOOD, ADMINISTRATOR 10:50:26 STRICKLAND, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. 10:50:29 YOU'VE GOT ALL OF THE STATEMENTS THIS MORNING. 10:50:34 THAT MEANS THAT BY DEFINITION IN THE AFTERNOON, THERE WILL BE 10:50:38 FEWER STATEMENTS. THEY SET THE TONE FOR WHAT WE 10:50:42 WANT TO ASK AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING YOU, SIR, AND YOU ARE 10:50:49 ACCOMPANIED BY DAVID STRICKLAD TO IS THE ADMINISTRATOR OF 10:50:55 NHTSA. PLEASE PROCEED. 10:50:58 >> MR. CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON SAFETY AND 10:51:03 YOUR COURTESY IN ARRANGING THIS MEETING THAT IS CONVENIENT FOR 10:51:10 BOTH YOUR COMMITTEE AND THOSE OF US AT THE DEPARTMENT OF 10:51:13 TRANSPORTATION. EVER SINCE I WAS WARNED IN 13 10:51:18 MONTHS AGO, I HAVE SAID THAT SAFETY IS THE DEPARTMENT'S #1 10:51:23 PRIORITY. I BELIEVE WE HAVE DEMONSTRATED 10:51:25 THAT COMMITMENT TIME AND TIME AGAIN. 10:51:29 WHEN THE TERRIBLE CRASH OF WASHINGTON'S METRO SYSTEM 10:51:33 CLAIMED NINE LIVES, WE QUICKLY INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO GIVE 10:51:39 FEDERAL OVERSIGHT OF THE NATION PUTS THE TRANSIT SYSTEM. 10:51:44 THE FLIGHT CRASHED IN BUFFALO, WE LEARNED RIGHT AWAY WITH MANY 10:51:50 OF THE PROBLEMS WERE. WE BEGAN WORKING WITH THE 10:51:56 AVIATION INDUSTRY IMMEDIATELY TO ENHANCE AIRLINE SAFETY AND 10:52:03 PILOT TRICK -- PILOT TRAINING. THIS SPRING, THE FAA WILL 10:52:07 CONTEST -- WILL ISSUE A NEW RULE TO COMBAT PILOT FATIGUE. 10:52:12 ONE OF THE HALLMARKS OF MY TIME HAS BEEN OUR WORK ON DESTRUCTIVE 10:52:18 DRIVING FOR ALL OF YOU WITH SELF PHONES AND BLACKBERRIES, AND 10:52:24 OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES, I AM ON A RAMPAGE. 10:52:30 IT IS A MENACE TO SOCIETY. WE HAVE EXERCISED OUR AUTHORITY 10:52:35 TO BAN TRUCKDRIVERS FROM TEXTING WHILE DRIVING. 10:52:40 NOW, TOYOTA. THE ISSUE IS SERIOUS, AND WE ARE 10:52:45 TREATING IT SERIOUSLY. THE THREE RECALLS ARE AMONG THE 10:52:49 LARGEST IN AUTOMOBILE HISTORY, AFFECTING MORE THAN 6 MILLION 10:52:53 PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY. I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO 10:52:57 CONSUMERS. IF YOU NOTICE YOUR GAS PEDAL OR 10:53:00 BREAK IS NOT RESPONDING AS IT NORMALLY WOULD, CONTACT YOUR 10:53:04 TOYOTA DEALER RIGHT AWAY. THE RECENT RECALL INVOLVES 10:53:10 ENTRAPMENT BY FLOOR MATS. IT IS IMPORTANT TO TAKE YOUR 10:53:18 FORMATS OUT OF YOUR VEHICLE UNTIL THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN TAKEN 10:53:21 CARE OF. SECONDLY, ACCELERATOR PEDALS 10:53:27 STICKING. IF THE PANEL IS HARDER TO 10:53:31 PREDICT IF THE GAS PEDAL IS HARDER TO PRESS, CONTACT YOUR 10:53:40 TOYOTA DEALER IMMEDIATELY. IF YOUR GUEST PANEL BECOME STUCK 10:53:43 FOR ANY REASON, STEADILY APPLY THE BRAKE, PUT THE CAR IN 10:53:48 NEUTRAL, BRING IT TO A STOP, AND CALL YOUR DESLER. 10:53:53 FINALLY, THE TOYOTA PREVIOUS FOR MODEL YEAR 2010, -- TOYOTA 10:54:01 PRIUS, FOR MODEL YEAR 2010, CONTACT YOUR VEHICLE. 10:54:10 NHTSA HAS THE MOST ACTIVE INVESTIGATIONS IN THE WORLD. 10:54:15 ITS JOB IS TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS AND LOOK FOR DEFECTS. 10:54:20 IT RECEIVES MORE THAN 30,000 COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS EVERY 10:54:24 YEAR AND REUSE OF EVERY ONE OF THOSE COMPLAINTS QUICKLY. 10:54:28 WE DO NOT IGNORE ANY OF THEM. WE EXAMINE THEM ALL, LOOKING AT 10:54:32 ALL OF THEM VERY CAREFULLY. jTT @C1TH+DR"MXx>BlqU'vfzf gUe, 10:54:42 INVESTIGATION HAVE RESULTED 524 RECALLS INVOLVING 23.5 MILLION 10:54:46 VEHICLES. 20% OF THOSE INVOLVE FOREIGN WE 10:54:51 VEHICLES WERE UP 80% WERE DOMESTIC. 10:54:56 THERE ARE CURRENTLY 44 OPENED DEFECT INVESTIGATIONS, FIVE OF 10:55:01 WHICH INVOLVE TOYOTA. EVERY STEP OFt( THE WAY, NHTSA 10:55:06 OFFICIALS HAVE PUSHED TOYOTA TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION SO THAT 10:55:10 CONSUMERS WOULD BE SAFE. UNHAPPY, WITH THE RESPONSE, OUR 10:55:17 RETURNS, THEY FLEW TO JAPAN IN DECEMBER OF 2009 TO CLARIFY TO 10:55:26 TOYOTA MANAGEMENT THAT LEGAL OBLIGATIONS HAVE THEM 10:55:33 IDENTIFYING DEFECTS. OUR DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR TOLD 10:55:40 THE PRESIDENT OF TOYOTA NORTH AMERICA, IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS, 10:55:46 WE EXPECT PROMPT ACTION. TOYOTA PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED THE 10:55:51 RECALL TWO DAYS LATER. I PERSONALLY TALKED TO AKIO 10:55:56 TOYODA AND EMPHASIZE THAT THIS IS VERY SERIOUS. 10:56:02 NHTSA HAS PRESSED HARD TO EXPEDITE THESE FIXES. 10:56:06 IF NHTSA HAD RESISTED A RECALL, THIS WOULD HAVE CONSUMED AN 10:56:10 ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF TIME AND IN EFFECT, EXTENDED THE. 10:56:15 IN WHICH OWNERS WERE DIRECTLY EFFECTED. 10:56:21 THE AGENCY AVOIDED A LENGTHY INVESTIGATION THAT WOULD HAVE 10:56:25 DELAYED FIX'S FOR ONE YEAR OR MORE. 10:56:27 LAST YEAR, I ANNOUNCED IT WE WERE INVESTIGATING WHETHER A 10:56:36 POLITICAL OF THE PROTECTIONS. WE HAVE BEST TOYOTA TO TURN OVER 10:56:39 A WIDE RANGE OF DOCUMENTS. THIS WILL BE ONE OF THE MOST 10:56:43 COMPREHENSIVE REVIEWS OF DOCUMENTS THAT WILL SHOW US WHEN 10:56:46 AND HOW THEY LEARNED OF THE SAFETY PROBLEMS. 10:56:50 NHTSA WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE TOYOTA IS DOING ALL THAT IT HAS 10:56:54 PROMISED. WE'LL CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE 10:56:56 ALL POSSIBLE CAUSES OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. 10:57:01 THE RECALLS ARE IMPORTANT STEPS, BUT THEY DID NOT ANSWER A 10:57:04 -- THEY DID NOT ANSWER EVERY QUESTION. 10:57:12 ALTHOUGH WE'RE NOT AWARE OF ISSUES PROVEN TO BE CUT BY SUCH 10:57:19 INCIDENCES, NHTSA IS DOING A THOROUGH REVIEW. 10:57:24 WE HAVE HEARD FROM ENOUGH MEMBERS OF CONGRESS THAT THEY 10:57:29 THINK IT IS A PROBLEM. WE WILL LOOK INTO AND REVIEW THE 10:57:32 ELECTRONICS. IF NHTSA FINDS A PROBLEM, WE 10:57:35 WILL MAKE SURE IT IS RESOLVED. RECENTLY, I MET WITH THE 10:57:40 PRESIDENT OF TOYOTA AND TOLD THEM THAT SAFETY IS THE TOP 10:57:42 ISSUE FOR US AND THAT IT MUST BE FOR TOYOTA AS WELL. 10:57:46 HE ASSURED ME THAT THEY TAKE CONCERN SAY -- SERIOUSLY AND 10:57:50 THAT THEY'RE WORKING HARD. THERE IS A REASON WHY WE 10:57:56 INVESTIGATE SAFETY. I LISTENED TO THE 911 TAPE OF 10:58:01 THAT FAMILY'S HEROIN LAST MOMENTS. 10:58:04 I MET WITH THE FAMILY LAST WEEK WHEN THEY WERE IN WASHINGTON. 10:58:11 I OFFERED SYMPATHY AND OUR COMMITMENT TO THEM THAT THIS 10:58:15 WOULD NOT HAPPEN TO ANOTHER FAMILY. 10:58:18 IT WAS A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY, AND I HOPE THAT NO OTHER FAMILY HAS TO 10:58:22 END WITH THIS. AGAIN, MR. CHAIRMAN, I THANK 10:58:28 YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO -- FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAR. 10:58:32 >> THANK YOU. WHEN THE AMERICAN CONSUMERS AND 10:58:37 REGULATORS FOR NOT A SERIOUS ISSUE LIKE THE SUDDEN 10:58:40 ACCELERATION ISSUE, TOYOTA EXECUTIVES IN AMERICA DID NOT 10:58:45 SEEM TO HAVE ANY AUTHORITY TO TAKE ACTION ON THEIR OWN. 10:58:49 IT ALL HAS TO GO BACK TO JAPAN. THAT MIGHT BE A MATTER OF 10:58:55 CORPORATE OR JAPANESE CULTURE, BUT IT IS THE FACT. 10:58:58 IT WAS PRETTY OBVIOUS WHAT THE PRESIDENT OF TOYOTA NORTH 10:59:05 AMERICA, MR. JIM LENTZ, SAID HE DID NOT HAVE THE POWER TO ORDER 10:59:11 RECALLS IN THE UNITED STATES, ONLY JAPAN DID.