ISSUE_NO = 270A NO_OF_ITEMS = 6 ITEM_NO = 3 DESCRIPTION : Tennessee - Motor cycle hill climb. CARD_FILE = 3064 CARD_TITLE : Motor Cycle Hill Climb At Tennessee SHOT_LIST : Shot of motor cyclist riding up the incline and tumbling all the way back again. Another tries same, and another. Both fail and tumble back. One goes over the top but is seen falling over the other side. SOUND : Commentator KEYWORDS : Sport; United States of America; Vehicles; Disasters and Accidents MATERIAL : Neg 577 LENGTH_SHOT = 40 DATE_SUBD = 00/00/0000

Flooding in and around Memphis, TN, 1937

OUR WORLD - 1937 #2

1937 flooding in Memphis, TN

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EXT BROLL FAMILY OF VICTIMS OF GM DEFECTIVE CARS RECALL PRESSER Tuesday, April 1, 2014 LOG: GM Victim Families and Survivors Press Conference DC and NY SLUG: 1000 GM FAMILIES PRESSER RS5 76 NYRS: WASH9 DISC#: 673 10:03:12 Good morning, my name is Joan Claybrook. 10:03:42 So we're going to introduce all of them at the end Sen Markey, Mass. 10:03:56 Thank you Joan so much. Thank all of you for being here today. Especially the families who have traveled so far with such heavy hearts. 10:04:12 This is a 2007 Chevy cobalt ignition switch. This is the same design that failed shutting off vehicle airbags and killing innocent victims. We now know that the difference between this switch and one that would have worked properly was life or death. Do you know the other difference? $2. That's right, $2. That's how little this ignition switch cost to repair. Just two dollars. 10:04:56 $2 dollars that could have said the priceless lives of 18 year Natasha W. 16 year old, Amber Marie Gold, 19 year old Sara T and the lives of so many others. 10:05:16 But that was apparently $2 too much for General Motors. $2 dollars too much to act when a Saturn Ion stalled in 2003 and a technician found that the ignition switch had been warned out by a heavy key ring. $2 too much when GM received more and more reports of its cars, engines turning up by themselves in 2004, 2005 and 2006. Too much even after GM found evidence of 9 Chevrolet Cobalt crashes involving airbags that did not deploy in 2007. 10:06:03 GM's failure to act in the face of additional deaths, injuries and complaints went on and on until just two months ago until it finally started to recall these vehicles. This recall is a decade late and dozens of lives and injuries short. What is almost as enraging as GM's failure to act is the transportation department's refusal to stop allowing companies to hide fatal defects from millions of car owners. 10:06:40 In 2000, I worked with Congressman Henry Waxman and my other colleagues to create the early warning reporting system as part of the Auto Safety Law pass to deal with the Ford firestorm rollover defect that killed more than 250 people. When it came for Bush administration to implement our law, they acquiesced to GM and other car companies' desires to keep vital safety information concealed. 10:07:14 In 2010, when congress learned about the Toyota's sudden unintended sudden acceleration defect, I wrote an amendment to require auto makers to submit documents like accidents reports into the early warning reporting system that way consumers, safety experts, all of the department of transportation could get real early warnings before a decade of deaths and deception passed. But auto makers opposed my efforts to make more information public. The bill passed without those requirements. 10:07:48 And in 2012, the automakers also opposed another requirement: to make more information public that were in the Senate's transportation bill. Today, I say 'enough is enough'. Today I call upon the auto makers and the transportation department to support the bill that I introduce along with Senator Richard Blumenthal last week to ensure that tragedies like this never happen again. Our bill would do four main things to protect our own and our families: 10:08:20 One, it would require automakers to submit the documents that first alerts them to fatal accidents involving their vehicles to the searchable early reporting system. 10:08:32 Two, it would require the transportation department to public materials it receives about safety accidents that are currently kept secret. 10:08:41 Three, it would require the transportation department to upgrade its database to give consumers the tools they need to protect themselves. 10:08:53 And four, it would require the transportation department to use the information it has to better identify fatal defects before they claim more innocent lives. 10:09:05 This is the least we can do for the lives that have been lost and the families that are still struggling for justice. Justice for (names people who were killed) We can make sure this doesn't happen again. For all of them, we have to make sure this doesn't happen again. We can't allow the next chapter in this automobile safety tragedy to have the same ending. Sen Blumenthal 10:10:03 Thank you Joan. 10:10:22 Never easy to come forward, and to speak truth of power and they are doing today to tell the stories of their loved ones who deserved better. 10:10:35 They deserved better from GM products. Richard Scott Bailey a man who served his country and who deserved better from it and from GM whose products he used. 10:10:50 This Marine is the reason that we're here today, as are the other families because we know from GM's experience that concealement can kill. GM made a business decision to hide a defect. Not only to avoid repairing it, but to conceal it. And it concealed it not only from its costumers but from many of its employees, it concealed it from the United States government. 10:11:27 And thereby gamed the Justice System to obtain a complete shield, broad and blanket from liability for the lethal defects that it concealed. 10:11:45 And today we have to correct that situation. 10:11:50 GM can do the right thing in three specific ways. First of all, it can establish a fund to compensate these loved ones, the victims- innocent victims of GM's concealement and defective product. Now that fund will consist of money, it will never compensate these loved ones for the los of their family members, but it is a start. 10:12:25 And Second GM ought to issue a warning that matches the severity of danger that its drivers now face behind the wheel of these defective products. It has failed to warn sufficiently that these drivers of these particular models are unsafe at any speed behind that wheel. Until they are repaired they should not be driven. They should be repaired right away so they can be driven. They are a limited number of models, dealers are doing the right thing in CT and proactively reaching out to their costumers and asking them to bring those models back. 10:13:07 But right now, GM has failed to warn sufficiently. A key that is too heavy can stop the car and the airbags from deploying? What kind of car can be on the road? Endangering those drivers and others? Third, as Sen. Markey has said, I call on GM to back the bill that we've offered that will establish accountability and reform this system so that defects are detected more quickly and disclosed more fully in a database that's available to everyone and that can guide consumers in making decisions about where and how to buy their products. 10:13:55 You know we're here by a great American company. GM is an iconic, great company whose luster and brand should be reclaimed and restored. GM has the power itself to do the right thing despite the shield from liability and the pass that its been given, despite the business decision that it's made to conceal these defects, despite the harm- now is the time for GM to do the right thing on its own without prosecution, and without the compulsion of the court. Do the right thing, GM. Make this brand worthy of the great company that you have been, the great employees that you have, the great dealers who sell your product and the customers who use them. Thank you. Waxman 10:15:17 Thank you Joan Claybrook, we're here under tragic circumstances. 13 Americans have been killed in defective GM vehicles. Later today, I will have the opportunity to talk to Mary Bauer the CEO of GM and ask her how and why the company took so long to inform the public about this defect and to recall the vehicles- vehicles they knew were hazardous. 10:15:51 Now I want to acknowledge the families that some of those victims are joining us today, speaking out about their loved ones. It takes a great deal of courage to speak out about what has happened. They know they are experiencing continuing pain that they are feeling of not only lost family members, but you lost them in an accident that might have been prevented have GM taken action sooner. 10:16:24 We owe it to you to find out the facts. And we began our investigation several weeks ago and the information that we have obtained to date reveals a disturbing pattern- a pattern where again and again, GM discovered or was told of these problems with these vehicles and the company did nothing. 10:16:58 This morning I'm releasing a new analysis of never released GM warrantee claims. GM's received over 130 warrantee claims of drivers and GM technicians who experienced and identified the defect. Drivers reported that their car shut off after hitting bumps or potholes at highway speeds. 10:17:24 When they did something as simple as brushing the ignition switch with their knee, the comments from the vehicle reports from these owners are chilling given what we now know. I want to give some examples. These are all quotes. "Vehicle stalls out when hitting bump/pothole in road noticed at 50 mph" "When bumping switching area, vehicle would shut off" "Vehicle died at highway speeds" "Ignition key turns off when going over bumps" "Key ring heavy and shutting off ignition" "Vehicle shuts off intermittently cause by bumping ignition while driving" "Vehicle quit running while driving about 70 mph after hitting bump in highway" 10:18:23 GM knew about these problems. They got these quotes and information from their own customers and their own technicians. But it took them more than a decade to recall the vehicles. 10:18:38 So we must find out what went wrong inside the company and allow this to happen. We must make action to ensure that this doesn't happen again. 10:18:51 That's why I'm introducing in the house the Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 2014. This bill is made along the legislation of Energy and Commerce Committee passed in 2010 but was never enacted into law. It will make more information on defects available to the public, it will increase civil penalties for manufacturers when companies like GM fail to comply with the law. 10:19:22 I hope the committee will take up this legislation after today's hearing. On behalf of the families that are here today, we must improve the law to prevent the next auto and safety tragedy. DeGette, Colorado 10:19:54 Thank you very much Joan, I'll be helping lead the investigatory hearing this afternoon with Congressman Tim Murphey from Pennsylvania. I wanted to come here this morning because I wanted to let the families and others who are here today who have experienced this trauma know that Congress is interested and cares very deeply and wants to make sure this never happens again. I must say, I've been in Congress for a while now and every time I see one of these tragic situations as a mother is just makes my heart bleed. I want to thank everyone for coming today because I know how very difficult it is and I want to assure them that as we continue with the investigation and as we continue with legislation in both the House and the Senate the lives that are lost will not be forgotten and we will act. 10:20:50 Now you heard from my colleagues that GM knew about these defects and the ignition systems for over ten years and yet they did not recall these cars. They didn't recall even though they knew the cars could turn off while going at highway speeds. I've been thinking about this this weekend. As a mom of a 20 and 24 year old. What I've been thinking about it driving down the highway at 60 mph hitting a bump or turning slightly because your kid is in the back seat crying, and suddenly your car turns off. No airbags deploy, nothing happens, your car turns off and that's what happened to many of the families that are standing here today. 10:21:40 You know make more than a financial commitment to these cars when they purchased them from GM. They entrusted themselves and their loved ones to what they believed to be a safe and reliable vehicle. GM owed them that much. When I was home in Denver last week and I found that there were more than 2.5 million vehicles that were a part of this recall, I had one message and I will say that again today: if you own one of these recalled vehicles, park it immediately and take it to your dealer and get it fixed. 10:22:22 I wouldn't let my children drive this, and I wouldn't drive it myself. GM is saying well if you just take the key and drive with that, then you'll be OK. So I went in my purse I got my keys, these are the keys of every mother in America today and these are the keys that are hanging from the transmission- ignitions of these cars. If you're going to say to people you can't use these keys, then you need to fix it because it's not realistic that they can't use their keys to drive their cars. 10:23:03 Now as we move forward with this investigation, our number one priority needs to be safety. What we will be looking at today is when GM knew this information, why they didn't tell the American public, and why the federal agency in charge of this after 2000 when we passed the (?) Act didn't make this information available to Americans. That's what we're going to find out. 10:23:33 Again I want to say to the families here thank you for coming and I want to say to GM, you need to cooperate with Congress as we investigate this important issue and let us know why this happened and what you will do to rectify the situation. Thank you. FAMILIES Samantha Denti 10:24:06 I was your typical 20 year old, one of my prized possessions was my brand new car. I had a beautiful red Cobalt. It was great on gas, played my CD's at the perfect volume but most importantly it was mine. 10:24:20 I had friends living in different states, luckily I had a trustworthy car to get me there or so I thought. I was driving down the highway in Toms River, NJ when all of a sudden my car went from 45mph to 0 within seconds. As a car swerved to avoid crashing into me, I started to cry hysterically. Luckily two men jumped out of their cars to push me to a gas station that was up the road. 10:24:43 I immediately called my mother, crying. She told me to shut the car off and then I put it back on, it was perfectly fine. Once later the same situation happened again instead this time I was on a long haul to visit my best friend in Tennessee. 10:24:58 As I was driving down an off ramp, the same exact thing happened. Luckily the car behind me was very alert, swerved around me while cursing at me and then taking off. With shaky hands, a racing heart and tear filled eyes, I turned the key in the ignition once again the car was instantly good to go. 10:25:15 When I returned home, my mother and I brought the car to the service center for a second time. She insisted they keep this car until they figured out the problem. After 10 days of testing the car, to their amazement, they said they found the problem. They informed me that my key ring was slightly emerged and if my knee hit the bottom, it would immediately shut down. So with the keychain of a single ignition key, and my one house key a few months later, the situation happened for a third time. Somehow I escaped a four car pileup. 10:25:44 At that point in my life I was diagnosed with a heart disease and had a pace maker deffibulator implanted in me. The doctors informed me that any form of stress or anxiety was cause for setting off this device. This led my mother and I to decide that this car was for sure a death trap and the game of what if, and when again was not one we were willing to play anymore. 10:26:02 Driving this car was like playing a game of Russian Roulette with my safety and that of my friends. I can't even begin to explain the fear and confusion that runs through you the moment you have no control over your car. I can't comprehend the loss that these families are going through. My hope is that the horror stops right now. I don't want any more drivers to be mourned by families and friends because an automaker had a deadly problem. Federal gov't failed to take action and drivers like me were kept in the dark. 10:26:31 I would like to close this by quoting my mother's letter to Chevy General Motors from year's ago: "this is a safety recall issue if there ever was one. I should not have to list to you the safety problems that may happen such as accidents or death as I firmly think this car needs to be recalled, re-examined, revised and corrected" thank you. Terry De Batista 10:27:07 Good afternoon, my name's Terry De Batista 10:27:19 We helped my daughter Amber pick out a 2005 Chevy Cobalt because of the highly rated safety features. Now we know GM was aware of the fact that there were problems with the ignition switch before the car was even available to the public and that the problem would resolve in airbags not deploying and protecting her. I feel that GM needs to be held accountable to the public for the deadly and tragic consequences, allowing these deadly switches to be used. 10:27:43 I believe that it's necessary for DOJ to conduct a criminal investigation to determine if there is culpability by GM, who in the company should be held responsibly. It is my sincere hope there will be changes made to the law in order to prevent other families from experiencing our tragedy. 10:28:03 It is clear that GM is only concerned with their bottom line and not the safety of our loved ones. Laura Christian 10:28:15 I am the birth mother of Amber Marie Rose, the first known fatality of the Chevy Cobalt defect. At first it was one, and then we were a few. As you see, we are many and there are still more. This is just the tip of the iceberg. We are the ones left behind when a loved one got into what was supposed to be a safe car- a GM car. A car that GM knew for years was dangerous and defective. Our daughters, sons, sisters, brothers, mothers, fathers, wives, and husbands are gone because they were the cost of doing business GM's style. 10:28:58 Corporate Executives made a decision that fighting the problem was cheaper and easier than fixing the problem. My vision is two-fold. First to make sure that anyone driving these dangerous cars is aware of the defects. A lot of these cars have been resold and a recall notice will not be sent to them. 10:29:18 When I went to the website of the NITSA, I was distraught to see the ineffective small message about the recall that was replaced by next message after about 7 seconds. It doesn't say anything about 13 people who were known to have been killed because of this defect. The language doesn't convey an urgent and potentially lethal importance of this message. NITSA must be more transparent with the public that they serve. 10:29:50 People with these vehicles should get these cars off the road until the ignition has been repaired to protect themselves and everyone sharing the roads with them. Second part of my mission is to reform the way GM and other car manufacturers do business. Car manufacturers can't be permitted to do this if there is an acceptable loss of life. 10:30:13 Now is the time for Congress to act to pass legislation that will give public access to life and death information. Give automakers the warning that this is not acceptable and will not be tolerated. NTHSA is responsible for protecting and monitoring the American public needs more resources to get their job done. I urge Congress to take immediate action to provide additional funding for NITSA to make information more transparent to the public that they are charged with serving. Please help us protect our child, pass legislation to make sure that it doesn't happen again. Ken Rymer 10:31:09 I'm here before you today for my daughter 18, and her friend 15. They lost their voice, their whole life on October 24th 2006 while riding with another friend in a 2005 Chevy Cobalt. 10:31:30 What was to be a simple shopping excursion turned into a death trap as a vehicle without any warning lost power, (?) power breaks no longer worked and the safety airbags were turned off. When all of this happened, the car followed a path off the road, went airborne, crushed the phone box and tragically collided with a group of trees. 10:31:55 Miraculously all three girls survived the initial accident and were rushed to the area's local trauma center. Amy with her extensive head injuries passed away within hours. Natasha, after hours of surgery and in a coma because of her head injuries kept alive by life support held on for 11 days before being pronounced brain dead after which life support was stopped. 10:32:20 Megan survived but to this day still suffers physical ailments and mental anguish as being the sole survivor. 10:32:27 My wife Jane lost everything. Natasha was her only child. There will be no boyfriend troubles, no wedding day jitters, no children for Natasha or grandchildren for Jane. No family member to care for her as she grows old, just a forever hole in her heart for the daughter she so loved. 10:32:47 The accident report shows that speed was not a factor, weather was not a factor, normal road conditions and traffic. The ignition system was found in the accessory position by accident investigators. 10:33:00 None of this ever had to happen. It could have been easily corrected. Four years prior to producing the Cobalt, GM engineers were aware of that ignition switch design which could cause it turn to the accessory position which just the weight of a key chain or road bumps. Rather than fixing the problem, they chose to keep producing the Cobalt with the ill-fated ignition switch and selling it to suspecting public. With fixing the problems when it was discovered save these two girls' lives and the lives of many others? Yes. Should GM be able to hide behind their bankruptcy and not accept responsibility and liability of these young lives? No. 10:33:40 Please help us in standing up for what is right. GM knew it was wrong, GM hid it during bankruptcy proceedings. They should be liable for these young deaths. I urge Congress to take immediate action to pass strong legislation with tough penalties. 10:34:06 The preventable deaths of Natasha and Amy will not be forgotten. Stop the corporate cover ups. Congress should act now and pass legislation. Natasha and Amy will not be forgotten and we should prevent families from these types of tragedies. 10:36:28 Thank you, I am Clarence Ditlow, Investigative Director for Auto Safety. GM hid the problem for years. People needlessly died in crashes because of defective decision making at GM and in the government. 10:36:49 This is a complete failure of the recall system and we must change the law to reform that system. Any good engineer testing these switches would realize that it's too easy to change the switch from the on position to the accessory position. In fact, GM engineers did recognize this. They recommended a different switch to be in production by GM management objected that. When the switches were put into production and people started dying in crashes, GM engineers recommended a fix but GM management said no. It resulted then in losses- started happening and what did GM do? They settled the lawsuits with confidentiality agreements that concealed the defect. 10:37:49 Now NITSA did miss this defect and for NITSA to say that it does not know how an advanced airbag system that they mandated works, is simply an omission of incompetency from the agency. Furthermore in 2007, NITSA engineers recommended an investigation based on 29 complaints, 29 crashes, 25 injuries and 4 deaths. Yet management did not approve an investigation. Instead, management began in 2008 to open equipment queries that generated hundreds of inconsequential recalls. 10:38:42 Take an example, (?) made an aftermarket sunroof. NITSA sent recall forms to the equipment installers. They generated 111 recalls on that alone. Another case involving (?) by small van converters generated 123 recalls. 10:39:19 So instead of opening an investigation into the ignition switch where people die in unknown numbers and the toll is only going to rise, NITSA initiated an investigation after sunroof installers when there was not one known person killed. 10:39:41 That's a failure of the recall system, and we call on Congress to amend the law, to change that recall system because we can't afford another ignition switch. We said this year's ago and we say it again, there has been a failure of the recall system in this country and only changing the law will change that system and save lives thank you. General Motors CEO Mary Barra will testify today before a House subcommittee with members of congress wanting to know why neither GM nor the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration acted sooner to recall millions of cars with defective ignition switches. Records indicate GM was aware of the problem as early as 2001. Last night Barra met with 12 families who lost loved ones in crashes connected to the ignition switch defect. ABC News spoke, "exclusively," with two of those family members. They told Barra they don't want apologies -- they want answers.

All the victims of yesterday's boat collision, near Vermillion Bay southwest of New Orleans, have been found. Divers recovered the sixth body today.The Coast Guard says five bodies were recovered shortly after a 110-foot supply boat and the mallard, 28-foot crew boat carrying hunters, collided.Coast Guard officials say the five victims were found inside the cabin of the Mallard when the capsized boat was pulled to the surface.The accident occurred in Freshwater Bayou, an inland waterway 29 milms south of New Iberia, when the Mallard and the motor vessel Geerd Tide collided in rain. Visibility was about 1-point-5 miles.The Mallard carried employees and guests of the Bayou Corporation, an exclusive hunting club, on a duck hunting trip.Dead is T. Wayne Robertson of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, a senior vice president of R.J. Reynolds tobacco.Also killed was Dan Maddox, the former c-e-o of Gulf Western financial corp. His wife Margaret is missing today and presumed dead. Both were from Nashville, Tennessee.Hunting guides are identified as Norman Stelly, his brother Aladdin Stelly, both of Forked Island, and Brian Vincent of Intracoastal City. They all worked for the Vermillion Corporation.

House Energy and Commerce Committee holds a hearing with Eddie and Rhonda Smith, Toyota car victims, James Lentz, president and chief operating officer of Toyota USA, Ray LaHood, and Sean Kane, the president, Safety Research Strategies Inc. 11:03:09 THEY WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO 11:03:12 GIVE A VERBAL OPENING STATEMENT OR ASK QUESTIONS DUE TO TIME 11:03:17 CONSTRAINTS. I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT 11:03:21 CONGRESSMAN BURGESS BE ALLOWED TO SERVE AS RANKING MEMBER. 11:03:26 WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE REQUEST IS ACCEPTED. 11:03:29 THE CHAIRMAN, RANKING MEMBER AND CHAIRMAN WILL NOW BE RECOGNIZED 11:03:33 FOR A FIVE-MINUTE OPENING STATEMENT. 11:03:36 OTHER MEMBERS WILL BE RECOGNIZED FOR A THREE-MINUTE OPENING 11:03:40 STATEMENT AND MR. RUSH, THE CHAIRMAN WILL BE ALLOWED TO GIVE 11:03:49 AN OPENING STATEMENT WITH THE RANK AND MEMBER IF THEY SO 11:03:51 DESIRE. WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE OPENING 11:03:53 STATEMENTS. I WILL BEGIN. 11:04:00 10 YEARS AGO THEY INVESTIGATED THE TIRE RECALLS. 11:04:04 THE CAUSE OF DEATH OF DOZENS OF PEOPLE AND EXPRESSED 11:04:08 VULNERABILITIES AND OVERSIGHT OF RECALL AUTHORITY. 11:04:11 IN RESPONSE, CONGRESS QUICKLY PASSED THE THREAT ACT WHICH WAS 11:04:14 INTENDED TO PROVIDE ENHANCED AUTHORITY FOR THE NATIONAL 11:04:19 HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION TO GATHER AND 11:04:22 ANALYZE DATA FROM AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURERS AND PROVIDE AN 11:04:26 EARLY WARNING SYSTEM. NOW A DECADE LATER, WE FACE A 11:04:31 SERIOUS AUTO SAFETY PROBLEM THAT CALLS INTO QUESTION WHETHER THE 11:04:35 ACT IS ACHIEVING THE PURPOSES WE INTENDED. 11:04:40 TODAY'S HEARING WILL EXAMINE WHETHER TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION 11:04:43 ACTED IN A TIMELY FASHION TO ADDRESS COMPLAINTS OF SUDDEN 11:04:51 UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. IT DESCRIBES A BROAD RANGE OF 11:04:54 EVENTS IN WHICH A VEHICLE ACCELERATES RAPIDLY AND THE 11:04:58 DRIVER IS UNABLE TO IMMEDIATELY SLOW DOWN OR STOP THE VEHICLE. 11:05:03 OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION ISSUED 11:05:06 TWO MAJOR RECALLS FOR DEFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH ACCELERATOR 11:05:11 PROBLEMS IN POPULAR MODELS. THE FIRST RECALL ANNOUNCED IN 11:05:15 OCTOBER OF 2009 ADDRESSED FLOOR MATS THAT CAN JAM AGAINST THE 11:05:21 GAS PEDAL CAUSING IT TO BE TRAPPED IN A FULL THROTTLE . 11:05:29 POSITION. THEY OPENED THE RECALL AND 11:05:31 TOYOTA ANNOUNCED ANOTHER RECALL OF GAS PEDALS THAT CAN STICK OR 11:05:35 RETURN SLOWLY. TOYOTA'S LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN 11:05:42 AMBIGUOUS ABOUT WHETHER THEY FULLY ADDRESS SUDDEN UNINTENDED 11:05:47 ACCELERATION. THOUSANDS OF TOYOTA OWNERS WHOSE 11:05:49 CARS WERE NOT SUBJECT TO EITHER RECALL HAVE REPORTED TO THE 11:05:53 COMPANY THAT THEIR VEHICLES SURGED OR ACCELERATED TO HIGH 11:05:57 SPEEDS. A STAFF ANALYSIS OF DOCUMENTS 11:05:59 TOYOTA PROVIDED TO THE COMMITTEE SHOWS THAT ROUGHLY 70% OF THE 11:06:04 SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION EVENTS RECORDED IN TOYOTA'S OWN 11:06:09 CUSTOMER DATABASE INVOLVED VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT COVERED BY 11:06:13 THE FLOOR MAT OR STICKY PEDAL RECALLS. 11:06:17 THE FIXES TOYOTA ADVERTISED FOR THE PROBLEM DO NOT PROVIDE FOR 11:06:24 THE DRIVERS. THEY SHOWED TOYOTA DISMISSED THE 11:06:28 POSSIBILITY OF ELECTRONIC FAILURES COULD BE RESPONSIBLE 11:06:31 FOR INCIDENTS OF SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. 11:06:37 AT THE SAME TIME TOYOTA PROVIDED SOFTWARE UPGRADES TO VEHICLES TO 11:06:40 ENSURE THAT IN INSTANCES WHERE THE GAS AND BRAKES WERE PRESSED, 11:06:45 THE BRAKES WILL OVERRIDE THE GAS. 11:06:47 IT SEEMS LIKE THE SOFTWARE UPGRADE PROVIDES IMPORTANT 11:06:52 PROTECTION, BUT LEFT TO ASK WHAT WILL TOYOTA DO FOR THE OWNERS OF 11:06:57 THE CARS THAT CANNOT RECEIVE THE SAFETY UPGRADE. 11:07:00 EQUALLY TROUBLING IS THAT OFFICIALS APPEAR TO HAVE BOUGHT 11:07:04 INTO TOYOTA'S EXPLANATION OF THE EVENTS. 11:07:06 IN CLOSING INVESTIGATIONS, AND IN BRIEFINGS OF STAFF, THEY HAVE 11:07:11 REPEATED TOYOTA'S INSISTENCE THAT SUDDEN ACCELERATION IS 11:07:16 CAUSED BY HUMAN ERROR OR LIMITED MECHANICAL PROBLEMS RATHER THAN 11:07:21 PROBLEMS IN THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM. 11:07:27 THEY MADE THIS WITHOUT HAVING ELECTRICAL OR SOFTWARE ENGINES 11:07:31 BE THE PROBLEM. ONE OF THE WITNESSES WILL TELL 11:07:34 US HOW AN INVESTIGATOR SENT TO INSPECT OR VEHICLE SEEMED TO 11:07:40 ARRIVE WITH THE PRECONCEIVED IDEA TO SELL TO US THAT IT WAS A 11:07:45 FLOOR MAT PROBLEM. THIS BEGS THE QUESTION OF 11:07:47 WHETHER THEY ARE TOO COZY WITH THE INDUSTRY THEY OVERSEE OR 11:07:51 WHETHER THEY ARE STRUCK IN A MECHANICAL MIND SET RATHER THAN 11:07:56 EVOLVING TO KEEP UP WITH THE NEW GENERATION WITH ELECTRONIC AND 11:08:01 COMPUTER-RUN COMPONENTS. SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION 11:08:05 OCCURS AND TOYOTA ATTORNEYS COMMISSION A STUDY TITLED 11:08:09 TESTING AND ANALYSIS OF TOYOTA AND LEXUS VEHICLES AND 11:08:14 COMPONENTS ARE CONCERNED RELATED TO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION BY A 11:08:17 COMPANY CALLED EX-PONENT. TOYOTA HAS PRESENTED THIS REPORT 11:08:22 TO PROVE THAT THE ELECTRONICS SYSTEM CANNOT CAUSE SUDDEN 11:08:26 UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. HOWEVER, THIS COMMITTEE 11:08:30 REQUESTED INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT OF THE EX-PONENT STUDY AND THESE 11:08:34 EXPERTS IDENTIFIED THE WORST SHORTCOMINGS INCLUDING THE 11:08:38 REVIEW THAT DID NOT FOLLOW SOUND SCIENTIFIC METHOD. 11:08:46 MAJOR TESTING LIKE ELECTRONETTIC INTERFERENCE WERE NOT ADDRESSED. 11:08:50 ONLY ONE OF THE SEVEN VEHICLES IS ON THE RECALL LIST. 11:08:54 THE STUDY DID NOT EXAMINE A SINGLE VEHICLE THAT HAD 11:08:58 INSURANCED SUDDEN UNATTENDED ACCELERATION. 11:09:01 IT IS CLEAR THAT THE FLAWED EX-PONENT STUDY IS NOWHERE NEAR 11:09:06 ADEQUATE FOR A VALID REVIEW. TOYOTA OWES IT TO ITS CUSTOMERS, 11:09:11 THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, IN GOVERNMENT REGULATORS TO 11:09:15 COMPLETE A SPECIFICALLY SOUND REVIEW OF THE ELECTRONICS 11:09:19 SYSTEM. ONE INDIVIDUAL HAS TAKEN A CLOSE 11:09:22 LOOK AT THE GAS PEDALS IS DR. DAVID GILBERT AT SOUTHERN 11:09:28 ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY. DR. GILBERT WILL RELEASE HIS 11:09:31 REPORT SAYING HOW HE WAS ABLE TO SHORT CIRCUIT THE GAS PEDAL AND 11:09:36 MIMIC AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION INCIDENT WITHOUT TRIGGERING 11:09:41 DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES IN THE COMPUTER. 11:09:43 DR. GILBERT'S REPORT IS THE FIRST STUDY OF THIS KIND AND WE 11:09:47 ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE THEM HERE TODAY TO EXPLAIN IT. 11:09:51 IN SUMMARY, WHAT WE FOUND IS QUITE TROUBLING. 11:09:56 TOYOTA ALL BUT IGNORED PLEAS TO EXAMINE SUDDEN UNINTENDED 11:10:00 ACCELERATION EVENTS. THEY BOASTED THE BRIEFING OF 11:10:03 SAVING TOYOTA $100 MILLION BY A LIMITED RECALL AND CLAIMED THEY 11:10:11 FIRST BECAME AWARE OF STICKING PEDALS IN 2009 WHEN THEY 11:10:15 RECEIVED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS MONTHS AND YEARS EARLIER. 11:10:17 THEY MISLED THE PUBLIC BY SAYING THAT THEY AND OTHER SOURCES HAVE 11:10:22 THOROUGHLY ANALYZED THE ELECTRONICS SYSTEM AND 11:10:26 ELIMINATED IT AS A POSSIBLE CAUSE OF SUDDEN UNINTENDED 11:10:30 ACCELERATION WHEN IN FACT THE ONLY SUCH REVIEW IS A FLAWED 11:10:33 STUDY BY A COMPANY RETAINED BY TOYOTA'S LAWYERS. 11:10:38 TOYOTA FOR THAT MATTER HAS A LOT OF EXPLAINING TO DO TO THE 11:10:42 AMERICAN PEOPLE. TO TOYOTA OWNERS AND DEALERS. 11:10:45 I LOOK FORWARD TO AN INFORMATIONAL AND PRODUCTIVE 11:10:49 THEORY. I NEXT YIELD TO THE GENTLEMEN, 11:10:51 MR. BARTON FROM TEXAS FOR AN OPENING STATEMENT. 11:10:54 >> THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN. A LITTLE HOUSE KEEPING BEFORE I 11:10:57 GO TO THE OPENING STATEMENT. THE RANKING MEMBER ON OUR SIDE 11:11:02 IS GREG WALDEN. HE STEPPED OFF THE COMMITTEE SO 11:11:06 WE CAN PUT PARKER GRIFFITH OF ALABAMA ON THE COMMITTEE. 11:11:10 THEREFORE FOR TODAY'S HEARING, WE OFFICIALLY DON'T HAVE A 11:11:13 RANKING MEMBER. I ASKED THE CONGRESSMAN IF HE 11:11:17 WOULD DO THAT DUTY TODAY, BUT TO GIVE THE OPENING STATEMENT, IT 11:11:21 WILL BE MYSELF. LATER THIS WEEK CHAIRMAN WAXMAN 11:11:25 I THINK INDICATED THAT HE WILL HAVE A COMMITTEE, A REGULAR 11:11:31 BUSINESS COMMITTEE MEETING IN WHICH WE WILL REPLACE 11:11:35 MR. WALTON. >> FOR TODAY'S HEARING, HE WILL 11:11:38 BE RANKING? >> YES, SIR. 11:11:40 AS SOON AS I GIVE THIS OPENING STATEMENT. 11:11:44 I WILL PUT MY OPENING STATEMENT IN THE RECORD IN ITS ENTIRETY. 11:11:51 I WILL SPEAK EX-TEMP RAINUOUSLY. WHEN THE REPUBLICANS ARE IN THE 11:11:56 MAJORITY, WE HELD HEARINGS ON FORD AND FIRE STONE TIRES SO I 11:12:01 FELT AS THE RANKING MEMBER OF THE FULL COMMITTEE WHEN 11:12:05 MR. WAXMAN APPROACHED ME ABOUT THE HEARINGS, IT WAS ONLY FAIR 11:12:10 THAT THE REPUBLICANS SUPPORT THIS INVESTIGATION. 11:12:13 THE PEOPLE DO HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW, MR. CHAIRMAN. 11:12:16 THIS SUBCOMMITTEE HAS ALWAYS, REGARDLESS OF WHICH PARTY 11:12:21 CONTROLLED THE CONGRESS AND REGARDLESS OF WHICH MEMBER OF 11:12:23 THE COMMITTEE CHAIRED THIS SUBCOMMITTEE AND HAS GOT A GREAT 11:12:27 RECORD OF GETTING THE FACTS ON THE TABLE. 11:12:29 I WILL SAY ON THE RECORD THAT YOU ARE ONE OF THE BEST AT 11:12:32 GETTING THE FACTS ON THE RECORD. HAVING SAID THAT, WE DO WANT TO 11:12:38 HAVE AN OPEN MIND ON WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. 11:12:44 I WAS STUNNED TO LEARN YESTERDAY THAT IT SHOWS HOW LONG IT'S BEEN 11:12:48 SINCE I WORKED ON A CAR. I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT 11:12:53 THE STEERING MECHANISM AND THE FUEL ACCELERATION MECHANISM WAS 11:12:59 LIKE IT WAS YEARS AGO. IT WAS MECHANICALLY LINKED. 11:13:03 IT'S NOT. IT'S ALL ELECTRONIC NOW. 11:13:07 WHEN YOU PUSH THE GAS PEDAL, ENGINEERS HAVE GONE OUT OF THEIR 11:13:14 WAY TO CREATE THE FEEL OF WHEN IT WAS LINKED TO SHOW HOW OLD I 11:13:19 AM, TO THE CARBURATOR. IT'S REALLY AN ELECTRONIC 11:13:23 SIGNAL. THERE IS NO MECHANICAL LINKAGE. 11:13:26 THEY CREATE A SPRING-LOADED SYSTEM UNDER THE GAS PEDAL TO 11:13:29 MAKE IT FEEL LIKE WHEN YOU PUSH DOWN ON THE PEDAL, THERE IS A 11:13:34 LINKAGE THAT IS GOING INTO THE ENGINE AND UP TO THE FUEL 11:13:38 INJECTION SYSTEM AND MAKING IT WORK. 11:13:40 IT'S ALL ELECTRONIC. THE RECALL THAT TOYOTA WAS 11:13:48 UNDERTAKING AND THE ACTUAL CHANGES AND MODIFICATIONS, THEY 11:13:55 ARE GOING IN AND SHAVING PART OF THE GAS PEDAL OFF AT THE BOTTOM 11:14:01 AND THEN THEY ARE PUTTING A METAL WASHER OR INSERT BEHIND 11:14:08 THE PEDAL SO IT FEELS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY. 11:14:15 THEY EXHAUSTIVELY LOOKED TO SEE IF THERE IS SOME COMPUTER 11:14:21 MALFUNCTION. SO FAR THEY CAN'T FIND IT. 11:14:22 MAYBE THERE IS. MAYBE THERE IS SOMETHING IN 11:14:28 THEIR PROGRAM THAT IS WRONG, BUT I WAS UNDER THE ASSUMPTION AS AN 11:14:34 INDUSTRIAL ENGINE THAT IT WAS A MECHANICAL SYSTEM AND THERE WAS 11:14:37 SOMETHING WRONG WITH THEIR DESIGN OR SOMETHING WRONG WITH 11:14:40 THEIR LINKAGE SYSTEM OR SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE 11:14:43 CONNECTION. THAT'S ALL ELECTRONIC. 11:14:49 WHAT WE NEED TO DO MR. CHAIRMAN, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD 11:14:56 AND I'M NOT SAYING YOU ARE TEAFLTING TO DO THIS, BUT WE 11:15:00 SHOULD GO ON A WITCH HUNT. WE SHOULD PROTECT THE AMERICAN 11:15:08 PEOPLE AND IF THERE IS A PROBLEM, WHAT IT IS. 11:15:10 WHAT TOYOTA IS GOING DO ABOUT IT. 11:15:15 IF WE DO THAT, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL BE WELL-SERVED. 11:15:23 TOYOTA HAS DONE SOMETHING WRONG AND TRIED TO COVER IT UP. 11:15:28 IN THE TESTIMONY, I HOPE THE CONGRESS WILL COME DOWN ON 11:15:32 TOYOTA FORCEFULLY. IF THEY HAVEN'T, THE PEOPLE THAT 11:15:37 I TALKED TO HAVE WORKED IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY FOR 30 YEARS 11:15:44 OR MORE. THEY HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO INTEREST 11:15:48 IN COVERING UP A PROBLEM THAT KILLS PEOPLE. 11:15:51 IT HURTS PEOPLE AND ENDETERMININGS PEOPLE'S LIVES. 11:16:01 IT'S POSSIBLE IT COULD BE TOO MANY PEOPLE PUTTING TOO MANY 11:16:04 FLAR MATS IN THEIR CARS. I CONTINUE SOUNDS SILLY AND IT 11:16:09 WOULD SEEM INCREDULOUS TO STIPULATE THAT MIGHT BE THE 11:16:12 PROBLEM, BUT BASED ON THE OBSERVATION OF THE 16 MILLION 11:16:16 VEHICLES I BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA IS INVESTIGATING OR HAVE RECORDS 11:16:20 ON, THEY HAD A HANDFUL OR A DOZEN. 11:16:27 WE NEED TO FIND THE FACTS AND I KNOW YOU ARE GREAT AT FINDING 11:16:30 THE FACTS AND MYSELF AND REPUBLICANS ON THE COMMITTEE 11:16:32 WILL HELP YOU FIND THE FACTS. WITH THAT I WOULD YIELD BACK. 11:16:43 WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING ON THIS MATTER. 11:16:46 OPENING STATEMENTS PLEASE. >> I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR 11:16:49 HOLDING TODAY'S HEARING ON REPORTS OF SUDDEN UNINTENDED 11:16:52 ACCELERATION IN TOYOTA VEHICLES. I'M A GREAT ADMIRER OF TOYOTA. 11:16:58 TOYOTA MAKES GOOD CARS. I HAVE DRIVEN ONE. 11:17:02 PLEASURABLY ANDLY FOR YEARS. THE COMPANY HAS BEEN A STRONG 11:17:06 CORPORATE CITIZEN. THE PRIUS IS SAY BREAKTHROUGH 11:17:08 VEHICLE THAT IS MAKING A CRUCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO OUR ENVIRONMENT 11:17:14 AND ENERGY SECURITY. THAT IS WHY I'M SO DISAPPOINTED 11:17:17 IN THE COMPANY'S RESPONSE TO REPORTS OF TOYOTA VEHICLES 11:17:22 RACING OUT OF CONTROL TOO OFTEN WITH FATAL CONSEQUENCES. 11:17:26 OVER THE LAST DECADE, CARS HAD BECOME MOVING COMPUTERS. 11:17:31 THEY HAVE DOZENS OF MICROPROCESSORS AND MILLION WAS 11:17:35 LINES OF CODE. THIS DEVELOPMENT BROUGHT MANY 11:17:39 IMPROVEMENTS IN VEHICLES PERFORMANCE AND VEHICLE SAFETY. 11:17:43 AIR BAGS ARE TRIGGERED BY ELECTRONIC CONTROLS. 11:17:48 WITH VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROLS KEEP CARS FROM SWERVING OUT OF 11:17:51 CONTROL AND FUEL EFFICIENCY INCREASED. 11:17:56 LIKE ANY ADVANCEMENT, RELIANCE ON ELECTRONICS CAN BRING NEW 11:18:05 RISKS AND THESE NEED TO BE EXAMINED. 11:18:08 THIS DID NOT HAPPEN. IF PREPARATION FOR THE HEARING, 11:18:10 THE COMMITTEE ANALYZED OVER 100,000 PAGES OF DOCUMENTS FROM 11:18:15 TOYOTA AND THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. 11:18:24 THEY RECEIVED THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS OF RUN AWAY TOYOTA 11:18:29 VEHICLES. WHAT IS MOST SIGNIFICANT IS WHAT 11:18:39 IS MISSING FROM THE DOCUMENTS. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT THE 11:18:46 GOVERNMENT AGENCY TOOK A SERIOUS LOOK AT THE POSSIBILITY THAT AN 11:18:50 ELECTRONIC DEFECT COULD BE CAUSING THE PROBLEM. 11:18:54 TOYOTA DID NOT INITIATE A STUDY INTO POSSIBLE DEFECTS UNTIL JUST 11:18:57 TWO MONTHS AGO. THEY DO NOT HAVE AN ELECTRICAL 11:19:06 OR SOFTWARE ENGINE ON STAFF. OUR REVIEW INDICATES THE RUN 11:19:13 AWAY VEHICLES THROUGH THE TELEVISION HOTLINE ALONE. 11:19:17 OVER 700 OF THESE RESULTED IN ACCIDENTS. 11:19:26 TOYOTA HAD THREE RESPONSES. BLAME THE FLOOR MAT OR A STICKY 11:19:32 GAS PEDAL. WITHOUT DOING INDEPENDENT REVIEW 11:19:35 ACCEPTED TOYOTA'S EXPLANATIONS. TODAY WE WILL HEAR FROM TOYOTA'S 11:19:45 PRESIDENT JIM LENTS WHO HAS TESTIFIED AND HAS COOPERATED 11:19:49 WITH OUR INVESTIGATION WHICH I APPRECIATE. 11:19:52 HE SAID THAT TOYOTA WAS "VERY CONFIDENT THAT THE FIX IN PLACE 11:19:58 IS GOING TO STOP WHAT'S GOING ON." 11:20:02 AS WE WILL LEARN TODAY, THAT SEEMS UNLIKELY. 11:20:05 ON OUR FIRST PANEL, WE WILL HEAR FROM RHONDA AND EDDIE SMITH WHO 11:20:11 DESCRIBE RHONDA'S HARROWING ACCOUNT OF DRIVING A RUN AWAY 11:20:16 TOYOTA VEHICLE. THEIR ACCOUNT DOES NOT SOUND 11:20:18 LIKE A DRIVER ERROR, A FLOOR MAT PROBLEM, OR A STICKY PEDAL. 11:20:23 IT SOUNDS LIKE AN ELECTRONIC DEFECT. 11:20:27 ON THE SAME TITLE, WE WILL HEAR FROM TWO AUTOMOTIVE EXPERTS. 11:20:34 SHAWN CAIN AND DAVID GILBERT. THEY HAVE BEEN TRYING TO 11:20:37 IDENTIFY THE DEFECTS IN TOYOTA VEHICLES. 11:20:40 I'M NOT AN ELECTRONICS EXPERT, BUT IF WHAT THEY SAY IS TRUE, 11:20:45 TOYOTA VEHICLES HAVE A SERIOUS FLAW IN THEIR EXELECTRONIC 11:20:50 CONTROL SYSTEMS THAT LEAVES A VULNERABLE AND SUDDEN 11:20:56 ACCELERATION. QUESTION WE HAD TODAY IS WHY 11:20:59 DIDN'T TOYOTA AND THE GOVERNMENT AGENCY DO THE INVESTIGATION THAT 11:21:05 MR. CANE AND DR. GILBERT HAVE DONE. 11:21:06 TOYOTA FAILED THE CUSTOMERS AND THE GOVERNMENT NEGLECTED 11:21:11 RESPONSIBILITIES. TODAY WE WILL TRY TO FIND OUT 11:21:14 WHY. GIVEN ALL THAT TOYOTA ACHIEVED 11:21:16 OVER THE PAST 50 YEARS, IT WOULD BE WRONG FOR TOYOTA TO BE 11:21:21 PERMANENTLY IMPAIRED AS A RESULT OF THE SAFETY FAILURES THAT HAVE 11:21:25 OCCURRED. TOYOTA IS A GREAT COMPANY AND I 11:21:27 HOPE IT WILL HAVE A GREAT FUTURE. 11:21:33 FUNDAMENTAL REFORMS IS NEEDED IN LEADERSHIP. 11:21:36 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS NEED TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY AND THE 11:21:38 POSSIBILITY OF ELECTRONIC DEFECTS MUST BE ACTIVELY 11:21:44 INVESTIGATED AND SAFETY MUST START COMING FIRST. 11:21:49 FUNDAMENTAL REFORMS ARE NEEDED. THE AGENCY LACKING EXPERTISE AND 11:21:54 RESOURCES THAT CRITICALLY ASSESS TOYOTA'S INSISTENCE THAT THE 11:21:58 VEHICLES COULD NOT FAIL. ULTIMATELY I BELIEVE ADDRESSING 11:22:02 THIS PROBLEM WILL REQUIRE LEGISLATION. 11:22:05 CAR MAKERS HAVE ENTERED THE ELECTRONICS ERA, BUT THEY SEEM 11:22:10 STUCK IN A MECHANICAL MIND SET. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE 11:22:15 SAFETY AGENCY HAS THE COOLS AND RESOURCES IT NEEDS TO ENSURE THE 11:22:21 SAFETY OF THE ELECTRONIC CONTROLS AND ON BOARD COMPUTERS 11:22:24 THAT RUN TODAY'S AUTOMOBILES. AGAIN, I THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN 11:22:29 FOR HOLDING THIS HEARING. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM 11:22:32 OUR WITNESSES SO THAT AS A RESULT OF THIS HEARING WE CAN 11:22:36 MAKE A CONSTRUCTIVELY STEP FORWARD TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM 11:22:39 AND MAKE SURE THAT FUTURE PROBLEMS THAT MAY AFFECT 11:22:45 PEOPLE'S LIVES ARE DEALT WITH SO THAT THEY WILL NOT OCCUR. 11:22:50 YIELD BACK MY TIME. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. 11:22:56 FIVE MINUTES, PLEASE. >> I THANK YOU FOR CONVENING 11:23:00 THIS MEETING AND THANK YOU TO THE SMITHS FROM TENNESSEE FOR 11:23:03 SHARING YOUR COMPELLING STORY WITH US TODAY. 11:23:06 SO FAR THIS COMMITTEE RECEIVED THENS OF DOCUMENTS FROM BOTH 11:23:10 TOYOTA MOTOR COMPANY AND THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION 11:23:14 SAFETY ADMINISTRATION SHOWING THE COMPLAINTS THEY RECEIVED 11:23:17 OVER THE YEARS IN THEIR INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE 11:23:21 COMPLAINTS, THIS COMMITTEE IS ONGOING, IT IS CLEAR THAT TOYOTA 11:23:26 AND THE NATIONAL TRAFFIC HIGHWAY SAFETY ADMINISTRATION RECEIVED 11:23:32 COMPLAINTS ABOUT SUDDEN ACCELERATION IN TOYOTA VEHICLES. 11:23:36 YOU CAN'T NOT READ ABOUT A NEW ANNOUNCEMENT WITH A TOYOTA. 11:23:42 LEXUS, PRIUS, CAMRY AND COROLLA. THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH FLOOR 11:23:48 MATS AND THE PEDALS WERE STICKING AND STAYED DEPRESSED 11:23:52 AFTER THEY TOOK THEIR FOOT OFF THE GAS. 11:23:54 MANY OF US ARE SURPRISED AT THE SWIFTNESS, THE BREATH AND THE 11:23:57 DEPTH OF THIS RECALL BY A COMPANY THAT REALLY WE ARE ALL 11:24:02 FAMILIAR WITH FOR A GOOD REPUTATION THAT MAKES QUALITY, 11:24:08 SAFE PRODUCTS AND MANY OWNERS ARE LOYAL TO THE BRAND. 11:24:11 TOYOTA WAS NUMBER ONE IN AUTO SALES IN THE UNITED STATES. 11:24:15 TOYOTA IS NUMBER ONE WORLDWIDE. THE ISSUE AT THE HEART OF THIS 11:24:20 HEARING IS NOT ABOUT LOYALTY. IT'S THE BATTLE BETWEEN 11:24:23 ECONOMICS AND SAFETY AND SAFETY MUST ALWAYS COME FIRST. 11:24:28 THE ECONOMICS SAID TOYOTA MADE MORE MONEY IN A RECESSION THAN 11:24:32 ANY OTHER AUTO MAKER. TOYOTA'S INFRASTRUCTURE IS BUILT 11:24:37 ON 1500 AUTO DEALERS IN THIS COUNTRY AND NUMEROUS 11:24:42 MANUFACTURING PLANTS THAT PROVIDE 200,000 NEEDED JOBS IN 11:24:45 THE RECESSION. I HAVE A LETTER FROM MY GOVERNOR 11:24:48 ABOUT THE TOYOTA PLANT IN TEXAS AND I WILL SUBMIT THAT FOR THE 11:24:53 RECORD. I AM UNCOMFORTABLY AWARE THAT 11:24:56 THIS GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE TROUBLED RELIEF PROGRAM HAS 11:24:59 GIVEN $64 BILLION TO PROP UP GENERAL MOTORS AND CHRYSLER. 11:25:05 THIS IS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND ONLY GROWN SINCE LAST MONTH 11:25:08 WHEN THE GENERAL ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE SAID THE AMERICAN 11:25:11 TAXPAYER WOULD LOSE OVER $30 BILLION IN THEIR INVESTMENT INTO 11:25:15 THE TWO COMPANIES. WE ARE REALLY NOT JUST A 11:25:19 DISINTERESTED PANEL OF INDIVIDUAL CAR OWNERS AND 11:25:23 STOCKHOLDERS, BUT WHY WE NEED TO GET OUT OF THE BUSINESS OF 11:25:30 BAILING OUT BUSINESS. NOTHING SHOULD SURPASS THE 11:25:31 SAFETY OF THE AMERICAN CONSUMER. A DOCUMENT CREATED BY THE SAFETY 11:25:36 ADMINISTRATION STAFFER IN THE COURSE OF THE 2004 INVESTIGATION 11:25:39 INTO SUDDEN ACCELERATION SHOWS A SPIKE OF THESE PROBLEMS STARTING 11:25:42 AT 2002, THE YEAR THAT TOYOTA PUT IN ELECTRONIC CONTROLS IN 11:25:48 ITS CARS. WE LEARNED THAT STATE FARM NOTED 11:25:51 AN INCREASE IN CLAIMS RELATED TO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AS EARLY 11:25:54 AS 2004 AND SHARED CLAIMS DATA WITH THE AGENCY IN 2006. 11:26:00 HERE WE ARE FOUR YEARS LATER AND THERE IS NOT A CONCLUSIVE ANSWER 11:26:04 AS TO WHAT CAUSED THE ACCELERATION. 11:26:07 IS IT TOYOTA'S FAULT OR THE FAULT OF THE PARTS DEALER? 11:26:10 THE OPERATOR? THESE QUESTIONS ARE COLD COMFORT 11:26:13 FOR THE FAMILIES WHO LOST LOVED ONES IN BEINGS FOLLOWING AN 11:26:18 ACCELERATION EVENT AND THEY DESERVE ANSWERS. 11:26:20 AS WE WORK TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT 11:26:23 WE GET THE FULL STORY AND THE CORRECT ANSWER SO WE CAN FIX THE 11:26:28 PROBLEMS GOING FORWARD. WE KNOW THAT THERE WERE SIGNALS 11:26:36 RECEIVED IN THE FORM OF DRIVER COMPLAINTS AND WARRANTY KPLAMS. 11:26:40 THEY ATTEMPTED TO LOOK INTO THE ISSUE AND THEY WILL EXPLAIN THEY 11:26:44 DID NOT FIND AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE THROTTLE 11:26:49 CONTROL. WE NOTE TOYOTA DID FIELD 11:26:52 INVESTIGATION AND CONCLUDED THAT THE PROBLEMS WERE FLOOR MATS AND 11:26:56 STICKY PEDALS THAT CAN BE TERMED MECHANICAL IN NATURE. 11:27:00 WE DON'T HAVE A GOOD HANDLE ON WHAT TESTS THEY DID ON THEIR 11:27:04 CARS IN PREPRODUCTION. WE DON'T KNOW HOW TOYOTA REACHED 11:27:07 A CONCLUSION THAT THEY WERE NOT HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND 11:27:10 TOYOTA RECENTLY HIRED AN OUTSIDE FIRM TO RUN DOWN THE PROBLEMS, 11:27:14 BUT DID TOYOTA DO ANYTHING AS THE COMPLAINTS WERE COMING IN? 11:27:18 IF NOT, WHY NOT? I HOPE WE GET A BETTER IDEAS AND 11:27:22 A FULLER PICTURE OF WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CARS. 11:27:26 TOYOTA HAS A REPUTATION FOR SAFETY AND RELIABILITY IS WITH 11:27:29 STOCK AND TRADE. I WOULD SAY THIS IS WHY PEOPLE 11:27:33 BUY YOUR CARS AND DRIVE THEIR FAMILIES. 11:27:35 THIS IS WHY I OWN A PRIUS. I HOPE YOU CAN EXPLAIN THAT THE 11:27:39 FLOOR MATS HAVE CAUSED THE EVENTS AND WHAT YOU ARE DOING TO 11:27:42 FIGURE OUT THE CAUSES OF THE OTHER UNINTEND ACCELERATION 11:27:47 EVENTS. I ALSO WELCOME SECRETARY LE HOOD 11:27:50 WHO WORKED IN A BIPARTISAN MANNER AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK 11:27:54 HIM COMING TO MY DISTRICT FOR A TRANSPORTATION EVENT. 11:27:57 THE COURTESY IS APPRECIATED SO I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING HIM 11:28:02 EXPLAIN WHY IT SEEMS THEY HAVE BEEN ENGAGING IN A SUDDEN 11:28:06 ACCELERATION OF TOYOTA-RELATED INQUIRIES. 11:28:10 WHAT WERE THEY DOING FOR THE LAST YEARS AS THE DRIVERS CALLED 11:28:13 TO EXPLAIN ABOUT RUN AWAY CARS. WITH THE TOYOTA EXPLAIN THES 11:28:18 THAT THEY WERE SEEN DIFFERENT NATE NUR NUMBER THAN COMPLAINTS 11:28:22 AND I HOPE WE GET INSIGHT INTO HOW THEY INVESTIGATED THE 11:28:25 COMPLAINTS. THANK YOU FOR CONVENING THE 11:28:29 HEARING AND I KNOW THIS WILL BE THE START OF A LONG AND 11:28:34 MULTILAYERED PROCESS AND WHAT INITIATED THE RECALLS AND WHAT 11:28:37 WE DO TO FIX THE PROBLEM FOR THE AMERICAN CONSUMER. 11:28:39 >> THANK YOU. FOR AN OPENING STATEMENT PLEASE? 11:28:46 >> I COMMEND YOU FOR THIS HEARING AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR 11:28:51 EFFORTS. I WILL BE ASKING YES OR NO 11:28:53 QUESTIONS TODAY. I HOPE NO ONE WILL PERCEIVE IT 11:28:57 AS DISCOURTEOUS. I KNOW YOU CONDUCT A FAIR 11:29:00 HEARING AND ASK YOU TO INSERT MY FULL STATEMENT IN THE RECORD 11:29:04 BECAUSE I WOULD RATHER USE THE TIME FOR QUESTIONING. 11:29:07 THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR. DINGLE. 11:29:28 . >> OPENING STATEMENT, PLEASE. 11:29:31 >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. FIRST I WANT TO WELCOME EDDIE 11:29:34 AND RHONDA SMITH WHO ARE FROM TENNESSEE AND I WANT TO THANK 11:29:38 THEM FOR TAKING THE TIME TO COME UP TODAY. 11:29:40 WE ARE APPRECIATIVE OF THAT. THIS HEARING IS OF UTMOST 11:29:46 IMPORTANCE, BUT I AM STARTING TO BECOME A LITTLE BIT CONCERNED 11:29:49 ABOUT THE THEEN IS SURROUNDING IT. 11:29:52 THIS SHOULD NOT BE A TRIAL. RATHER A HEARING TO GET TO THE 11:29:56 BOTTOM OF VERY IMPORTANT CONSUMER SAFETY ISSUES AND I 11:30:00 HOPE THAT THAT IS HOW WE WILL PROCEED. 11:30:02 EVERY DAY WE ARE HEARING A COMBINATION OF NEW INFORMATION 11:30:07 AND UNFORTUNATELY SOME NEW MISINFORMATION THAT CLOUDS THE 11:30:13 DEBATE AND MY HOPE IS THAT THAT MISINFORMATION IS NOT BEING 11:30:18 CIRCULATED FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES OR TO BE HURTFUL. 11:30:21 THIS IS A VERY, VERY SERIOUS ISSUE INVOLVING THE LOSS OF 11:30:26 LIVES AND IN ADDITION IT RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF JOBS AND 11:30:29 THE LOSS OF THOUSANDS OF PAYCHECKS ARE BEING SACRIFICED 11:30:33 ALSO. AGAIN, MR. CHAIRMAN, LET ME SAY 11:30:36 THIS IS TOO IMPORTANT OF AN ISSUE FOR US TO PLAY AROUND WITH 11:30:41 OR PLAY POLITICS WITH. IT'S NOT A NEW ISSUE WHILE MANY 11:30:45 MEMBERS OF THE AND THIS COMMITTEE ARE INSERTING 11:30:49 THEMSELVES AT THE 11th HOUR. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE 11:30:52 BEEN WORKING ON FOR YEARS. I HAVE THREE LETTERS THAT I SENT 11:30:59 IN 20007 ON THIS ISSUE. I SENT 1 TO CHAIRMAN SINGLE AND 11:31:04 ANOTHER TO TOYOTA AND ANOTHER TO NIPSA ENCOURAGING THIS COMMITTEE 11:31:11 AND THE ADMINISTRATION TO LOOK AT THE ISSUE OF UNEXPECTED 11:31:16 ACCELERATION IN THE TOYOTA TACOMA. 11:31:19 IN CONCLUSION, I WOULD ASK THAT WE ALL LISTEN TO OUR EXPERT 11:31:23 PANELISTS TODAY IN AN EFFORT TO FIND OUT THE TRUTH AND DRAW 11:31:28 REASONABLE CONCLUSIONS AS TO HOW TO BEST MOVE FORWARD TO ASSESS 11:31:33 THE LESSONS LEARNED AND BE CERTAIN THE MISTAKES ARE NOT 11:31:39 REPEATED IN THE FUTURE. TO DO ANYTHING ELSE WOULD BE 11:31:42 IRRESPONSIBLE AT A TIME WHEN THERE IS SO MUCH ON THE LINE. 11:31:45 THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN AND I ASK CONSENT TO SUBMIT MY LETTERS 11:31:51 FOR THE RECORD. >> WITHOUT OBJECTION. 11:31:53 YOUR LETTERS WILL BE SUBMITTED FOR THE RECORD. 11:31:57 I WILL ASK CHAIRMAN RUSH, CHAIRMAN OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE WHO 11:32:02 HAS JURISDICTION TO GIVE AN OPENING STATEMENT AT THIS TIME. 11:32:06 >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU 11:32:10 RECOGNIZING ME ALTHOUGH I AM NOT A MEMBER OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE. 11:32:16 I DO HAVE AN OPENING STATEMENT. CURRENTLY THERE MORE THAN 205 11:32:20 MILLION LICENSED MOTORISTS IN THE UNITED STATES. 11:32:23 AS OUR FAMILIES BECOME INCREASINGLY MOBILE, SOCIETY HAS 11:32:31 LIGHT BECOME MORE INDEPENDENT ON THE SO-CALLED SMARTNESS 11:32:38 FEATURES. # 11:32:45 UNDERSTAND THIS REALITY. AUTOMOBILE DEALERS AND MAKER, 11:32:50 ESPECIALLY OF THE HIGH QUALITY THAT IS HISTORICALLY REPRESENTED 11:32:57 BASICALLY BRAGGED IN SLICK ADVERTISING THAT THEIR VEHICLE 11:33:00 IS THE BIGGEST AND BADDEST AND BONUS AND THE SAFEST CAR ON THE 11:33:09 ROAD. # 11:33:14 WHAT HAPPENED TO TOYOTA? I AM DISCONFIDENT AND DISTURBED 11:33:19 ABOUT THE FINDINGS OF OUR COMMITTEE STAFF. 11:33:21 MY CONCERNS, MR. CHAIRMAN GO FAR BEYOND TOYOTA'S SAFETY PRACTICES 11:33:28 AND RECALL DECISIONS. THEY EXTEND TO THE NEXT HIGHWAY 11:33:33 TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S APPARENT SLUGGISHNESS AND 11:33:40 REINVENTED ITSELF. # 11:33:43 IT APPEARS THEY FAILED TO ASSIGN A MIXTURE OF RESOURCES TO KEEP 11:33:49 UP WITH CHANGING AND AUTO DESIGN TECHNOLOGY, ESPECIALLY WITH 11:33:54 RESPECT TO INCREASED COMPUTERIZATION. 11:33:58 I AM ADAMANT ABOUT GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF THE COLUMNISTS FOR 11:34:03 SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN TOYOTA'S FLEET OF PASSENGER 11:34:06 VEHICLES. AS CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMERCE 11:34:10 TRADE AND CONSUMER PROTECTION SUBCOMMITTEE, I WILL BE 11:34:15 CONDUCTING A SEPARATE HEARING IN MARCH TO LOOK INTO FURTHER 11:34:21 RESOURCES, STAFFING AND MANAGEMENT PHILOSOPHIES AS PART 11:34:24 OF THAT AGENCY'S REAUTHORIZATION. 11:34:36 MY CONDOLENCES TO THOSE WHO HAVE SUSTAINED INJURIES IN ACCIDENTS 11:34:43 INVOLVING THE AUTOMOBILES. I ALSO EXTEND THE SAME TO ANY 11:34:49 DRIVER ON THE HIGHWAYS AND STREETS AND BY WAYS OF THE 11:34:52 NATION WHERE THE MISFORTUNE OF ONE OF THESE FAULTY VEHICLES. 11:34:59 WITH THESE MOTORISTS THEY HAD NO IDEA THAT THE TRUSTED VEHICLES 11:35:09 HAD THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME LITERALLY KILLING MACHINES. 11:35:17 THIS IS BEYOND EXPECTATIONS AND TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. 11:35:23 I ALONE WITH MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WILL BE PAYING 11:35:27 ATTENTION TO THE ASSETS GIVEN HERE AS WELL AS TO THEIR 11:35:31 TESTIMONY BEFORE OTHER CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES TODAY 11:35:35 AND IN THE FUTURE. QUITE FRANKLY IF THE ALLEGED 11:35:40 BEHAVIOR THAT I HAVE READ IN THE MEDIA TURNS OUT TO BE TRUE, THEN 11:35:45 TOYOTA IS PERHAPS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD TO AN INQUIRY BY THE 11:35:52 JUSTICE DEPARTMENT. MR. CHAIRMAN, I PROMISE ALL 11:35:55 MOTORISTS, PASSENGERS AND PEDESTRIANS THAT MY SUBCOMMITTEE 11:35:58 WILL DO EVERYTHING IN ITS POWER TO RESTORE CONFIDENCE AND I WILL 11:36:02 ALSO WORK TO ENSURE THAT TOYOTA AND LESSONS HAVE AN IMMEDIATE 11:36:09 RESOURCE TO WHATEVER EQUIPMENT THEY NEED TO RENDER THESE SAFETY 11:36:14 DEFECTS. MY HOPE IS THAT CONSUMERS WILL 11:36:17 ONCE AGAIN HAVE PEACE OF MIND WHEN THEY TURN ON THEIR VEHICLES 11:36:21 AGAINST WHEN THEY APPLY THEIR BRAKES. 11:36:24 I APPRECIATE THIS HEARING AND TALL WE CAN DO TO PROVIDE THE 11:36:28 TESTIMONY AT THE HEARING. >> THANK YOU, MR. RUSH. 11:36:33 >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO 11:36:37 OFFER OPENING REMARKS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE TESTIMONY OF 11:36:42 WITHINS AS WE SEEK TO UNDERSTAND THE FULL SCOPE AND IMPACT OF 11:36:46 SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. I BELIEVE THAT THIS SUBCOMMITTEE 11:36:51 HAS A RESPONSIBILITY AND A DUTY TO INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER 11:36:55 INCLUDING THE RESPONSES BY TOYOTA AND BY THE NATIONAL 11:37:00 HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY A 11:37:03 ADMINISTRATION, I WOULD LIKE TO ECHO CONCERNS OF OTHERS THAT 11:37:05 MORE COULD HAVE BEEN DONE IN PREPARATION FOR THE HEARING. 11:37:08 EVEN IF IT REQUIRED A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO GET A FULL RANGE OF 11:37:13 WITNESSES, REVIEW OVER 70,000 PAGES OF DOCUMENTS AND LOOK INTO 11:37:17 THE UNDERLYING COMPLEX MECHANICAL AND ELECTRONIC 11:37:22 ISSUES, CERTAINLY WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO INVESTIGATE 11:37:25 POTENTIAL THREATS AND WE ALSO HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO GET THE 11:37:30 WHOLE TRUTH TO APPLY WISDOM IN OUR DELIBERATIONS. 11:37:35 ADDITIONALLY I KNOW SOME EXPRESSED CONCERN WITH THE 11:37:37 POSSIBILITY THAT SINCE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NOW HAS A 11:37:41 VESTED INTEREST IN AUTO MANUFACTURERS, IT MAY HAVE SOME 11:37:47 INCENTIVE TO HIGHLIGHT POTENTIAL FLAWS WITH COMPETING 11:37:51 MANUFACTURERS. WHILE I HOPE AND I BELIEVE THIS 11:37:53 IS NOT THE CASE, JUST BECAUSE I'M PARANOID DOESN'T MEAN 11:37:56 SOMEBODY IS NOT OUT TO GET ME. WE HAVE TO BE COGNIZANT, 11:38:07 ESPECIALLY IN THIS POST BAILOUT WORLD WHERE THEY PLACED 11:38:09 THEMSELVES IN THE BUSINESS OF PICKING ECONOMIC WINNERS AND 11:38:12 LOSERS. NONE THE LESS, THE FIRST AND 11:38:17 FOREMOST OBLIGATION IS TO THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THE 11:38:19 AMERICAN PEOPLE. IF THERE IS A PROBLEM THAT CAN 11:38:21 JEOPARDIZE SAFETY AND LIVES, WE MUST IDENTIFY IT, UNDERSTAND IT, 11:38:26 AND ASSURE THAT IT'S ADDRESSED AND DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. 11:38:30 I WILL LOOK FORWARD TO LISTEN TO AND VERY CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE 11:38:34 TESTIMONY OF WITNESSESAs WE SEE TO GET TO THE ROOT OF THIS 11:38:39 ISSUE. I THANK YOU AND I YIELD BACK. 11:38:44 >> THANK YOU. FOR AN OPENING STATEMENT, THREE 11:38:47 MINUTES, PLEASE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 11:38:49 LIKE MILLIONS OF AMERICANS, I DRIVE A TOYOTA, A DAMRY HYBRID 11:38:56 THAT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. LIKE MILLIONS, ONE OF THE 11:39:02 REASONS I PURCHASED A TOYOTA IN THE FIRST PLACE WAS A STELLAR 11:39:06 REPUTATION FOR SAFE RELIABLE AND FUEL-EFFICIENT VEHICLES. 11:39:10 LIKE MILLIONS, I AM TROUBLED BY THE SERIES THAT LED US TO 11:39:15 TODAY'S HEARING AND AS THE RECALLS CONTINUE, I ALSO FIND 11:39:19 MYSELF WONDERING WHAT WENT SO WRONG. 11:39:25 THE RECALL OF MORE THAN FOUR MILLION VEHICLES DUE TO FLOOR 11:39:28 MATS THAT WERE ENTRAPPING ACCELERATOR PEDALS, RAISING 11:39:32 QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT TOYOTA KNEW AND WHEN THEY KNEW IT. 11:39:35 WHILE THE GOVERNMENT SEEMED TO INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM IN 11:40:05 2007, I LEARNED OF A LEXUS RECALL IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. 11:40:20 ED THE FLOOR MAT MAY COME INTO CONTACT AND INTERFERE. 11:40:23 IF TOYOTA LEARNED THIS CAN HAPPEN 10 YEARS AGO IN THE UK 11:40:29 AND THEN AGAIN, WHY DIDN'T IT DO SOMETHING BEFORE ADDITIONAL 11:40:34 FATALITIES AND OTHER SERIOUS ACCIDENTS OCCURRED? 11:40:37 TOYOTA'S RESPONSE TO INCREASE SCRUTINY OF THE SAFETY RECORD 11:40:42 LEAVES MUCH TO BE DESIRED. IN RECEIPT DAYS WE LEARNED OF 11:40:45 INTERNAL DOCUMENTS THAT CITE TOYOTA'S SUCCESS AND LIMITING 11:40:50 THE OUTCOMEQUESTIONS. THEY ARE QUESTIONING ALL OF US 11:46:47 SHOULD BE ASKING ON BEHALF OF OUR CONSTITUENT WHO IS DRIVE 11:46:52 TOYOTAS AND LIKE ME HAD BEEN SATISFIED TOYOTA CUSTOMERS FOR 11:46:55 MANY, MANY YEARS. IN THE END, FOR ME THE ANSWERS 11:47:02 TO THESE QUESTIONS ARE NOT ACADEMIC AND HERE'S WHY. 11:47:05 IN LESS THAN TWO MONTHS, MY 16-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER WILL BE 11:47:10 GETTING HER LICENSE. THE CAR THAT SHE IS GOING TO BE 11:47:13 DRIVE SUGGEST THE 1994 CAMRY WAGON. 11:47:16 LET'S GET THIS RIGHT. LET'S MAKE SURE THESE CARS ARE 11:47:22 SAFE FOR ALL TEENAGERS AND ADULTS TO DRIVE. 11:47:25 I YIELD BACK. >> THANK YOU. 11:47:33 >> THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN. BECAUSE I WAS TRYING TO BE A 11:47:44 RESPONSIBLE GLOBAL CITIZEN, WHEN IT WAS TIME TO REPLACE MY 11:47:46 12-YEAR-OLD CAR, I DECIDED ON A HYBRID AND A PRIUS, BUT ENDED UP 11:47:51 WITH A SO LARA CONVERTIBLE. BY REMINDING MYSELF THAT TOYOTA 11:47:55 MADE CARS IN THE COUNTRY AND OF COURSE WHAT WAS THEN IN THE 11:48:00 STELLAR HISTORY FOR SAFETY, QUALITY AND SERVICE. 11:48:02 TO TELL YOU HOW I FELT ABOUT THE CAR WHEN THE COMMERCIAL ASKED 11:48:07 WHEN YOU TURN ON YOUR CAR, DOES IT RETURN THE FAVOR. 11:48:11 I USED TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER YES. ALL I FIND OUT IS IT'S NO LONGER 11:48:16 BEING MADE WHICH IS NOT ENOUGH. WE NEED TO KNOW IF THERE HAS 11:48:21 BEEN A PROBLEM AND WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT IT SO WE KNOW WE 11:48:23 DON'T HAVE TO WORRY. THAT'S NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT 11:48:26 PART OF MY STORY. THE THAT GIVES ME SLEEPLESS 11:48:30 NIGHTS RIGHT NOW IS THAT MY TWO DAUGHTERS AND 3 1/2 11:48:35 GRANDCHILDREN DRIVE IN TOYOTA-MADE CARS EVERY DAY. 11:48:39 THE RAV 4 AND THE 2005330 LEXUS. I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU 11:48:48 ASSURANCES THAT THEY ARE AND WILL BE SAFE FOR MANY 11:48:55 MANUFACTURER-CAUSED FAILURES. IF THEY HAVE THE PROBLEM, THEY 11:48:57 DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE ORDEAL THAT MR. AND MRS. SMITH 11:49:03 HAVE TO GO THROUGH. IT'S TOO LATE FOR THE FAMILY IN 11:49:07 SAN DIEGO AND ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD DO WE HAVE AN INTACT 11:49:11 SMITH FAMILY HERE WITH US TODAY. TAKE MORE THAN YOUR PRESS 11:49:14 RELEASES AND LOBBYING AND MUST SAY THAT THOSE LOBBYISTS WITH 11:49:18 WHOM I WORKED, I HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR. 11:49:22 IT'S TIME FOR YOU NOT TO JUST REBUILD THE IMAGE, BUT OUR 11:49:28 TRUST. I HOPE YOU CAN DO THAT QUICKLY 11:49:30 NOT JUST FOR THE GOOD NAME, BUT THE LIVES YOU CARRY IN THE CARS 11:49:34 EVERY DAY AND THE MANY DIRECT AND INDIRECT JOBS YOU PROVIDED 11:49:37 THE UNITED STATES AND THE FAMILY THAT THOSE JOBS SUPPORT. 11:49:41 I WANT TO USE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY TO OTHER CAR MANUFACTURERS 11:49:44 BECAUSE THE SECRETARY WILL ATTEST THAT SIMILAR COMPLAINTS 11:49:49 COME IN AND I DEPEND ON ALL OF TO YOU PUT QUALITY AND SAFETY 11:49:53 OVER PROFITS AND DO THE RIGHT THING BY ALL CONSUMERS AND 11:49:57 RESPOND TO COMPLAINTS IMMEDIATELY AND INVESTIGATE THE 11:49:59 COMPLAINTS FULLY AND NOT TO WAIT TO BE ASKED OR MADE TO ISSUE A 11:50:03 RECALL, BUT TO DO SO EARLY WHEN LIVES ARE AT RISK AND THE NHTSA 11:50:11 HAVE REGULATORY AUTHORITY, WE NEED YOU TO EXERCISE THAT 11:50:14 AUTHORITY AS THOUGH THE LIVES OF YOUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN, 11:50:17 LIKE MINE AND COUNTLESS OTHER, DEPEND ON YOUR DECISIONS. 11:50:20 I WANT TO THANK MR. AND MRS. SMITH FOR THEIR PERSISTENCE AND 11:50:23 FOR BEING HERE TODAY TO TELL THEIR PERSONAL STORY, TO WELCOME 11:50:27 MR. KANE, MR. GILBERT AND MR. LENTZ, SECRETARY LaHOOD WHEN YOU 11:50:32 ARRIVE IT WILL ALWAYS BE GOOD TO SEE YOU AND HAVE YOU BACK. 11:50:34 THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN STUPAK AND RANKING MEMBER WALDEN FOR 11:50:37 ENSURING ONCE AGAIN WE FULFILL OUR OVERSIGHT RESPONSIBILITY. 11:50:41 ON YET ANOTHER VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE IN SUCH A TIMELY MANNER. 11:50:44 I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. 11:50:47 >> THANK YOU. MR. GREEN FOR AN OPENING 11:50:48 STATEMENT, PLEASE. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, FOR 11:50:54 HOLDING THIS HEARING TODAY ON THE RECALL OF TOYOTA VEHICLES. 11:50:58 AND I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE A PERSON IN THE AUDIENCE WHEN I 11:51:00 WAS MUCH YOUNGER AS A STATE LEGISLATOR IN TEXAS, JOAN 11:51:04 CLAYBROOK, WHO IS HERE AND FORMER ADMINISTRATOR I THINK IN 11:51:07 THE CARTER ADMINISTRATION OF THE HIGHWAY SAFETY ISSUE. 11:51:12 MR. CHAIRMAN, I THINK WITH OPENING STATEMENTS YOU'RE GOING 11:51:14 TO HEAR PERSONAL STORIES FROM OUR OWN MEMBERS, BUT ALSO I 11:51:18 THINK -- I EXPRESS OUR DISAPPOINTMENT IN THE FEDERAL 11:51:20 AND TOYOTA'S RESPONSE TO THE INITIAL ACCIDENTS. 11:51:23 AND ON A PERSONAL NOTE, LIKE MY COLLEAGUES, I HAVE TO ADMIT I'VE 11:51:27 ALWAYS DRIVEN CHEVROLETS, BUT THE SECOND GENERATION OF MY 11:51:30 FAMILY, MY TWO CHILDREN WHO ARE NOW ADULTS ACTUALLY DRIVE 11:51:33 TOYOTAS. MY SON LOVES HIS TOYOTA TUNDRA. 11:51:39 HE'S ON HIS SECOND TRUCK AND IS BUILT IN TEXAS. 11:51:45 THE TAHOE WAS ALSO BUILT IN TEXAS. 11:51:48 TOYOTA HAD SUCH AN IMAGE OF PERFECTION. 11:51:51 AND IF THERE IS A PROBLEM, FIXING IT, AND WE KNOW FROM AT 11:51:55 LEAST FROM THE PUBLICITY AND THE HEARING TESTIMONY THAT IS 11:51:59 REVIEWED THAT THAT FELL DOWN, AND THAT JUST WASN'T WHAT PEOPLE 11:52:03 EXPECTED. SINCE NATIONAL ATTENTION WAS 11:52:05 BROUGHT LATE LAST SUMMER, TOYOTA'S RECALLED MORE THAN 6.5 11:52:08 MILLION CARS FOR TWO DIFFERENT PROBLEMS. 11:52:11 THAT IS WE HEAR FROM OUR FIRST PANEL TODAY, MR. AND MRS. SMITH 11:52:15 THIS ISSUE IS PRESENT IN TOYOTA CARS FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND WE'RE 11:52:18 HERE TO EXAMINE WHETHER TOYOTA AND THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY 11:52:22 TRANSPORTATION SAFETY ADMINISTRATION RESPONDED IN A 11:52:24 NECESSARY AND TIMELY MANNER. W 11:52:30 I WANT TO THANK YOU, MR. AND MR. SMITH, FOR RECALLING YOUR 11:52:33 EXPERIENCE AND SHEDDING LIGHT ON THE PROBLEMS YOU FACED WHEN YOU 11:52:35 TRIED TO BRING THIS TO THE MATTER OF ATTENTION TO TOYOTA 11:52:39 AND OFFICIALS. THE TWO RECALLS WERE SO-CALLED 11:52:44 PEDAL INTRAPMENT AND STICKY PANEL. 11:52:47 IN 2007, TOYOTA FIRST ISSUED A RECALL FOR ALL LEATHER FLOOR 11:52:52 MATS THAT CAUSED THE PEDAL ENTRAPMENT. 11:52:55 WHILE THIS TOOK PLACE OVER SIX MONTHS, AFTER NHTSA OPENED ITS 11:52:59 INVESTIGATION INTO THE PEDAL ENTRAPMENT ISSUE, RESPONSE TO 11:53:02 THE RECALL WAS LOW. IT TOOK ANOTHER CRASH DUE TO 11:53:04 PEDAL ENTRAPMENT, NOT FATAL, FOR NHTSA TO URGE TOYOTA TO REISSUE 11:53:08 THE RECALL NOTICE IN JANUARY OF LAST YEAR, 2009. 11:53:13 UNFORTUNATELY THE RECALL WAS NOT WIDELY RESPONDED TO BY 11:53:17 CONSUMERS. THE LOANER CAR HAD A FLOOR MAT 11:53:23 FROM A DIFFERENT MODEL THAT TRAPPED THE ACCELERATOR. 11:53:26 AFTER THAT CRASH, NHTSA DETERMINED TOYOTA ADDRESSED AN 11:53:30 ISSUE MORE THOROUGHLY THAN JUST REPLACING FLOOR MATS WHICH 11:53:33 RESULTED IN A TOYOTA RECALL OF VEHICLES IN OCTOBER OF 2009 AND 11:53:38 EXPANDED IN NOVEMBER TO RESHAPE OR REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL 11:53:41 FOR 4.26 MILLION VEHICLES. WHAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT TODAY 11:53:45 AND I HOPE SOME OF OUR WITNESSES CAN ANSWER IS WHY NEITHER NHTSA 11:53:49 OR TOYOTA REALIZED IT WAS NOT ENOUGH CLEARANCE FOR THE 11:53:52 ACCELERATOR WHEN THE ISSUE FIRST CAME UP IN 2007. 11:53:55 AND WHY THIS ISSUE WAS NOT ADDRESSED MORE QUICKLY. 11:53:57 THE SECOND ISSUE OF THE STICKY PEDAL DID RECEIVE A QUICKER 11:54:00 RESPONSE, AND I COMMEND TOYOTA FOR BRINGING INFORMATION TO 11:54:03 NHTSA BEFORE AN INVESTIGATION WAS TO OPEN FOR QUICKLY ISSUING 11:54:06 A RECALL THERE ARE, HOWEVER, OUR ISSUES IN TOYOTA VEHICLES THAT 11:54:10 HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN NHTSA INVOLVING ACCELERATOR PROBLEMS. 11:54:13 IT IS IMPORTANT THAT NHTSA INVESTIGATE THE ISSUES 11:54:15 THOROUGHLY BEFORE DISMISSING THEM. 11:54:16 TO DO THAT, NHTSA MUST HAVE THE NECESSARY RESOURCES TO HIRE 11:54:20 STAFF TO INVESTIGATE ALL ISSUES WHETHER IT IS MECHANICAL OR 11:54:22 SOMETHING IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. 11:54:24 I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM TODAY'S WITNESSES ON WHAT WE CAN 11:54:28 DO TO SUPPORT NHTSA'S MISSION AND WHAT CHANGES ARE BEING MADE 11:54:32 FOLLOWING THIS SERIES OF RECALLS. 11:54:33 AND, AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK THE WITNESSES FOR BEING HERE. 11:54:36 AND, MR. CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU FOR HOLDING THIS VERY TIMELY 11:54:39 HEARING. >> THANK YOU, MR. GREEN. 11:54:41 MISS SUTTON OF OHIO FOR AN OPENING STATEMENT. 11:54:48 THREE MINUTES PLEASE. >> THANK YOU. 11:54:50 FOR ALMOST EVERY AMERICAN BUYING AN AUTOMOBILE IS ONE OF THE MOST 11:54:53 IMPORTANT PURCHASES, THE BIGGEST PURCHASES OF THEIR LIFE. 11:54:57 CONSUMERS SPEND COUNTLESS HOURS RESEARCHING VEHICLES AS THEY 11:54:59 PREPARE TO MAKE THIS LARGE AND IMPORTANT PURCHASE. 11:55:02 AND WHY DO THEY DO THAT? THEY DO THAT BECAUSE THEY KNOW 11:55:05 THEY NEED A VEHICLE THEY CAN COUNT ON. 11:55:07 THEY KNOW THAT THEY WILL NEED A CAR TO TRANSPORT THEM AS THEY GO 11:55:11 ABOUT THEIR DAILY LIVES, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY THEY WANT TO 11:55:15 KNOW THAT THEY HAVE PURCHASED A CAR THAT WILL TRANSPORT THE MOST 11:55:20 PRECIOUS CARGO THAT THEY HAVE, WHICH IS THEIR FAMILY, THEIR 11:55:25 CHILDREN. TRUST IS A FRAGILE THING. 11:55:28 IT IS HARD TO WIN AND IT IS EASY TO LOSE AND IT IS -- IT FINDS 11:55:33 ITS HOLD IN PROMISES KEPT AND HONESTY SUSTAINED, WHICH IS WHY 11:55:37 THE PROBLEMS THAT THE MILLIONS OF TOYOTAS HAVE BEEN 11:55:41 EXPERIENCING HAVE BEEN SO SHOCKING. 11:55:44 AS DOCUMENTS HAVE BECOME PUBLIC, WE HAVE LEARNED THAT THE TOYOTA 11:55:47 HAS BEEN AWARE OF THESE PROBLEMS FOR YEARS. 11:55:51 IT WAS REVEALED THIS WEEK THAT TOYOTA OFFICIALS TOOK CREDIT FOR 11:55:55 SAVING $100 MILLION BY SUCCESSFULLY NEGOTIATING A 11:55:58 LIMITED RECALL ON FLOOR MATS WITH NHTSA SEVERAL YEARS AGO. 11:56:03 CONSUMERS DESERVE BETTER. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE WHEN 11:56:07 COMPANIES AND IMPORTERS PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THEIR COSTS THAN TO 11:56:10 THE SAFETY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS. ACCORDING TO NHTSA'S DATA, 34 11:56:14 PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN THE PAST DECADE IN CRASHES THAT MAY HAVE 11:56:17 BEEN CAUSED BY SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATIONS IN TOYOTA 11:56:22 VEHICLES. TOYOTA AND NHTSA HAVE RECEIVED 11:56:25 THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS INVOLVING UNINTENDED 11:56:27 ACCELERATIONS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY. 11:56:30 YES, THIS HEARING IS EXTRAORDINARILY IMPORTANT. 11:56:34 IN MANY INSTANCES CONSUMERS WERE TOLD THAT THEY INSTALLED THE 11:56:36 FLOOR MATS INCORRECTLY. BUT THE INSTALLATION OF FLOOR 11:56:40 MATS CAN'T POSSIBLY EXPLAIN THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS. 11:56:46 RECENTLY TOYOTA IDENTIFIED A PROBLEM WITH STICKY PEDALS AND 11:56:49 ARE ALTERING OR REPLACING THESE D 11:56:54 DEVICES. BUT THE COMMITTEE'S 11:56:55 INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT TOYOTA'S OWN COUNCIL SAID A 11:56:59 STICKY PEDAL DOES NOT TRANSLATE INTO A SUDDEN HIGH SPEED 11:57:03 ACCELERATION EVENT, END QUOTE, WHICH LEAVES AMERICANS WONDERING 11:57:06 ABOUT THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEMS. 11:57:09 TOYOTA SAYS THAT THE PROBLEMS ARE NOT RELATED TO THE 11:57:12 ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM. 11:57:15 BUT SIX YEARS AGO NHTSA COMPILED DATA THAT SHOWED TOYOTA CAMRYS 11:57:19 WITH ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROLS HAD OVER 400% MORE 11:57:24 VEHICLE SPEED COMPLAINTS THAN THOSE WITH MANUAL CONTROLS. 11:57:27 THESE ARE VERY CONCERNING ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TO GET TO THE 11:57:31 BOTTOM OF. THERE IS LITTLE DOUBT THAT 11:57:36 TOYOTA'S DISAPPOINTING ACTIONS AND THE DISAPPOINTING THINGS 11:57:38 THAT HAVE COME TO LIGHT IN THE COURSE OF THIS INVESTIGATION 11:57:42 HAVE TO BE LOOKED AT AND THEY HAVE RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF 11:57:47 SALES FOR THIS COMPANY. AND I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT 11:57:53 THEY WILL ALSO RESULT IN THE LOSS OF JOBS FOR WORKERS WHO 11:57:58 HAVE DONE NOTHING THROUGH THE FAULT OF THEIR OWN TO FACE THAT 11:58:01 POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCE. BUT FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL 11:58:05 AMERICANS, THIS RECALL NEEDS TO BE DONE RIGHT. 11:58:07 AND THE PROBLEMS NEED TO BE FIXED AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE 11:58:11 NEED TO HAVE THE SOLACE OF KNOWING THAT TOYOTA AND NHTSA 11:58:19 ARE TRYING TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE AND THE PRECIOUS 11:58:22 CARGO THAT THEY CARRY. I YIELD BACK. 11:58:26 >> THANK YOU. NEXT WE'LL HEAR FROM MISS 11:58:29 SCHAKOWSKY OF ILLINOIS, MEMBER OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE, MISS 11:58:31 SCHAKOWSKY. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. 11:58:35 I WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR WITNESSES FOR COMING. 11:58:38 WANT TO JUST SPECIALLY NOTE DAVID GILBERT WHO TEACHES IN MY 11:58:42 STATE AS AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY AT 11:58:46 SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE TESTIMONY 11:58:49 OF ALL OF OUR WITNESSES, AND LIKE MY COLLEAGUES I AM 11:58:53 EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT BRING US HERE 11:58:56 TODAY. I AM CONCERNED THAT TOYOTA PUT 11:58:59 UNSAFE PRODUCTS ON THE MARKET. I AM

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A 14-YEAR-OLD WHO TOOK HIS DAD'S CAR JOYRIDING ENDS UP WITH TWO BROKEN LEGS... HE AND HIS DAD TALK ABOUT THE ORDEAL.

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House Energy and Commerce Committee holds a hearing with Eddie and Rhonda Smith, Toyota car victims, James Lentz, president and chief operating officer of Toyota USA, Ray LaHood, and Sean Kane, the president, Safety Research Strategies Inc. 16:00:00 THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT REASONS FOR SURGES. 16:00:01 IT COULD BE A HIGH IDLE UP THAT TAKES PLACE SOMETIMES WHEN AIR 16:00:05 CONDITIONING KICKS ON, AS AN EXAMPLE. 16:00:07 >> BUT REPROGRAMMING THE COMPUTER WOULD NOT BE A 16:00:10 MECHANICAL FIX, WOULD IT? >> NO. 16:00:12 >> AND THE OTHER REALITY OF THAT NOTICE IS THAT THESE 2002 TO 16:00:16 2006 CAMRYS WHICH WERE THE SUBJECT OF THAT TECHNICAL 16:00:20 SERVICE BULLETIN, YOU NOT ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM OF THE 16:00:24 BRAKE OVERRIDE RETROFIT WITH THOSE MODELS, ARE YOU? 16:00:27 >> CAMRY, I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AND SEE WHAT YEAR IT GOES BACK 16:00:31 TO. BUT WE ARE GOING BACK IN THE 16:00:32 CASE OF CAMRY. >> ALL RIGHT. 16:00:34 >> NOW ONE OF THE THINGS YOU ALSO MENTIONED IN YOUR STATEMENT 16:00:37 WAS THAT IN DECEMBER YOU ASKED EXPONENT, A WORLD CLASS 16:00:41 ENGINEERING AND SCIENTIFIC CONSULTING FIRM, TO CONDUCT A 16:00:44 COMPREHENSIVE INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS OF YOUR ELECTRONIC 16:00:48 THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM WITH AN UNLIMITED BUDGET. 16:00:50 SO LET'S TALK JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT. 16:00:54 YOUR COUNSEL WHO IS WITH YOU TODAY IS WITH A VERY WELL-KNOWN 16:00:57 FIRM THAT DEFENDS NOT JUST TOYOTA BUT OTHER AUTO 16:01:01 MANUFACTURERS IN PRODUCT LIABILITY AND CRASH WORTHINESS 16:01:05 CASES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. YOU AGREE WITH THAT, CORRECT? 16:01:08 >> YES. >> I AM IN NO WAY IMPUGNING THEM 16:01:11 FOR THEIR ROLE, BUT I FIND IT VERY ODD THAT WHEN YOU WERE 16:01:15 PRESENTED WITH THIS CHALLENGE OF GETTING TO THE ROOT OF THIS 16:01:17 PROBLEM YOU WENT TO YOUR DEFENSE FIRM TO GO MAKE THE CONTACT TO 16:01:21 ARRANGE FOR THIS INDEPENDENT TESTING. 16:01:24 >> AGAIN, OUR LEGAL STAFF PUT TOGETHER THE REQUEST. 16:01:27 I CAN TELL YOU THAT THAT REPORT IN ITS ENTIRETY IS GOING TO BE 16:01:30 MADE PUBLIC. >> AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO IT, 16:01:32 SIR. >> SO IF THERE ARE ISSUES IN IT, 16:01:34 IT'S GOING TO COME OUT. >> LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT 16:01:37 THE COMPANY THAT YOU RETAINED, EXPONENT, BECAUSE THEY ARE A 16:01:42 SUCCESSOR CORPORATION TO A COMPANY CALLED FAILURE ANALYSIS 16:01:45 ASSOCIATES, WHICH HAS DONE EXTENSIVE WORK FOR NOT JUST 16:01:48 TOYOTA BUT ALL THE BIG AUTO MANUFACTURERS AND THE MOTORCYCLE 16:01:55 MANUFACTURERS ON NOT ONLY FAILURE ANALYSIS. 16:02:01 >> I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE EXPERT WITNESS BUT THEY'VE WORKED FOR 16:02:04 OTHER AUTOMOTIVES IN VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL AND OTHER 16:02:08 THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED THAT ARE GREAT FOR THE INDUSTRY. 16:02:10 >> ONE OF THE THINGS I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT I HAVE A COPY OF A 16:02:14 DEPOSITION THAT THEIR CHIEF TECHNICAL OFFICER, ROGER 16:02:19 McCarthy, TRIED IN 1998. IN THAT DEPOSITION HE TESTIFIED 16:02:23 THAT FAILURE ANALYSIS ASSOCIATE, THEN KNOWN AS ACCENTURE, 16:02:27 RECEIVED BETWEEN $30 MILLION AND $40 MILLION A YEAR FOR THE WORK 16:02:30 THEY DID FOR THE AUTO INDUSTRY. WERE YOU AWARE OF THAT? 16:02:33 >> NO. >> ISN'T IT TRUE THAT TOYOTA HAS 16:02:36 PAID THEM OVER A MILLION DOLLARS IN THE PAST FOR THE WORK THAT 16:02:39 THEY'VE DONE? >> EXPONENT? 16:02:41 >> YES. >> I DO NOT KNOW. 16:02:42 >> WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO PROVIDE US WITH DOCUMENTATION OF 16:02:46 WHAT TOYOTA HAS PAID TO ACCENTURE? 16:02:49 NOT JUST IN RELATION WITH THIS STUDY THAT'S BEING DONE OR IN 16:02:53 RELATIONSHIP WITH MR. GILBERT'S FOLLOW-UP ANALYSIS, BUT OVER THE 16:02:57 PERIOD OF TIME THAT THESE RECALLS THAT ARE BEING 16:03:00 CONSIDERED OR HAVE BEEN ISSUED HAVE BEEN PERFORMED. 16:03:02 CAN YOU DO THAT? > 16:03:12 >>. >> I'M SORRY. 16:03:13 COULD YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION. >> I WOULD MAKE A FORMAL REQUEST 16:03:16 THAT WE GET AS MUCH INFORMATION AS WE CAN FROM TOYOTA 16:03:20 INTERNATIONAL, TOYOTA NORTH AMERICA, DOCUMENTING THE 16:03:24 FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THEIR COMPANY AND ACCENTURE OR 16:03:28 ITS PREDECESSOR, FAILURE ANALYSIS ASSOCIATE, NOT JUST IN 16:03:33 RELATIONSHIP WITH THE STUDY THAT WAS DONE AS HAS BEEN THE 16:03:35 SUBJECT -- >> THAT'S FINE. 16:03:36 WE'LL DO THAT. >> NOW ONE OF THE THINGS THAT 16:03:39 YOU TALKED ABOUT WAS THE FACT THAT YOU WERE PRESENT DURING 16:03:43 SOME TESTING THAT WAS DONE AT ACCENTURE. 16:03:46 >> EXPONENT. >> EXPONENT, YES. 16:03:50 >> IS THAT SOMETHING YOU WERE PART OF WHEN THERE WAS FILMING 16:03:53 THAT WAS DONE TO DOCUMENT THE TESTING? 16:03:56 >> NO. I JUST WANTED TO GO SEE HOW THEY 16:03:59 TEST. I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN A VEHICLE 16:04:02 THAT'S GONE INTO FAIL SAFE MODE. SO I WANTED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT 16:04:05 IT FEELS LIKE FROM THE CONSUMER'S STANDPOINT. 16:04:09 WHAT FAIL SAFE FEELS LIKE AS YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. 16:04:11 >> WERE YOU INVOLVED IN ANY WAY IN THE ANALYSIS IN TERMS OF 16:04:17 DEFINING THE SCOPE OF THAT PROJECT OR HOW THE RESULTS WOULD 16:04:20 BE SUBMITTED? >> NO. 16:04:22 THE ONLY PORTION I WAS INVOLVED IN WAS THAT WHEN THAT RESEARCH 16:04:27 BECOMES AVAILABLE IN ITS ENTIRETY IT WOULD BE MADE 16:04:30 PUBLIC. IT WOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO 16:04:32 CONGRESS AND NHTSA. >> AND DID TOYOTA MAKE A DIRECT 16:04:36 RELATIONSHIP FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF THOSE SERVICE WITH EXPONENT 16:04:39 OR WAS THAT SOMETHING HANDLED BY BOWMAN AND BROOK? 16:04:42 >> I DON'T KNOW. >> BECAUSE WHEN YOU INDICATE IN 16:04:46 YOUR STATEMENT THAT YOU REQUESTED THEM TO DO A 16:04:49 COMPREHENSIVE INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS WITH AN UNLIMITED 16:04:52 BUDGET, I'M JUST WONDERING WHETHER THERE ARE DOCUMENTS THAT 16:04:56 WOULD DEFINE THE SCOPE OF THAT REQUEST AND THE TERMS UNDER 16:05:00 WHICH EXPONENT WOULD BE COMPENSATED FOR WHAT THEY WERE 16:05:04 PERFORMING. ARE YOU AWARE OF THAT? 16:05:06 >> I'M NOT AWARE OF IT. >> THEN I WOULD ALSO REQUEST 16:05:09 THAT, MR. CHAIRMAN, AND I YIELD BACK. 16:05:11 >> THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES QUESTIONS BY 16:05:13 MEMBERS OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE. WE'LL NOW GO TO QUESTIONS FROM 16:05:16 MEMBERS OF THE FULL COMMITTEE. >> AS FAR AS I KNOW, ACCENTURE 16:05:23 HAS NOT BEEN HIRED BY YOU TO DO ANY ENGINEERING OR TESTING, HAVE 16:05:29 THEY? >> EXPONENT. 16:05:30 >> EXPONENT. ACCENT SURLIKE AN ACCOUNTING 16:05:34 FINANCIAL FIRM, RIGHT? >> YES. 16:05:35 >> YOU GOT -- YOU ARE ASKED QUESTIONS BY MY DEMOCRAT 16:05:39 COLLEAGUE ABOUT ACCENTURE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE FOR THE 16:05:42 RECORD IT'S BEEN CLEARED. WITH REGARD TO THE FIRM THAT YOU 16:05:45 HIRED, EXPONENT, AS FAR AS I'M AWARE, EVEN THE UNITED STATES 16:05:50 GOVERNMENT TURNED TO THIS FIRM TO HELP US COME TO THE SOLUTIONS 16:05:54 AS TO WHY WE LOST THE SHUTTLE "COLUMBIA." 16:05:57 IS THAT CORRECT? >> YES. 16:05:59 >> SO THIS IS NOT A FLY BY NIGHT FIRM. 16:06:02 THIS IS SOMEONE WHO IS ONE OF THE BEST IN THE UNITED STATES 16:06:05 THAT IS -- WHEN IT COMES TO PROBLEM SOLVING. 16:06:07 >> YES. >> WE WANT TO DEFINE THE BEST. 16:06:10 AND AGAIN THERE WILL BE ANOTHER REVIEW OF THE ECTS DONE BY THIS 16:06:15 INDEPENDENT STUDY GROUP. THEY MAY CHOOSE TO GO WITH THEM. 16:06:18 THEY MAY CHOOSE SOMEONE ELSE. >> WITH REGARD TO SOME TESTIMONY 16:06:21 THAT YOU -- I WROTE THIS DOWN BECAUSE IT WAS BOTHERSOME TO ME. 16:06:26 YOU SAID THAT WITH REGARD TO TESTING THAT WAS DONE LAST NIGHT 16:06:29 WITH REGARD TO THE METHODOLOGY USED BY DR. GILBERT ON THE FIRST 16:06:34 PANEL, YOU SAID, QUOTE, IT'S NOT A REAL WORLD SCENARIO. 16:06:39 SO CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE BIT FURTHER? 16:06:42 IN OTHER WORDS, HE DID TESTIFY THAT HE USED MANIPULATION. 16:06:46 HE TOLD ME HE DID NOT CUT THREE WIRES. 16:06:49 BUT WHEN YOU SAY THAT THERE WAS A METHODOLOGY THAT'S NOT A REAL 16:06:53 WORLD SCENARIO, HELP ME UNDERSTAND. 16:06:57 >> WELL, -- YEAH, I THINK HE SAID TAPPED IN, WHICH IS HOW HE 16:07:09 GETS INTO THE -- AGAIN, THIS HAPPENED JUST 12 16:07:12 HOURS AGO. SO I DON'T WANT TO ATTACK HIM 16:07:15 WITHOUT KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT HIS PROCESS WAS. 16:07:18 BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS HE TOOK THE PLUG OFF THE BACK OF THE 16:07:26 ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THERE ARE SIX WIRES ON THE BACK 16:07:27 OF THAT. TWO THAT GO TO THE SENSOR, TWO 16:07:30 THAT GO TO THE POWER AND TWO THAT GO TO THE GROUND. 16:07:34 HE TAPPED INTO THE TWO THAT GO TO THE SENSOR AND BASICALLY 16:07:39 THROUGH SOME DEVICE TIED THOSE TWO TOGETHER. 16:07:43 AND THEN TIED THE -- ONE OF THE POWER WIRES INTO ANOTHER ONE. 16:07:47 SO, AGAIN IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM AS IF THAT IS SOMETHING THAT MAY 16:07:53 NECESSARILY HAPPEN IN THE REAL WORLD. 16:07:59 EXPONENT HAS TESTED WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU LOSE GROUND. 16:08:01 WHAT HAPPENS IF THE SENSORS BREAK DOWN. 16:08:02 BUT IN A VERY DIFFERENT WAY. SO I JUST WOULD LIKE TO 16:08:08 UNDERSTAND HIS METHODOLOGY AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT THE 16:08:10 TESTING PARADIGM THAT'S CAUSING THIS. 16:08:14 >> SO WHEN ABC SHOWED THIS, IN ORDER TO HAVE THESE RESULTS, 16:08:19 YOUR TESTIMONY WOULD BE THAT DR. GILBERT HAD TO INDUCE FAULT BY 16:08:26 MANIPULATION TO CREATE AND GENERATE AN ARTIFICIAL VAULTAGE 16:08:29 FOR THE RESULT HE WAS SEEKING. >> YES. 16:08:32 AND GO AROUND THE SENSOR. >> SO THAT NORMALLY ISN'T GOING 16:08:34 TO HAPPEN AS I'M DRIVING ONE OF YOUR PRODUCTS DOWN THE ROAD. 16:08:38 WOULD THAT BE CORRECT? >> I BELIEVE SO. 16:08:39 I'M NOT AN ENGINEER. THAT'S WHAT I NEED TO STUDY 16:08:42 THROUGH EXPONENT BECAUSE THEY DID THE SAME STUDY. 16:08:46 >> ALL RIGHT. EARLIER I MADE THE COMMENT 16:08:48 ABOUT -- I THINK THE AMERICAN PUBLIC, WE HAVE SEEN WHAT 16:08:52 HAPPENS WHEN NBC "DATELINE" STAGED A CRASH BETWEEN TWO 16:08:56 TRUCKS TO CLAIM GENERAL MOTORS FUEL TANK DESIGN CAUSED FIRE 16:08:59 CRASH -- CRASH TEST ON TELEVISION. 16:09:01 AND WE WERE ALL PRETTY UPSET OVER IT. 16:09:03 SO NOW WHAT WE HAVE IS A REPEAT SCENARIO WITH REGARD TO ABC, 16:09:07 ALSO USING A MANIPULATION, NOT USING A REAL WORLD SCENARIO. 16:09:10 SO THAT TYPE OF -- THAT TYPE OF THING CAN BE LEFT TO THE 16:09:14 CREDIBILITY OF THE VIEWER AND THE AMERICAN PUBLIC. 16:09:16 NOW I'M GOING TO SHIFT. THE REASON I'M GOING TO SHIFT IS 16:09:22 LET'S GO BACK TO "COLUMBIA." WHEN THERE IS A CRASH IN 16:09:27 AMERICA, AND WE HAVE A CONCERN, WE GO TO THE PRODUCT. 16:09:32 SO EXPONENT LOOKS AT "COLUMBIA." TRIES TO GATHER AS MUCH 16:09:35 INFORMATION AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN. 16:09:39 DATAA AND WHAT'S LEFT. >> RIGHT. 16:09:40 >> WHEN THERE IS AN AIRLINE THAT CRASHES, NTSB WILL GO IN AND TRY 16:09:45 TO RE-CREATE AND REBUILD THAT AIRCRAFT. 16:09:49 WHEN I LOOK AT WHAT EXPONENT IS DOING, AND I LOOK AT THE REPORT 16:09:53 AND I LOOK AT THE THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES THEY ARE LOOKING AT, 16:09:57 WHAT BOTHERS ME IS WHY -- WHY WOULDN'T YOU, WHEN AN AUTOMOBILE 16:10:02 THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS THIS SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION, 16:10:08 WHY ISN'T THAT PRODUCT PULLED ASIDE AND RIPPED APART SO YOU 16:10:13 CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT IS EXACTLY GOING ON. 16:10:16 THOSE ARE THE THOUSAND ONES THAT IF I WERE IN YOUR SEAT, THAT I 16:10:18 WOULD BE GOING AFTER AND APPLYING THE GREATEST MINDS OF 16:10:24 THE WORLD TO UNDERSTAND. >> IN MANY CASES, ONE OF THE 16:10:28 FIELD TECHNICAL SPECIALISTS OR ONE OF THE QUALITY SPECIALISTS, 16:10:31 THEY DO GO OUT. AND IF THERE IS A COMPONENT 16:10:34 FAILURE, THEY WOULD TAKE THAT COMPONENT OFF AND SEND IT TO THE 16:10:37 QUALITY SIDE TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON. 16:10:39 BUT IN THE CASE OF THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE, IF THEY 16:10:45 DON'T GET A CODE READING OUT THAT SHOWS A FAILURE AND THEY 16:10:48 CAN'T RE-CREATE IT, IT'S VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO BE ABLE TO DO 16:10:51 THAT. NOW THEY MAY TAKE THE THROTTLE 16:10:54 BODY OFF IF IT'S CRACKED OR IF IT'S SOMEHOW DEFECTIVE. 16:10:58 THEY'LL TAKE A PEDAL OFF IF IT'S DEFECTIVE. 16:11:01 IF AN ECU IS DEFECTIVE, THEY'LL TAKE THAT OFF. 16:11:04 IN MANY CASES, THAT'S WHAT'S SO FRUSTRATING ABOUT UNINTENDED 16:11:08 ACCELERATION IS IT'S VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO DUPLICATE. 16:11:12 UNLESS THEY CAN DUPLICATE IT, THEY HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING 16:11:16 EXACTLY WHAT'S TAKEN PLACE. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. 16:11:19 >> MR. GONZALEZ FOR QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. 16:11:26 CHAIRMAN. MR. LENTZ IN MY LIMITED VIEW OF 16:11:29 THINGS YOU HOSTHE CONSUMER PROTECTED? 16:11:32 HOW IS THE BEST INTEREST E PROMOTED? 16:11:34 I'VE JUST CONCLUDED THAT, ONE, IT'S THE MANUFACTURER'S OWN 16:11:38 MORAL BEHAVIOR, FIRST FD FOREMOST. 16:11:40 THEN WE GO INTO THE GOVERNMENTAL REGULATORY OVERSIGHT. 16:11:44 AND THEN WE HAVE OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM. 16:11:48 I'M A GREAT BELIEVE IN THE CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM. 16:11:51 THE PROBLEM, THAT'S ALWAYS AFTER THE FACT, WAY AFTER THE FACT. 16:11:53 SO I'M LOOKING AT THE MANUFACTURER'S MORAL BEHAVIOR, 16:11:58 AND I'M LOOKING AT THE CAPABILITIES, PROFICIENCY AND 16:12:02 COMPETENCY OF THE REGULATORY SCHEME THAT CONGRESS HAS IN 16:12:05 PLACE. WHEN ANY OF THIS BREAKS DOWN, 16:12:08 CONGRESS WILL MOVE FORWARD. AND YOU HEARD MR. WAXMAN SAY, 16:12:11 LOOK. WE MAY NEED LEGISLATION. 16:12:12 AND THAT'S A PROCESS THAT WE'RE ENGAGING IN AT THIS TIME. 16:12:15 IT'S GOING TO GET HOT AND HEAVY AND YOU'RE GOING TO SEE ALL THE 16:12:18 DIFFERENT INTEREST. LAST WEEK I WAS ON THE RADIO. 16:12:20 WHEN I SIMPLY SAID LET US NOT RUSH TO JUDGMENT. 16:12:23 THAT GOES WHETHER IT'S TOYOTA, WHETHER IT'S GM, FORD. 16:12:26 I DON'T CARE WHO IT IS. AN INDIVIDUAL OR A CORPORATION. 16:12:29 THE INTERVIEWER THEN SAID, ARE YOU APOLOGIZING FOR TOYOTA? 16:12:33 SO WE'VE GOT THAT ISSUE. NOW WE HAVE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS 16:12:37 THAT MAY BE A LITTLE AGGRESSIVE IN FULFILLING THEIR DUTIES. 16:12:42 YOU HAVE LETTERS GOING OUT THAT ARE SAYING IT DOES SOMETIMES 16:12:45 APPEAR, HOWEVER, THAT THE NEGATIVE NEWS IS BEING 16:12:48 ENCOURAGED BY PLAINTIFFS TRIAL LAWYERS, UNION ACTIVISTS AND 16:12:51 THOSE INTERESTED IN CUTTING INTO TOYOTA'S MARKETSHARE. 16:12:55 THAT'S THE ENVIRONMENT. IT'S NOT HEALTHY. 16:12:56 IT'S NOT GOOD. AND ALL THESE REASONS, WHICH ARE 16:12:59 TOTALLY WRONG AND RIDICULOUS ARE BEING ATTRIBUTED TO THOSE 16:13:02 INDIVIDUALS SIMPLY TRYING TO DO THEIR JOBS AS MEMBERS OF 16:13:05 CONGRESS. SO I'M HOPING THIS PROCESS WILL 16:13:06 BE FAIR. BUT IN THE MEANTIME, THERE IS A 16:13:09 RUSH TO JUDGMENT. THIS IS THE DANGER. 16:13:11 NOT JUST TO TOYOTA BUT EVERYBODY THAT WILL BE SIMILARLY SITUATED 16:13:15 SOME TIME IN THEIR LIVES, WHETHER AS AN INDIVIDUAL, A 16:13:18 COMPANY OR A CORPORATION. MONTHS FROM NOW WE MAY DISCOVER 16:13:26 THAT IT WASN'T ELECTRONIC AND ALL OF THE ACTION TAKEN WAS 16:13:29 TIMELY AND DILIGENT. BUT IT REALLY WON'T MATTER. 16:13:34 WE HAVE AN OLD SAYING. AND I SAID THIS THE OTHER DAY. 16:13:38 EVERYONE WILL REMEMBER THE ACCUSATION. 16:13:41 NO ONE WILL REMEMBER THE EXONERATION. 16:13:45 AND FOR A BUSINESS IN THE UNITED STATES, PEOPLE ARE MAKING 16:13:50 DECISIONS TODAY ON WHAT CAR THEY'RE GOING TO BUY. 16:13:53 BY THE TIME WE FIGURE OUT WHAT THE TRUTH MAY BE, THAT DECISION 16:13:56 HAS BEEN MADE. AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU THAT I 16:13:58 BELIEVE WHAT'S GOING ON TODAY WILL AFFECT THAT DECISION. 16:14:01 THAT'S WHY WE ALL HAVE TO BE SO CAREFUL IN HOW WE DO THIS AND 16:14:04 THAT WE'RE FAIR TO ALL PARTIES, WHETHER IT'S GOING TO BE THE 16:14:08 CONSUMER, THE SMITHS OR EVEN TOYOTA. 16:14:10 BUT TO BE FAIR TO EVERYONE. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU CAN TELL 16:14:14 TOYOTA OWNERS TODAY REGARDING THE SAFETY OF THEIR VEHICLES. 16:14:20 >> WHAT I CAN TELL THEM, AND I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THE 16:14:24 DETAIL OF ALL OF MY FAMILY DRIVE PRODUCTS. 16:14:27 I WOULD NOT HAVE MY LOVED ONES DRIVING PRODUCTS, RECALLED OR 16:14:31 NOT IF I DIDN'T FEEL THEY WERE SAFE. 16:14:34 SO THAT'S NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO IS WE HAVE PROCESSES 16:14:39 IN PLACE, NEW PROCESSES IN PLACE, THAT ARE GOING TO ENSURE 16:14:43 A LOT MORE TRANSPARENCY AND RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE WE 16:14:47 MAKE FASTER DECISIONS THAT ARE THE RIGHT DECISIONS. 16:14:51 EVERYBODY HAS DEFECTS. EVYB GOING TO HAVE 16:14:55 RECALLS. BUT HOW QUICKLY WE REACT TO 16:14:58 PROTECT THAT CONSUMER, HOW MUCH THE CONSUMER SEES US STANDING 16:15:02 BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT, THAT'S WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT. 16:15:05 I CAN TELL YOU THE OTHER THING. WE HAVE A LOT OF DEALERS SITTING 16:15:09 BEHIND ME. THE WAY WE START TO BUILD TRUST 16:15:11 IN OUR BRAND IS THROUGH OUR DEALERS BECAUSE OUR DEALERS ARE 16:15:15 THE TRUE CONTACT WITH THE CUSTOMER. 16:15:17 AND THEY ARE DOING A TREMENDOUS JOB IN TAKING CARE OF THESE 16:15:22 SITUATIONS. I MEAN, ALMOST 800,000 CUSTOMERS 16:15:25 ALREADY TAKING CARE OF IN ABOUT 20 DAYS IS AN AMAZING NUMBER. 16:15:30 AND YOU'LL HEAR FROM THE DEALERS THAT THE CUSTOMERS ARE 16:15:34 UNDERSTANDING. SURE, THERE ARE ONE OR TWO 16:15:36 CUSTOMERS IN EACH DEALERSHIP THAT ARE PRETTY UPSET AT WHAT'S 16:15:39 GOING ON. BUT FOR THE MOST PART, OUR LOYAL 16:15:42 CUSTOMERS KNOW FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS THAT WE'VE STOOD BEHIND 16:15:45 OUR PRODUCT. WE'VE DONE THE RIGHT THING FOR 16:15:48 THEM. >> LET ME ASK YOU THIS BECAUSE I 16:15:50 THINK YOU TOUCHED ON IT. I HAVE 35 SECONDS, BUT QUICKLY. 16:15:54 YOU DRIVE TOYOTAS. YOUR FAMILY DRIVES TOYOTAS. 16:15:56 EVERYBODY YOU CARE ABOUT DRIVES TOYOTAS. 16:15:58 ARE YOU GOING TO QUIT DRIVING TOYOTAS? 16:16:01 >> NO SIRKS. >> AND YOU HEARD THE MEMBERS OF 16:16:03 CONGRESS ON THIS COMMITTEE DRIVE T 16:16:06 TOYOTAS. I'M NOT GOING TO ASK THEM 16:16:07 WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO QUIT DRIVING THEIR TOYOTAS. 16:16:10 MY SUSPICION IS THEY WILL NOT. SO I THINK MAYBE THAT'S THE 16:16:13 MESSAGE THAT COMES FROM THIS HEARING TODAY. 16:16:14 WE'RE GOING TO BE AGGRESSIVE, VIGILANT, DILIGENT. 16:16:17 WE'RE GOING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS. 16:16:19 THE QUESTION IS TO WHAT DEGREE CAN WE PROTECT THE AMERICAN 16:16:22 CONSUMER AND I BELIEVE THAT WE'RE GOING TO MEASURE UP TO 16:16:25 THAT DUTY AND RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE OWE THEM. 16:16:27 AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. 16:16:29 >> THANK YOU. AND I AGREE. 16:16:30 IT STARTS WITH US. >> THANK YOU, MR. GONZALEZ MR. 16:16:39 McNIERNEY. >> THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN. 16:16:42 I APPRECIATE YOU ALLOWING ME TO ADDRESS THE HEARING. 16:16:45 THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING TODAY AND TAKE SOMETHING TOUGH 16:16:48 QUESTIONS. ADDRESSING THE SAFETY ISSUES 16:16:50 WE'RE DISCUSSING TODAY IS VITALLY IMPORTANT, BUT I'D LIKE 16:16:53 TO FOCUS MY QUESTIONS ON A RELATED MATTER THAT I BELIEVE 16:16:57 REFLECTS ON TOYOTA'S DISREGARD FOR ITS LOYAL CUSTOMERS AND ITS 16:17:01 LOYAL EMPLOYEES. I'M REFERRING TO THE DECISION 16:17:04 RECENTLY TO SHUT DOWN OPERATIONS AT NUMI PLANT IN FREMONT, 16:17:09 CALIFORNIA, WHICH WILL COST US ABOUT 35,000 JOBS IN THE STATE 16:17:13 OF CALIFORNIA, AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA HAS DONE 16:17:16 NEARLY ENOUGH TO PREVENT THIS LOSS OF JOBS. 16:17:18 I HAVE AN OPENING STATEMENT THAT I'D LIKE TO INCLUDE IN THE 16:17:21 RECORD, MR. CHAIRMAN. >> WILL BE, WITHOUT OBJECTION. 16:17:25 >> MR. LENTZ, TOYOTA IS CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING MAJOR 16:17:31 PUBLIC RELATION PROBLEMS AND THE PUBLIC CONCERN ABOUT SAFETY 16:17:35 FAILURES IS GOING TO HURT YOUR BOTTOM LINE. 16:17:38 CALIFORNIA IS ONE OF YOUR BIGGEST MARKETS, AND IT'S 16:17:41 OBVIOUS THAT KEEPING NUMI OPEN WILL HELP REBUILD YOUR IMAGE. 16:17:45 WOULDN'T THAT BE BENEFICIAL TO TOYOTA? 16:17:47 >> OUR IMAGE IS BENEFICIAL, BUT SPECIFICALLY, NUMI? 16:17:53 I THINK WE HAVE TO BE CLEAR THAT TOYOTA IS NOT SHUTTING DOWN 16:17:58 NUMI. NUMI IS SHUTTING DOWN NUMI. 16:18:00 IT'S A SEPARATE CORPORATION THAT WAS 50% OWNED BY TOYOTA AND 16:18:06 OWNED BY GENERAL MOTORS. AND WHEN GENERAL MOTORS MOVED 16:18:13 INTO BANKRUPTCY AND THE NEW PARTNER BECAME MOTORS HOLDING -- 16:18:16 LIQUIDATION HOLDING, IT WAS GENERAL MOTORS ABANDONING NUMI 16:18:20 THAT SET THIS IN PLAY. THAT'S THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER. 16:18:24 WHEN THEY PULLED OUT AND THEY PULLED OUT 30% OF THEIR VOLUME, 16:18:29 THAT PLANT WAS DIFFICULT TO BECOME COMMERCIALLY VIABLE. 16:18:32 IT'S A LONG WAY FROM OUR SUPPLY LINES. 16:18:36 WE SUPPLY -- >> IT'S A LONG WAY FROM YOUR 16:18:39 CUSTOMER LINES. I UNDERSTAND THE PONTIAC VIBE 16:18:41 WAS ONLY ABOUT 20% OF PRODUCTION AT NUM NI 2008 WITH TOYOTA 16:18:46 VEHICLES MAKING UP THE REST OF THAT PRODUCTION. 16:18:49 SURELY TOYOTA COULD MODIFY ITS OPERATIONS TO ACCOUNT FOR A 20% 16:18:53 DROP IN PRODUCTION. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT YOU ARE 16:18:57 PUTTING NUMI OUT OF BUSINESS BECAUSE OF ANTIPATHY TOWARD WEST 16:19:00 COAST WORKERS. NOT OUT OF NECESSITY. 16:19:04 UNFORTUNATELY, TOYOTA HASN'T DEMONSTRATED THAT MADE ANY 16:19:07 MEANINGFUL EFFORT TO EXPLORE POSSIBILITIES TO KEEP NUMI OPEN. 16:19:12 I WAS ASKING YOU, DO YOU EXPECT CALIFORNIANS TO BELIEVE IN THE 16:19:17 BRIEF TIME BETWEEN GM'S ANNOUNCEMENT AND YOUR DECISION 16:19:19 TO CLOSE, WERE YOU ABLE TO DEFINITIVELY DETERMINE THAT IT 16:19:21 WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN OPERATIONS AT NUMI? 16:19:24 >> YES, IT'S NOT FINANCIALLY VIABLE TO DO. 16:19:26 IT'S A LONG WAY FROM OUR LOGISTICS LINES. 16:19:30 THE VOLUME, 20% IS A PRETTY BIG NUMBER. 16:19:33 I MEAN, CALIFORNIA SELLS ABOUT 13% TO 14% OF THE NATION'S 16:19:38 SALES. THAT'S A PLANT THAT HAS CAPACITY 16:19:41 FOR ALMOST 400,000 VEHICLES THAT'S BUILDING AROUND 300 AT 16:19:47 THE MOST. I MEAN, YOU'VE GOT TO REMEMBER 16:19:49 THAT WHEN THIS INDUSTRY COLLAPSED AFTER LEHMAN, WE HAD A 16:19:53 40% COLLAPSE FROM THE PEAK OF THE MARKETPLACE IN 20, 2001 TO 16:19:59 WHERE WE ENDED LAST YEAR. THERE WAS TREMENDOUS 16:20:02 OVERCAPACITY ALL ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. 16:20:05 AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU TAKE LIGHTLY CLOSING A PLANT. 16:20:07 YOU LOOK AT THE WORKERS BEHIND ME. 16:20:12 WHEN THAT MARKET COLLAPSED AND WE HAD 100,000 UNASSIGNED 16:20:16 VEHICLES SITTING IN OUR PORTS THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE DEALERS TO 16:20:19 BE ABLE TO ACCEPT BECAUSE INVENTORIES WERE SO HIGH, WE 16:20:22 DIDN'T LAY THESE PEOPLE OFF. WE KEPT THESE PEOPLE WORKING 16:20:27 BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE A HUGE ASSET FOR US. 16:20:31 SO WE DON'T TAKE CLOSING A PLANT OR NUMI DOESN'T TAKE CLOSING A 16:20:35 PLANT LIGHTLY. WE BELIEVE IN OUR WORKERS. 16:20:38 THEY'VE DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB IN GETTING US THROUGH ALL OF THIS. 16:20:43 SO NUMI IS, UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE GOING TO STOP ORDERING PRODUCT 16:20:46 AT THE END OF MARCH. AND WE WILL DO WHAT WE CAN TO 16:20:50 TRY TO HELP THE WORKERS THROUGH TRANSITION. 16:20:53 AND HOPEFULLY, I DON'T KNOW IF ANOTHER ASSEMBLY CAN GO IN THERE 16:20:57 OR THEY CAN REDEVELOP THE PROPERTY AND CREATE JOBS THROUGH 16:21:01 THE REDEVELOPMENT AND WHATEVER ELSE GOES IN THERE. 16:21:03 >> I'M REALLY THINKING OF YOUR BENEFIT AS WELL AS OURS. 16:21:06 I MEAN, I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH THIS PARTING THOUGHT. 16:21:09 YOU ARE HAVING A PUBLIC RELATIONS NIGHTMARE RIGHT NOW. 16:21:14 AND IT MAY BENEFIT YOU A SLIGHT AMOUNT TO CLOSE A PLANT LIKE 16:21:19 THAT, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO FACE THE PUBLIC BACKLASH ON THE WEST 16:21:22 COAST. ON THE OTHER HAND IF YOU WORK 16:21:24 WITH US TO KEEP THAT OPEN, IT'S GOING TO BE A REAL PLUS FOR YOUR 16:21:27 PUBLIC RELATIONS ISSUES. I JUST ASK YOU TO KEEP THAT IN 16:21:30 MIND AS YOU MOVE FORWARD. >> JUST UNDERSTAND AS WELL, 16:21:33 WE'RE GOING TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO HELP THROUGH THAT 16:21:36 TRANSITION. WE'RE NOT LEGALLY OBLIGATED, BUT 16:21:38 WE ARE GOING TO THROW MONEY INTO IT TO HELP THROUGH THIS. 16:21:42 I JUST WISH OUR PARTNER OF 25 YEARS WOULD STEP UP AND DO THE 16:21:47 SAME. >> THAT'S ALL. 16:21:49 >> THANK YOU. LET ME JUST ASK YOU A FEW 16:21:53 QUESTIONS TO CLARIFY OUR RECORD. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TESTIMONY 16:21:56 HERE AND A LOT OF QUESTIONS. SO JUST MAKE SURE I'M CORRECT 16:21:59 HERE. THE ONLY INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS 16:22:00 THAT YOU HAVE HAD, WHEN YOU SPOKE ON TODAY SHOW YOU SAID YOU 16:22:05 HAVE INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS ON YOUR PROBLEMS WITH THE SUDDEN 16:22:07 ACCELERATION HAS BEEN EXPONENT. >> YES. 16:22:10 TO MY KNOWLEDGE. >> AND YOU WERE REFERRING TO 16:22:13 THAT REPORT OF EXPONENT, RIGHT? >> NOW NTSA HAS ALWAYS DONE 16:22:18 STUDIES IN THE PAST, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW ROBUST THEY ARE. 16:22:21 >> YOU DON'T HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE OF ANY INDEPENDENT STUDIES THEY 16:22:25 DID? >> NO, NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE. 16:22:26 >> AND THERE'S BEEN NO INDEPENDENT ELECTRONIC THROTTLE 16:22:31 CONTROL SYSTEM STUDIES? >> NOT OF TOYOTA. 16:22:34 THERE MAY BE INDUSTRYWIDE. I DON'T KNOW. 16:22:36 >> BUT FOR YOUR -- >> YES, TO MY KNOWLEDGE. 16:22:38 >> AFTER THIS SITUATION. AND WITH DR. GILBERT HERE, HE'S 16:22:44 COMING UP WITH THIS AND APPARENTLY YOUR EXPONENT'S 16:22:47 ENGINEER HAS BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE IT. 16:22:49 IS IT FAIR TO SAY THEN WHEN THEY DUPLICATED IT THEY GOT THE SAME 16:22:53 RESULT AS DR. GILBERT THAT THE FAIL SAFE SYSTEM DID NOT RECEIVE 16:22:58 THE SIGNAL TO ENACT? SO IN OTHER WORDS, THE FAILSAFE 16:23:01 SYSTEM, WHETHER IT'S AN OVERRIDE BY ELECTRIC, HOWEVER WAS 16:23:05 HAPPENING, THE DIAGNOSTIC CODES DID NOT KICK IN TO PUT IN THE 16:23:08 FAIL SAFE SYSTEM TO GET THAT BREAKING GOING? 16:23:10 >> I BELIEVE WHAT HE'S DONE IS GONE AROUND -- DESIGNED A WAY TO 16:23:13 GO AROUND THE OVERRIDE SYSTEM. >> SURE. 16:23:15 >> SO WHETHER IT CAN HAPPEN OR NOT -- 16:23:17 >> WE DON'T KNOW THE SOURCE OF IT, BUT IT'S A BOOK END, AS THEY 16:23:21 SAID, TO START THE RESEARCH. >> YES. 16:23:23 AND THAT COULD BE OF VALUE TO TOYOTA? 16:23:25 >> SURELY. >> YOU MENTIONED THE S.W.A.T. 16:23:28 TEAM YOU'LL HAVE AT THE END OF MARCH. 16:23:30 >> YES. >> AND IN 24 HOURS THEY'LL HAVE 16:23:35 INFORMATION BEYOND SITE. MR. DINGELL ASKED AND A COUPLE 16:23:38 OF QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ABOUT THIS EVENT DATA RECORDER. 16:23:41 >> YES. >> THE EVENT DATA RECORDER TELLS 16:23:43 YOU WHAT HAPPENS FIVE SECONDS BEFORE AN ACCIDENT AND ONE 16:23:47 SECOND AFTER. SPECIFIC REQUESTS HAVE BEEN MADE 16:23:51 ON THE AUBURN, NEW YORK, CRASH WHICH WAS A 2010 CAMRY. 16:23:58 THAT ERB HAS BEEN SEIZED. DO YOU KNOW WHERE IT IS? 16:24:02 WHY ISN'T THAT INFORMATION MADE AVAILABLE TO NTSA OR ANYONE 16:24:09 ELSE? >> IF I CAN GET INFORMATION ON 16:24:11 THAT CRASH. >> HOW ABOUT THE SOUTHLAKE TEXAS 16:24:14 ONE. 208 TOYOTA AVALON. 16:24:17 HAPPENED ON DECEMBER 26th. SAME THING. 16:24:20 IT SAYS CONDUCT A SITE VISIT ON 1/12 WHERE THEY PULLED THE BLACK 16:24:24 BOX OUT IF YOU WILL. WHERE IS THE RESULTS ON THAT? 16:24:27 >> AND THEY PULLED THE PEDAL OFF. 16:24:29 I DON'T KNOW. NHTSA WAS ALSO DOWN THERE WITH 16:24:32 OUR ENGINEERS BUT I DON'T KNOW SPECIFICALLY WHAT THE RESULT 16:24:35 WAS. >> OR HOW ABOUT MR. JEFF PINSKY 16:24:38 FROM MINNESOTA. HE'S HAD A 2007 LEXUS ES 350 AND 16:24:43 HAD PROBLEMS WITH IT AND REQUESTED REPEATEDLY TO GIVE HIM 16:24:46 THE INFORMATION OFF THE BLACK BOX. 16:24:48 HE'S ALWAYS BEEN DENIED. IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS 16:24:51 S.W.A.T. TEAM AND WE'RE GOING TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT AND BRING 16:24:54 FORTH THIS INFORMATION WHY NOT ON THESE FATAL CRASHES, 16:24:57 ESPECIALLY THESE ONES I MENTIONED, WHY NOT DISCLOSE WHAT 16:25:00 HAPPENED ON THAT BLACK BOX? >> I THINK RIGHT NOW THE ISSUE 16:25:03 IS THERE'S ONE TOOL IN THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES, AND I 16:25:06 BELIEVE IT'S STILL IN THE PROTOTYPE STAGES. 16:25:09 SO THE FINAL PRODUCTION TOOLS WE WON'T START SEEING HERE UNTIL 16:25:14 APRIL. SO -- 16:25:15 >> BUT STANDARDS FOR A BLACK BOX WERE DEVELOPED IN 2006 BY NHTSA 16:25:19 THAT EVERYBODY HAS TO HAVE STARTING 2012 AND 2013, CORRECT? 16:25:23 >> YES. >> IF WE HAVE STANDARDS IN 2006 16:25:25 YOU ARE STILL TRYING TO DEVELOP A PROTOTYPE. 16:25:28 >> THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING. >> SO THE INFORMATION OFF THIS 16:25:31 BLACK BOX THEN, IF I WANTED TO GET THE INFORMATION IF THERE'S 16:25:33 NO MECHANISM IN THE UNITED STATES, IT HAS TO GO TO JAPAN TO 16:25:36 GET THE INFORMATION? >> CORRECT. 16:25:37 CORRECT. IT IS A UNIQUE MECHANISM FOR OUR 16:25:40 BLACK BOX. >> AND THIS DEFECT COMMITTEE, 16:25:44 U.S. MAY HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE ON IT BUT DECISIONS ARE STILL 16:25:46 GOING TO BE MADE IN JAPAN? >> WELL, THERE WILL BE -- THE 16:25:51 PROCESS OF MAKING A DEFECT DECISION IS THERE'S A GENERAL 16:25:54 MANAGER OF THE QUALITY GROUP THAT HAS A COMMITTEE WITH A 16:25:56 NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ENGINEERS AND EVERYONE ELSE. 16:26:00 THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN JAPAN WITH JAPANESE. 16:26:03 THAT COMMITTEE NOW IS GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT WILL BE SEATED 16:26:09 ON THAT FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE REGIONS AROUND THE WORLD. 16:26:12 >> SURE. >> UNITED STATES FOR CERTAIN, I 16:26:14 DON'T KNOW. I'M ASSUMING EUROPE WILL 16:26:16 PROBABLY BE THERE AS WELL. SO THEY WILL BE PART OF -- THEY 16:26:19 WILL BE TIED INTO ALL THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE INTO THE 16:26:23 DECISION PROCESS AND WE WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO APPEAL THAT 16:26:28 IF WE DON'T BELIEVE IN IT. >> YOU HAVE INPUT BUT DECISION 16:26:31 WILL STILL BE MADE IN JAPAN. >> THE INPUT WILL BE MADE BUT 16:26:34 WE'LL HAVE THE ABILITY TO APPEAL THAT DECISION WE DO NOT HAVE 16:26:38 TODAY. >> ON THE BLACK BOX, WHETHER WR 16:26:40 IS THAT DATA STORED? >> PARDON? 16:26:42 >> IF I GET A BLACK BOX OUT OF THE SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS, ACCIDENT, 16:26:46 WHERE WOULD THAT DATA BE SCORED? WOULD THAT HAVE TO GO TO JAPAN 16:26:49 TO GET DOWNLOADED? >> IF WE HAVE THE SCAN TOOL, 16:26:52 ONCE THESE TOOLS ARE AVAILABLE -- 16:26:54 >> RIGHT. BUT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE YOU DON'T 16:26:56 HAVE THE SCAN TOOLS. >> I DON'T KNOW IF JAPAN HAS 16:26:59 TOOLS OR NOT. IF WE'RE IN PROTOTYPE STAGE, I'M 16:27:02 ASSUMING IT'S A GLOBAL PROTOTYPE STAGE. 16:27:04 I DON'T KNOW THAT FOR CERTAIN. BUT I DO KNOW IN APRIL WE'RE 16:27:08 SLATED TO RECEIVE ABOUT 100 OF THESE. 16:27:11 >> ALL RIGHT. THAT WILL BE IN APRIL. 16:27:12 OKAY. IF YOU RECEIVE -- YOU SAID YOU 16:27:14 RECEIVE PERSONALLY 20 TO 25 COMPLAINTS A WEEK. 16:27:17 ANY ON UNINTENDED ACCELERATIONS. >> I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU IN THE 16:27:21 LAST THREE YEARS, I HAVE SEEN THEM ON SURGES. 16:27:25 BUT I DON'T RECALL ANYONE THAT WAS ON AN UNINTENDED INCIDENT. 16:27:32 >> COULD YOU PROVIDE US AN EXAMPLE OF SOME OF THOSE SURGES 16:27:35 THAT YOU PERSONALLY HANDLED? >> SURE. 16:27:37 >> OKAY. >> SURE. 16:27:39 >> MR. BURGESS, DID YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? 16:27:43 >> I THINK IT'S ALREADY BEEN ADDRESSED BUT WOULD LIKE FOR YOU 16:27:46 OR TOYOTA TO PROVIDE THE COMMITTEE YOUR ANALYSIS OR 16:27:51 EXPONENT'S ANALYSIS OF WHEN THEY DO THE GILBERT TESTING, THE 16:27:56 RETESTING ON THE GILBERT THING. I JUST ECHO ABOUT THE BLACK BOX. 16:27:59 SOUTHLAKE IS RIGHT OUTSIDE OF MY DISTRICT. 16:28:02 VERY TRAGIC ACCIDENT RIGHT AFTER CHRISTMAS WHERE A CAR WENT 16:28:04 THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AND ENDED UP UPSIDE DOWN IN A POND 16:28:07 AND ALL THE OCCUPANTS DIED. SOME QUESTION AS TO WHETHER OR 16:28:10 NOT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A MEDICAL EMERGENCY INVOLVED IN 16:28:13 THAT. BUT I THING BLACK BOX, IN 16:28:14 ADDITION TO THE OTHER PHYSICAL EVIDENCE, THE BRAKE PADS AND 16:28:17 THAT SORT OF THING WILL BE VERY INSTRUCTIVE FOR YOUR GROUP AND, 16:28:20 OF COURSE, INSTRUCTIVE FOR US AS WELL. 16:28:25 SO AS THIS INFORMATION ON THESE LOOK BACKS, IF YOU GO OUT AND 16:28:28 GET THE CAR FROM TENNESSEE, AND YOUR ENGINEERS COME UP WITH A 16:28:33 DECISION ON THIS, I JUST THINK IT WOULD BE VERY USEFUL THAT 16:28:37 THIS COMMITTEE WOULD HAVE THAT INFORMATION AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE 16:28:42 AFTER YOU GET THAT. AND, HEAVEN HELP US IF THERE'S 16:28:50 AN UNCOMMANDED ACCELERATION. BUT GET THAT CAR. 16:28:53 SOMEBODY HAS TO LOOK AT THAT CAR AND FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON. 16:28:56 APPRECIATE IT. >> WE'RE ABOUT TO WRAP UP. 16:28:58 I SEE MR. ENGEL IS HERE. D 16:29:05 DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION OF THIS WITNESS? 16:29:06 >> THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN. I THINK A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS 16:29:09 HAVE ALREADY BEEN ASKED. BUT WHEN I WAS ASKED BY THE 16:29:12 MEDIA YESTERDAY WHAT QUESTION WAS I GOING TO ASK, I SAID THAT 16:29:17 I WOULD ASK WHAT DID YOU KNOW AND WHEN DID YOU KNOW IT AND 16:29:20 WHAT DO YOU STILL KNOW THAT WE DON'T KNOW? 16:29:25 AND I LISTENED TO THE HEARING. ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT I HOPE YOU 16:29:34 CAN APPRECIATE THAT WE ARE VERY SKEPTICAL BECAUSE IT CERTAINLY 16:29:42 SEEMS IF YOU JUST LOOK AT THE CHAIN OF EVENTS THAT THERE WAS 16:29:45 AN ATTEMPT TO KIND OF SWEEP EVERYTHING UNDER THE RUG. 16:29:51 AND I'M STILL NOT SURE THAT THE QUESTION HAS BEEN REASONABLY 16:29:57 ANSWERED IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, YOU TALK ABOUT THESE SIX 16:30:00 VEHICLES THAT YOU TESTED. BUT WHY WOULD NOT YOUR FIRST 16:30:06 INCLINATION BE TO TEST THE VEHICLES THAT ACCELERATED. 16:30:10 WHEN I HEARD MRS. SMITH EARLIER ON, THE FIRST PANEL, AND SHE 16:30:14 TALKED ABOUT HOW IT JUST WENT 100 MILES AN HOUR AND SHE 16:30:20 COULDN'T DO ANYTHING TO STOP IT, WOULDN'T IT HAVE JUST BEEN 16:30:23 LOGICAL TO TAKE THAT CAR AND OTHERS LIKE THAT AND JUST RIP IT 16:30:28 APART? I KNOW MR. BARTON ASKED YOU 16:30:30 EARLIER. BUT I'M NOT SURE I'M SATISFIED 16:30:32 WITH YOUR ANSWER. >> AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW THE 16:30:35 SPECIFICS, BUT IT SOUNDED AS IF SHE SAID THERE WAS A TECHNICAL 16:30:38 PERSON THAT WAS DOWN THERE AND DID LOOK AT THE CAR. 16:30:40 SO I CAN'T TELL YOU, IF THEY DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING, THAT'S 16:30:45 PROBABLY WHY THEY DIDN'T TEAR IT APART. 16:30:47 IF THEY WOULD HAVE SEEN A COMPONENT FAILURE, I'M SURE THAT 16:30:50 THAT COMPONENT FAILURE WOULD HAVE COME OFF THAT CAR AND WE 16:30:53 WOULD HAVE RECEIVED IT. AND AGAIN IT MAY HAVE HAPPENED. 16:30:56 I DON'T KNOW THE SPECIFICS ON HER ACCIDENT. 16:30:59 BUT IT WASN'T ONLY HER CAR. THERE WERE OTHERS THAT GAVE 16:31:05 SIMILAR STORIES AND FOR HOW LONG WAS TOYOTA SAYING IT'S MATS, 16:31:10 FLOOR MATS OR RUGS OR STICKY PEDALS WHEN IT JUST WOULD SEEM 16:31:15 CLEAR BY HER STORY. I'M SURE THERE ARE OTHERS LIKE 16:31:19 HER THAT IT WASN'T THAT AT ALL. >> WELL, IT MAY NOT BE. 16:31:23 THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT CAUSES. 16:31:27 THEY ARE VERY BROAD, VERY RARE. AND IN SOME CASES, THEY ARE JUST 16:31:31 VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO DUPLICATE. 16:31:32 SO, I MEAN, THAT'S THE FRUSTRATING PART ABOUT 16:31:35 RESEARCHING WHAT HAPPENS ON SOME OF THESE INSTANCES. 16:31:39 ESPECIALLY IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING ON WITH THE 16:31:43 THROTTLE. IF THERE AREN'T ERROR CODES AND 16:31:45 IT CAN'T BE DUPLICATED, THAT WAS ONE OF THE ISSUES WITH THE 16:31:48 STICKY PEDAL IN THE BEGINNING. BY THE TIME THE CONSUMER GOT IT 16:31:52 TO THE DEALERSHIP, ALL THE MOISTURE HAD DRIED FROM THE 16:31:55 PEDAL AND THE PEDAL WOULDN'T STICK. 16:31:57 YOU'VE GOT A CONSUMER SAYING, I KNOW THIS THING HAS BEEN 16:32:00 STICKING. BUT BY THE TIME THEY GET IT TO 16:32:03 THE STORE, THAT CAN'T BE REPLICATED. 16:32:05 THAT TOOK AWHILE TO UNDERSTAND. >> BUT IN EVERY CASE -- WOULD 16:32:09 THAT HAPPEN IN EVERY CASE? >> SURELY ONCE THERE WERE MANY 16:32:12 DIFFERENT INSTANCES IT SEEMED TO BE A PATTERN THAT YOU DIDN'T 16:32:15 HAVE TO BE A ROCKET SCIENTIST TO SAY, HEY, WAIT A MINUTE. 16:32:19 MAYBE SOMETHING IS WRONG. THERE'S, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY THE 16:32:23 ACCELERATION BUT WE'VE HEARD ABOUT STEERING AND BRAKES AND 16:32:28 OTHER THINGS. YOU KNOW, IT JUST SEEMS THAT IF 16:32:30 YOU LOOK AT EVERYTHING, IT CERTAINLY SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE 16:32:35 WAS AN ATTEMPT TO KEEP IT UNDER THE RUG AND KEEP IT UNDER THE 16:32:39 TABLE AND LET'S NOT TELL ANYBODY ANYTHING AND MAYBE IT WILL GO 16:32:43 AWAY. AND, OF COURSE, WITH ALL THE 16:32:45 TESTIMONY, NHTSA IS TO BLAME AS WELL. 16:32:48 I JUST DON'T THINK THAT TOYOTA HANDLED IT PROPERLY. 16:32:50 LET ME JUST -- GO AHEAD. >> IN THE CASE OF BRAKES IF YOU 16:32:53 WERE TALKING ABOUT PRIUS BRAKE, WE JUMPED ON THAT VERY QUICKLY 16:32:56 AND HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THAT. IN THE CASE OF COROLLA STEERING, 16:33:00 IT'S BEING INVESTIGATED RIGHT NOW. 16:33:01 SO, YES, WE HAVE COMPLAINTS ON IT. 16:33:04 NHTSA HAS COMPLAINTS. WE'RE DIGGING INTO THAT RIGHT 16:33:06 NOW TO FIND OUT WHAT IS THE ISSUE AND LET'S MAKE SURE THE 16:33:10 CUSTOMERS ARE HAPPY WITH THEIR PRODUCTS AND SAFE WITH THEIR 16:33:13 PRODUCTS. >> SO LET ME ASK YOU AS THE LAST 16:33:16 QUESTION, WHEN I WAS ASKED YESTERDAY, WHAT WOULD I ASK YOU 16:33:18 AND I SAID WHAT DID YOU KNOW AND WHEN YOU KNEW IT. 16:33:22 WHAT DO YOU KNOW THAT WE DON'T KNOW YET. 16:33:25 WHAT DO YOU KNOW THAT WE DON'T KNOW YET? 16:33:27 WHAT'S GOING TO COME OUT IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS? 16:33:30 I KNOW MR. TOYODA IS TESTIFYING IN ANOTHER COMMITTEE TOMORROW. 16:33:33 WHAT BOMBSHELLS ARE GOING TO COME OUT THAT WE DON'T YET KNOW. 16:33:37 >> GOD I HOPE THERE AREN'T ANY MORE. 16:33:40 LET'S GET BACK TO THE GOOD OLD DAYS OF 2009, AND I DIDN'T THINK 16:33:43 I'D EVER SAY THAT. YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE TO 16:33:49 FIX THE PROCESS SO THESE THINGS DON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. 16:33:52 I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S BEHIND THE CURTAIN. 16:33:55 NO ONE KNOWS IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY AS MANUFACTURERS WHAT 16:34:00 DEFECTS YOU COULD HAVE DOWN THE ROAD. 16:34:02 WHAT CHALLENGES YOU HAVE. SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE 16:34:06 BUILT-IN QUALITY AND BUILD-IN SAFETY SO WE DON'T HAVE THESE 16:34:09 ISSUES. AND THAT'S WHY OUR PROCESSES ARE 16:34:14 CHANGING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET BACK TO WHERE WE ONCE WERE. 16:34:16 THIS WAS A COMPANY FOR 50 YEARS IN THE U.S. THAT, WHENEVER YOU 16:34:19 SAID TOYOTA OR YOU SAID CAMERA IT WAS QUALITY, DEPENDABILITY. 16:34:25 AND WE'VE STUBBED OUR TOE. AND WE'VE GOT TO GET BACK TO 16:34:27 WHERE THAT ONCE WAS AND WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT. 16:34:29 >> I WOULD HOPE SO. THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN FOR 16:34:33 HOLDING THE HEARING. >> MR. GING RY, QUESTION? 16:34:36 >> VERY, VERY QUICKLY. I COULD ASK YOU A COUPLE OF 16:34:40 YES/NO QUESTIONS. HAVE YOU ENJOYED BEING HERE 16:34:44 TODAY? AND DO YOU WANT TO TAKE ANY MORE 16:34:46 QUESTIONS? I GUESS THE ANSWERS WOULD BE YES 16:34:51 AND NO. SERIOUSLY IDID WANT TO CAN YOU. 16:34:53 DO YOU THINK THIS IS A SOFTWARE OR HARDWARE PROBLEM? 16:34:55 >> IN THE CASE OF THE ETC? >> YES. 16:34:59 >> AGAIN, BASED ON OUR ANALYSIS OF WHAT WE'VE SEEN, BASED ON 16:35:04 GOING TO ACCIDENT SITES AND CHECKING THESE CARS OUT, I DON'T 16:35:07 THINK IT'S EITHER RIGHT NOW. BUT EXPONENT HAS NOT TESTED THE 16:35:11 SOFTWARE YET. SO THAT'S YET TO COME. 16:35:13 SO IF THERE IS A SOFTWARE ISSUE, IF THERE IS AN ISSUE ABOUT HOW 16:35:18 INDEPENDENTLY THESE TWO PROCESSORS ARE WORKING BECAUSE 16:35:20 THAT'S THE KEY TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS THING WORKS. 16:35:23 WE'LL KNOW THAT. >> BUT IT COULD BE EITHER, AND 16:35:26 YOU'RE GOING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THAT? 16:35:28 >> WE HAVE TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT. 16:35:30 >> ABSOLUTELY. AND IT MAY BE THAT THE BOTTOM OF 16:35:32 IT IS THEY FIND NOTHING. AND WE HAVE ANOTHER INDEPENDENT 16:35:35 GROUP THAT GOES IN AND RESEARCHES AGAIN. 16:35:39 >> MR. LENTZ, THANK YOU. MR. CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU. 16:35:43 I YIELD BACK. >> THAT CONCLUDES ALL QUESTIONS 16:35:44 OF THIS PANEL. MR. LENTZ, THANK YOU. 16:35:47 WE INVITE YOU TO STAY FOR THE NEXT PANEL, SECRETARY LaHOOD. 16:35:51 WE HAVE FIVE VOTES COMING UP. I'M GOING TO TRY TO GET THE 16:35:53 SECRETARY'S TESTIMONY IN AND THEN WE CAN GO VOTE. 16:35:56 WE'LL HAVE A RECESS. THANK YOU. 16:35:58 >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> I'M GOING TO ASK THE MEDIA TO 16:36:33 MOVE OUT OF THE WAY. SECRETARY LaHOOD IS HERE. 16:36:36 WE'D LIKE TO HEAR HIS TESTIMONY AND GET IT DONE BEFORE WE HAVE 16:36:38 TO GO VOTE. >> MR. LENTZ, I SEE YOU'RE 16:37:11 MOVING OUT. I KNOW YOU ARE GETTING CRUSHED 16:37:14 THERE. BUT WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE THINGS 16:37:15 ALONG. I'D LIKE TO CALL OUR THIRD 16:37:25 WITNESS FOR TODAY. THE HONORABLE RAYMOND H. LaHOOD, 16:37:30 SECRETARY OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. 16:37:33 MR. LaHOOD, WELCOME. THANKS FOR BEING HERE. 16:37:35 IT'S THE POLICY OF THIS SUBCOMMITTEE TO TAKE ALL 16:37:37 TESTIMONY UNDER OATH. PLEASE BE ADVISED YOU HAVE A 16:37:39 RIGHT UNDER THE RULES OF THE HOUSE TO BE ADVISED BY COUNSEL 16:37:42 DURING YOUR TESTIMONY. DO YOU WISH TO BE REPRESENTED BY 16:37:46 COUNSEL? THANK YOU. 16:37:47 PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. DO YOU SWEAR THE TESTIMONY YOU 16:37:51 ARE ABOUT TO GIVE TO BE THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH AND 16:37:54 NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH IN THE MATTER PENDING BEFORE THIS 16:37:57 COMMITTEE? >> I DO. 16:37:58 >> THANK YOU, MR. SECRETARY. WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR 16:38:01 OPENING STATEMENT. AND AFTER THAT WE'RE PROBABLY 16:38:02 GOING TO HAVE TO RUN AND DO SOME VOTES. 16:38:07 >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAR BEFORE 16:38:10 YOU TODAY TO DISCUSS THE IMPORTANT ISSUE OF TOYOTA'S 16:38:14 RECENT SAFETY RECALLS. EVER SINCE I WAS SWORN IN AS THE 16:38:18 SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION 13 MONTHS AGO, I'VE SAID THAT 16:38:21 SAFETY IS THE DEPARTMENT'S NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. 16:38:23 I'D LIKE TO THINK THAT WE HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT COMMITMENT 16:38:27 TIME AND TIME AND TIME AGAIN. WHEN THE TERRIBLE CRASH OF THE 16:38:31 WASHINGTON METRO SYSTEM CLAIMED NINE LIVES AND INJURED DOZENS OF 16:38:36 OTHERS LAST SUMMER, WE QUICKLY INTRODUCED LEGISLATION TO GIVE 16:38:38 US FEDERAL SAFETY OVERSIGHT OF TRANSIT SYSTEMS SOMETIMES WE 16:38:42 DON'T HAVE. WHEN COLGAN AIR FLIGHT 3407 16:38:45 CRASHED IN BUFFALO, WE LEARNED RIGHT AWAY WHAT MANY OF THE 16:38:48 PROBLEMS WERE AND WE DID NOT WAIT A YEAR FOR THE NTSB TO 16:38:53 CONCLUDE ITS INVESTIGATION BEFORE WE ACTED. 16:38:54 WE BEGAN WORKING WITH THE AVIATION INDUSTRY IMMEDIATELY TO 16:38:58 ENHANCE AIRLINE SAFETY AND PILOT TRAINING HOLDING 12 SAFETY 16:39:02 SUMMITS AROUND THE COUNTRY. THIS SPRING, THE FAA WILL ISSUE 16:39:06 A NEW RULE TO COMBAT PILOT FATIGUE AND IT HAS ALREADY BEEN 16:39:11 TO -- BEGUN TO OVERHAUL PILOT CERTIFICATE -- PILOT 16:39:17 CERTIFICATION QUALIFICATIONS. ONE OF THE HALLMARKS OF MY TIME 16:39:20 AS TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY HAS BEEN OUR WORK ON DISTRACTED 16:39:24 DRIVING. FOR ALL OF YOU WITH CELL PHONES 16:39:25 AND BLACKBERRYS AND OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES, I'M ON A 16:39:29 RAMPAGE ABOUT PEOPLE TALKING AND TEXTING WHILE DRIVING A BUS, A 16:39:33 CAR, A TRAIN OR A PLANE. IT'S A MENACE TO SOCIETY. 16:39:37 WE RECENTLY EXERCISED OUR AUTHORITY TO BAN TRUCK DRIVERS 16:39:40 FROM TEXTING. THE REASON I SAY ALL OF THIS, MY 16:39:44 NUMBER ONE PRIORITY HAS BEEN AND WILL BE AS LONG AS I'M IN THIS 16:39:49 POST, SAFETY. NOW FOR TOYOTA. 16:39:50 THE TOYOTA RECALL SITUATION IS VERY SERIOUS. 16:39:54 WE'RE TREATING IT SERIOUSLY. THE THREE RECALLS INVOLVING 16:39:56 TOYOTA ARE AMONG THE LARGEST IN AUTOMOBILE HISTORY AFFECTING 16:40:00 MORE THAN 6 MILLION PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY. 16:40:03 I'D LIKE TO SAY A WORD DIRECTLY TO CONSUMERS. 16:40:06 YOU NOTICE THAT YOUR GAS PEDAL OR YOUR BRAKE IS NOT RESPONDING 16:40:09 AS IT NORMALLY WOULD, CONTACT YOUR TOYOTA DEALER RIGHT AWAY. 16:40:13 THE RECENT RECALLS INVOLVE THREE ISSUES. 16:40:15 FIRST, ACCELERATOR PEDAL, ENTRAPMENT BY FLOOR MATS WHICH 16:40:19 CAN LEAD TO UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION AT VERY HIGH 16:40:22 SPEEDS. IT'S IMPORTANT TO TAKE YOUR 16:40:24 FLOOR MATS OUT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF YOUR VEHICLE UNTIL YOUR 16:40:27 CAR HAS BEEN REPAIRED FOR THIS PROBLEM BY A TOYOTA DEALER. 16:40:31 SECOND, ACCELERATOR PEDALS STICKING OR RETURNING SLOWLY 16:40:34 AFTER BEING DEPRESSED. IF THE PEDAL IS HARDER TO 16:40:38 DEPRESS OR SLOWER TO RETURN AFTER RELEASING IT, THIS COULD 16:40:41 BE THE PRECURSOR TO WHAT IS KNOWN AS A STICKY PEDAL. 16:40:44 IF YOUR PEDAL HAS THREE -- IF YOUR MEDDLE HAS THESE SYMPTOMS, 16:40:50 CONTACT YOUR TOYOTA DEALER IMMEDIATELY. 16:40:51 IF YOUR GAS PEDAL BECOMES STUCK FOR ANY REASON, STEADILY APPLY 16:40:55 THE BRAKE, PUT THE GHAR NEUTRAL, BRING IT TO A STOP IN A SAFE 16:41:00 PLACE AND CALL YOUR DEALER. WITH THE TOYOTA PRIUS FOR MODEL 16:41:03 YEAR 2010 AND THE LEXUS HS-250 IF YOU EXPERIENCE A CHANGE IN 16:41:08 YOUR CAR'S BRAKING PERFORMANCE, CONTACT YOUR TOYOTA DEALER. 16:41:11 NOW I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRANSFER 16:41:17 SAFETY ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN ONE OF THE -- HAS THE MOST 16:41:20 EFFECTIVE DEFECT INVESTIGATION PROGRAMS IN THE WORLD KNOWN AS 16:41:25 NHTSA, ITS JOB IS TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS AND TO LOOK FOR 16:41:28 DEFECTS. IT RECEIVES MORE THAN 30,000 16:41:31 COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS EVERY YEAR AND REVIEWS EVERY ONE OF 16:41:34 THEM QUICKLY AND CAREFULLY. OVER JUST THE PAST THREE YEARS, 16:41:42 NHTSA'S COMPLIANCE INVESTIGATION HAVE RESULTED IN 524 RECALLS 16:41:46 INVOLVING 23.5 MILLION CARS. OF THE 100 INVESTIGATION NHTSA 16:41:53 OPEN IN AN AVERAGE YEAR, THERE ARE CURRENTLY 44 OPEN DEFECT 16:41:57 INVESTIGATIONS, FIVE OF WHICH INVOLVE TOYOTA. 16:41:59 EVERY STEP OF THE WAY NHTSA OFFICIALS HAVE PUSHED TOYOTA TO 16:42:03 TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION SO THAT CONSUMERS COULD BE SAFE. 16:42:07 UNHAPPY WITH TOYOTA RESPONSIVENESS TO OUR SAFETY 16:42:09 CONCERNS, THE ACTING ADMINISTRATOR OF NHTSA, RON 16:42:14 MEDFORD AND TWO ASSOCIATES FLEW TO JAPAN IN DECEMBER OF '09 TO 16:42:17 CLARIFY FOR TOYOTA MANAGEMENT WHAT THE COMPANY'S LEGAL 16:42:21 OBLIGATIONS TOR FIND AND REMEDY SAFETY DEFECTS IN VEHICLES SOLD 16:42:25 HERE. IN JANUARY, OUR NEW 16:42:28 ADMINISTRATOR, DAVID STRICKLAND AND RON MEDFORD, NOW OUR DEPUTY 16:42:32 ADMINISTRATOR, TOLD THE PRESIDENT OF TOYOTA NORTH 16:42:34 AMERICA IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS THAT WE EXPECT PROMPT ACTION. 16:42:42 I'VE ALSO TALKED PERSONALLY TO THE PRESIDENT OF TOYOTA WITH 16:42:47 POTENTIAL FATAL DEFECTS ON THE ROAD, NHTSA HAS PRESSED HARD TO 16:42:53 EXPEDITE THESE SAFETY FIXES. IF NHTSA HAD OPENED A FORMAL 16:42:57 INVESTIGATION AND TOYOTA HAD RESISTED A RECALL, THIS WOULD 16:43:00 HAVE CONSUMED AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF TIME AND RESOURCES IN EFECT 16:43:03 EXTENDING THE PERIOD IN WHICH OWNERS OF AFFECTED VEHICLES WERE 16:43:06 AT RISK. BY ENGAGING TOYOTA DIRECTLY AND 16:43:11 PERSUADING THE COMPANY TO TAKE ACTION, THE AGENCY AVOIDED A 16:43:15 LENGTHY INVESTIGATION THAT WOULD HAVE DELAYED FIXES FOR A YEAR OR 16:43:18 MORE. LAST WEEK, I ANNOUNCED WE ARE 16:43:20 INVESTIGATING WHETHER TOYOTA ACTED QUICKLY ENOUGH IN 16:43:23 REPORTING THESE SAFETY DEFECTS TO NHTSA AS WELL AS WHETHER THEY 16:43:26 TOOK ALL APPROPRIATE ACTION TO PROTECT CONSUMERS. 16:43:28 WE HAVE ASKED TOYOTA TO TURN OVER A WIDE RANGE OF DOCUMENTS 16:43:31 WHICH WILL SHOW US WHEN AND HOW THEY LEARNED ABOUT THESE SAFETY 16:43:36 PROBLEMS. NHTSA WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE 16:43:39 TOYOTA IS DOING ALL IT HAS PROMISED TO MAKE ITS VEHICLES 16:43:42 SAFE. WE'LL CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE 16:43:43 ALL POSSIBLE CAUSES OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. 16:43:46 WHILE THE RECALLS ARE IMPORTANT STEPS IN THAT DIRECTION, WE 16:43:50 DON'T MAINTAIN THAT THEY ANSWER EVERY QUESTION ABOUT THAT ISSUE. 16:43:54 SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE HAS 16:43:58 A DANGEROUS EFFECT ON THESE VEHICLES, ALTHOUGH WE ARE NOT 16:44:01 AWARE OF ANY INCIDENTS PROVEN TO BE THE CAUSE BY SUCH 16:44:05 INTERFERENCE. NHTSA IS DOING A THOROUGH REVIEW 16:44:09 OF THAT SUBJECT TO ENSURE SAFETY. 16:44:11 IF NHTSA FINDS A PROBLEM, WE WILL MAKE SURE IT'S RESOLVED. 16:44:15 RECENTLY, I SPOKE WITH -- BY PHONE WITH MR. TOYODA. 16:44:18 HE ASSURED ME TOYOTA TAKES U.S. SAFETY CONCERNS VERY SERIOUSLY 16:44:22 AND THAT SAFETY IS THE COMPANY'S TOP PRIORITY. 16:44:24 I INTEND TO HOLD HIM TO THAT. FINALLY, I WANT TO REMIND 16:44:27 EVERYONE THERE IS A REASON WE INVESTIGATE SAFETY DEFECTS, AND 16:44:32 THERE'S A REASON WE PUSH AUTOMAKERS TO DO THE RIGHT 16:44:34 THING. I LISTENED TO THE 911 TAPE OF 16:44:37 THE SAILOR FAMILY'S HARROWING LAST MOMENTS. 16:44:40 MARK SAYLOR, A CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROLMAN, DIED LAST 16:44:44 YEAR ALONG WITH HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTER AND HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW 16:44:46 WHEN THE ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK IN THE LEXUS THEY WERE DRIVING 16:44:51 IN CRASHED AT MORE THAN 120 MILES AN HOUR. 16:44:53 THAT SAY HORRIBLE TRAGEDY AND ONE THAT I HOPE NO OTHER FAMILY 16:44:57 HAS TO ENDURE. NOW, MR. CHAIRMAN, I KNOW YOU 16:45:00 ALL HAVE TO GO VOTE. I'M CERTAINLY WILLING TO STAY 16:45:02 AND ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT ANY MEMBER HAS. 16:45:05 I WANT THE COMMITTEE TO KNOW, I WAS SWORN IN ON JANUARY 23rd, 16:45:10 '09. I'LL TAKE A BACK SEAT TO NOBODY 16:45:11 ON SAFETY. I'VE DONE A LOT. 16:45:13 WE'VE DONE A LOT. SO I'LL TRY AND ANSWER EVERY 16:45:15 QUESTION AS SPECIFICALLY AS I CAN DURING MY TIME AS THE 16:45:21 SECRETARY. AND FOR THOSE THAT I DON'T KNOW 16:45:23 THE ANSWER TO PRIOR TO MY TENURE I'LL BE HAPPY TO GET ALL THE 16:45:27 INFORMATION POSSIBLE FOR THE RECORD. 16:45:28 THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU, MR. SECRETARY. 16:45:30 AND YOU'RE RIGHT. WE DO HAVE VOTES. 16:45:32 WE HAVE FIVE VOTES. WE'RE GOING TO BE IN RECESS 16:45:34 UNTIL 5:30. 5:30. 16:45:38 AND APPRECIATE IF YOU'D STAY. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO ANSWERING 16:45:41 QUESTIONS THEN. IF YOU WANT TO WALK TO THE FLOOR 16:45:43 WITH US, YOU ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO DO SO.

LU 6 BETO OROURKE WARREN OH LORDSTOWN COMMUNITY ROUNDTABLE POOL 092519 2020 [15:11:16] See. Thank you. Yes right. Thanks for noticing. I'm the only one that didn't stand to. [15:11:29] Do that. [15:11:30] Thank you so much. Thank you all for making some time for us and allowing us to come back to laws. [15:11:37] Now we were here in March and had a chance to meet with David Greene and be in the UAW live at twelve Hall and really begin to gain an appreciation for what the GM plant closure meant not just for David and the employees that he represented but really for the community. And he was really clear about the barbershop the school teachers the restaurants the entire economy of this community. And also talked about the investment that Lordstown and the people of Ohio had made in the infrastructure around the GM plant. The investment that that had been made to ensure GM success and what he was asking for it seemed very fair to me in terms of GM just honoring their commitment that they had made given the commitment of the workers and the taxpayers and the community. We're back to listen and to learn from you. [15:12:28] And I want to make sure that we use this time to our full advantage by my just being quiet although I'm happy to answer any questions you have. And just getting a chance to to hear you and hopefully reflect what I've heard as we continue to campaign and hopefully if we have a chance to serve this community as as president. So Bill thank you for organizing this and leading the effort. Very great to each of you for taking some time out of your day to share with me what you know what you've experienced so that can be a stronger candidate and a more informed representative of this community's interests. So thank you very much. Bill did you did you want everyone to introduce themselves. It's going to. The. And then. Go around the table. And. Sell. Their name. Like union there with what they get. [15:13:12] Why they're here today. Yeah. You know here in the Valley we've been taking hits for 50 years. Steel mills and then watching that climb pack and it looks like. They have. 30000 employees and one of. Those jobs went to Mexico. We'll talk about that. And if you feel like. Our values we're taking one hit after another. And. We're glad that you came here to listen to. What's going on here. Unfortunately David Best wishes if he was in town he would have been here but he's had to move out of state today. I admire him President auto workers he was one of the last to go. Well I'm captain of the ship. He could have done a long time ago. He said I should be one of the last to go. But he had. His. Position. Let's go around. We do have a few minutes for introductions we'll start with. [15:14:02] McNally see these things happening constantly. I'm a staffer. I go and. Negotiate. Thanks for being here. Appreciate it. Thank you. All right. Right. Now. Edwards. Part of a. Former UAW Local level club and. Right now. I just transferred. Three methadone to lasting. [15:14:25] Love. I'll. Be here from Michigan the day I'm doing my duty with my previous and my client now. I'm just trying to help out. Old. Plant. Veteran. Though. Oh thank you for your service. Nine states Army. Served in Desert Shield and Storm. [15:14:45] What is the drive time from Lansing towards him. It's about for a little over four hours. In Texas terms that's just next door. [15:14:54] Might be a different deal. So that was we're talking about David Greene very last week like David you were forced to have his executive board with him. [15:15:08] Die. And so. We. Had to make a choice because he started fourth in a lot of our members. [15:15:15] To different areas. And. So it was either you could be in control of you or your. Own destiny. I decided to take control of my own destiny. And transfer to Lansing Michigan. Before I was away. I have a son here. My kids here. How old is your son. Seventy. He's senior at high school. OK. And so I left his senior year. [15:15:41] So yeah there's got to be tough to get in. So how do you get your community and your family in order to be able to seek your job. Yes. I have twenty four and half. Years. [15:15:51] Left. So. You know. Thank you for sharing that. [15:15:59] My name is Terry Carey and thank you for coming today. Thank you. I am with the United Steelworkers Local twenty one fifty five. I'm the vice president over there at our clinic is the corporation I work for. We produce titanium. In some of our problems we're having right now is the dumping of product in this country and just not getting a fair. Shake. At business. So. We look at trade deals and that's what's causing most of our problems. So what I saw recently. [15:16:33] The loss of some steel jobs in the United States despite some of the efforts that the country has made to address dumping from China onto this market. Those job losses affected where you work or. This part of. [15:16:50] This part of the state. Very much so very much so. Again I wouldn't be quoted but we've lost thousands of jobs from the steel industry in this area in the last. [15:17:01] 20 years. But my personal note if we work we produce take came to our little different product but it's a constant fight. Trying to get a fair deal deals to be able to compete against. China now in Russia both. [15:17:19] Thank you for sharing that with me as we continue the conversation. Oh look to you for some suggestions about what it is we do as a country what you'd like to see in terms of national policy. [15:17:28] Thanks Kerry. My name is Jeremy Lamb like. Radio I'm. A former let him fall by. I'm currently working in Fort Wayne Indiana with 22 0 9. Where they built this Chevy Silverado. Pickup trucks. I just wanted to echo something that she said to you about. What. What. General Motors meant to this area. I grew up here. We moved perhaps when I was five years old. At the time we move right next to the steel mills in Youngstown and they were on my my neighbors and all of the kids I grew up with your father worked in steel mills. That closed just to see that. It just seems to me that this is just reoccurring all over and it's like a bad nightmare. That's that's reoccurring because over the past. Few decades Industry is leaving this area. Jobs are leaving. [15:18:17] There's really nothing much left here. That's what we were trying to fight for. We want to make sure that General Motors remains here and that we remain present in this community because it's so important. We understand that for every job lost here it affects the 900 jobs and just ripple effects all through the economy. And. I think right now. We're beginning to feel it in this area although it's just the beginning of the impact. I think there's going to be a lot more to come. How far is your. Drive to Fort Wayne. It's about four hours and you still have family here. Yes. My and my wife and my two kids I have. Eight year old twin girls. Yeah I have to leave them behind. She's currently in nursing school right now which is very demanding that you know anybody that's a nurse. You understand how demanding nursing school is. So she's now doing that by herself because I'm four hours away. I can't be there to help her. [15:19:08] So I offer as much support as I can. We have some friends we don't have much family here but we're getting as much support as we can possibly get to help her get through it. But it's very very difficult. Right now for the family when you're making this drive back and forth. How often are you coming back towards her. I try to come back every weekend. But considering the demand or I'd like to pick up trucks they tend to want a lot of overtime. So the way the contract is structured prior to its expiration you can work two Saturdays on your own so to make that four hour drive like you know just when you won't have one one day off is very difficult. Yes it is hard to go. So I would probably get home at least two Saturdays a month if I could. Any other time I'm on the phone. Based timing my kids make sure that they have a good day in school. Trying to help them with homework. Things. Like that. They're in third grade. They're actually pretty sure. Are they here. [15:20:01] Yes it got this school that was just there soft original. [15:20:05] I live in Green Township which is right right outside of Salem. Good. [15:20:09] Thank you for sharing all that. Appreciate it. Hi I'm Tiffany Davis. I teach fifth grade at. Elementary school and. My husband is a displaced worker from GM. He's currently. In Bowling Green Kentucky. Tennessee. And. He drives home every Friday after work. He goes back to his apartment in Bowling Green every Sunday after my. Well. Yeah. He's a really dedicated dad and it's really. High. We've sold our home. And I. In two weeks I'm moving into my mother in law's. So that we can make ends meet. How old are your kids. My son Brian is 10 and my daughter. I'm sorry. He's 11 and my daughter Aubrey is 6. So they miss him terribly. We live on face time now. Our family is a lot different as you can imagine. Because of all of this. And. You know. My kids are feeling tremendous emotional. Impact from this. But when I see my kids I don't only mean my own children they give birth to obviously also my students and students and the entire school. We've really been feeling a lot of distress from them. They are young and they have young minds. People think that means they don't understand. And they do. That. [15:21:24] Because their parents have also had to make really tough decisions. People hear about Joe Carter commuting a half was four hours away and not be with him. Yes. [15:21:36] Yes. And it's not just their parents. Their grandparents or other people they might live with but even some of them their best friend. You know. From the cradle is gone all of a sudden and sometimes that was out of nowhere. They didn't get much notice other than hey in two weeks your family is to report to. Indiana or Michigan or Kentucky or. Even Texas. None of our students had to go that far away. Not. Only to resurface to do so. So that the emotional impact that they're feeling is something that we are trying to deal with and also the financial impact to all of the families. I know that my family fortunately has a savings and we are definitely getting into that strike. But some of our families don't have that to rely on. And so they're there they're suffering. At our school. I guess it's a good meeting for you is doing what they can to help. You. Sure sure. I several things an intervention specialist at Lord Sun Elementary School. The president of the Lordstown Teachers Association I was also a part of the drive at home campaign. That. We held. When. The. Plant was. [15:22:43] Like. That's GM speak for they're closing it down instead of closing pretty much. Yeah I had a meeting. [15:22:54] With the attorneys for the sergeant. Yes. [15:22:58] So you know kind of piggybacking off of Tiffany do we are doing right now with families who are separated families who had to have had to make that important decision. Do we say do we go. We have a lot of families who have you know. One parent right now. Just either the mother or the father. Is taking care of them. Many families a number of families decided to stay to their. Oldest children finish. High. School. [15:23:27] So you know like the youth experiencing that separation not only are those families suffering but it's it takes a toll on all of the children just because they're young doesn't mean they don't know what's going on. And the school district has worked to put services in place in order to help these families. [15:23:48] And that's part of what you do as an intervention specialist. I work with students who struggle in school who need the extra help that could be connected to this. Yes to the family that we have put we. Have a part time counselor at the elementary. [15:24:06] Level just specifically for the elementary. We have a program called Homes for kids coming in. There's a food pantry here at the hateful and. Pantry. There's also a closet. Kids. Need. New clothes. There's a backpack program that we're getting up and running at the elementary school. [15:24:26] You've seen greater demand for all this. [15:24:29] Yes. And you know in the district in order to help the students we've also eliminated student fees play to pay pay for play for sport. So we have implemented different programs and taken different initiatives in order to try to help. I. Believe are or out. You know. [15:24:54] What's happening. I've got to think. And you all can confirm this but if the GM plant as the GM plant closes as it has a ripple effect. And you mention for every one GM job there's 67 jobs in Lordstown as those jobs are impacted as businesses decline or go. Out of business or go bankrupt. Then the tax base suffers and then the money come into the schools has got to be diminished as well. So that's going to be the hit on revenues to provide services that you just described. So at some point you've got to wonder where that money is going to be made up front. Yeah. Thank you for sharing that. [15:25:37] Jim So currently you have to share those story. [15:25:46] I know that you were in New York City. You did. You were there for a magazine shoot. I can't remember. My daughter. [15:26:01] Here. Oh really. She said she calls me and she goes for her. Oh. Oh. Gosh you don't know who he is. So we're talking and talking and talking. You. I was talking to Jesus. Oh my God he's. [15:26:23] Here. Oh. God. I'll keep that in mind. I think you look good. [15:26:31] OK. [15:26:34] All right. I'm being recorded secretary for the AFL CIO. I am also retiring from. You see every way. There was a conference for Stone. I was the only female. Ever to be. Appointed. To this job. Part of that job was doing arbitrations hearing grievances. Also doing national contracts. For. Lockheed Martin General Electric. There have been several other companies. So in regards to plant closings I personally have come from to quite close. Under General Electric. And I've also helped to write language contracts that made it difficult. For General Electric and other companies to be able to close their location. The sad part is it came to a point where. It didn't. Matter. How much money they had to pay to get rid of the toy vs when they shut their plants down. [15:27:33] It was not necessarily employees. It was the other benefits that were part of that. That was so costly to them. We talked about the breakdown of family over here but I also want you to understand that. It's more than just the Lordstown community although they are directly impacted by this. Many people from the tri county area Youngstown. Austin. Struthers. More and. Different areas. Worked. At. And so the Youngstown area is suffering. AUSTIN. THOMAS. It is something that is you know it's it's like a river a creek it just runs through it and. Everybody. Is impacted by it. You know General Electric used to have five locations here. They currently have. And to quote Jack Welsh you know he wanted to quit all factories on a barge. So that he could float them off to the cheapest place. To make. So when he took out work and took it to. Mexico and Hungary. And China. It wasn't cheap there. [15:28:51] So now we had to go to different places for. Which is just disgusting. This is. Some Jeremy talked about this almost like a nightmare that's continued to be revisited as you have. Big corporations who became big in part because of those who worked for those corporations here. Who after they've become outrageously profitable. In order to get more profits or buy more shares back from. Investors move those jobs to other places often to find that those jobs are not sustainable. Those are the places they don't have the same value or productivity that we have right here in Ohio. That is really helpful to know that is true too in terms of GDP and also the other communities that are affected. [15:29:38] The other common I would like to make is when these plants closed. It was not because the workers there were not productive. It is not because they did not produce a quality. Product. It was great. Corporate greed right. [15:29:54] We're proud of. We're very proud of our record. We were going through all the auditors we're actually come to our plant to. What they called for. Saw a standard that General Motors wants for all of their manufacturing throughout the world and our quality was impeccable we were gonna get it and they canceled the auditors before the on allocation. Yeah. Because I mean our quality was was second to none. So I mean when when you want to talk about shutting down a plane had nothing to do with our quality work ethic. [15:30:24] So I'm sorry. I mean our margins just agreed to one more thought. Yes like. [15:30:30] You know sitting around this table here we are all union members. And that's because we believe that workers deserve the dignity of a decent job. They need to work in a safe environment. They need to make a living wage. They need to be able to be productive and go home to their families so that their families are able to live a life to go to school and just have whatever normal is. The middle class there's a middle class white middle class. And you know the sad part is because we have worked so hard. We work with people. [15:31:06] Who do not understand. How hard it was for the labor movement. To become. As strong as we were. And that's why corporations wanted to take it away from us. And other people who have lost their jobs have never stepped up. And wanted to help. Like the UAW because they had health care. And they were making good money. I lost my job. So maybe you should have all that. You should. That should be taken away from you. Instead of building someone up or we're. Here it's come to the point where people want things taken away. So that we fall down to where. The race to the bottom we keep saying. Someone. Thanks sure. Thank you. It. Sounds a lot. Of. [15:31:53] I'm retired staff rep for That's My House counsel we worked with them for twenty three years representing public employees from nine counties on the side of the state of Ohio predominately state county this boat. Most of my work. County city of those. Small cities largest cities. One of the things that. I think is important is prior to coming to work for ask me I was asked a member and I was doing social work at job services. So I put people on public assistance for years and I was around in the 1980s after the steel mills shut down as a case worker. And I watched families make decisions about. Selling burial plots. I watched people put second mortgages the home. I saw families break up. I had a client commit suicide. We saw people go through all of that steel mills shut down. And I remember and I hate to say this but this is that eerie feeling I remember when the steel mills first shut down especially Washington to Virginia now and younger people if they were able to they would take jobs elsewhere. [15:33:01] You know. They were I have to some of them were average or offer jobs and they were trapped because they needed to work. They needed to take care of family and eventually. Those steel mills shut down. And sooner or later as they went out of business. And we just stopped producing that kind of steel. People would come back home and they would lose. And when you if you drive through Youngstown. A lot of what you're seeing are the remnants of. What has happened to manufacturing and what's happened to the family. In this community. And it is heartbreaking because I'm hoping we're not seeing this again. Young mothers. I'm hoping that sending people to other places is not a sign of. Where we're going to start. Little by little chipping away at the American auto workers. [15:33:46] It's really interesting to me. He said that eerie feeling that night here or the resonance with another time with the steel mills or General Electric and massive loss of devastation you've seen in the community and maybe some people or certain generations who are working today who saw that from their parents thinking that would never happen right. To me this is stable especially given the investment the American taxpayer and the Ohio textures made. Only to see this happening. And I want to as we finish introductions really want to get to what you would like to see us as a country do to hold GM accountable. Also maybe to her knowledge to the other. Underlying dynamics here. In Ohio but also in other parts of the country facing some of the same challenges. [15:34:34] Thank you because as this let me just as all this is shut down. There's a lot of land that can be used. There is a lot of space. Cost of living is relatively cheap here. I mean we're open for business right. So it's not like we just want to shut down because we lost one one plant. [15:34:53] You know we're here. The families are willing to work. People want to go somewhere they want to take care of their families. We want a place for our children to be able to have a career. Right now you're not seeing a lot of children just say I had to go because here. [15:35:10] Thank you for sharing that. It is also one of the most politically active. Do you think there was a county judge. Yup. She has always worked at running somebody's campaign. Usually a judge just judicial seems like lately last year she got another one now. Yeah. Maybe you can. Learn something. [15:35:28] I could use to help right now. Well I didn't say anything about that. [15:35:33] About that Hatton being president he has now a black eye. But we are concerned. I just had a conversation with the leadership at and of Lacey. [15:35:42] And I'm sure that you're aware of the voter purging going on that is at the top of my list when people talk about what we do about 20 20. We need to start talking about reregistering people who were purged and not care if he calls it maintenance. It's purge OK people who are purged who are still alive and still live at the same place and are still eligible voters. [15:36:05] All over the country. We just was in Georgia not too long ago. We all know Stacey Abrams would be the governor but for the purchase hundreds of thousands of voter rolls in Texas. A similar dynamic. We have ranked 15th in voter turnout for 28 teams. Because of. What had happened to voter rolls voter I.D. laws and then gerrymandering were literally based on race ethnicity. People were drawn out of congressional districts and really had the intended effect. You did not vote commiserate with the population state but it's beginning to change where the Voting Rights Act would go along automatically enfranchisement reregistration and then automatic same day voter registration would just absolutely change this country send about 50 million people you could bring in. So thanks for mentioning. Kathleen. [15:36:59] I am Kathleen. I serve several. Counties and I can say. Mahoning and Trumbull. [15:37:09] Is probably being hit the most severe. And. [15:37:16] The ripple effect. You see it time and time again. And you wonder why these businesses do this. And I can answer that easily because they can. Get away it. There is legislation that we are looking. For someone. To proudly PUSH FOR AND A COUPLE OF THOSE THINGS ARE. PRO UP. THE. They protect our right to organize. [15:37:54] Yes I think you've probably heard about. Because the one thing I really appreciate is when I see. Businesses do what they're doing. [15:38:11] There's no consequence there's no teeth in some of the things that we tried to accomplish. So unfortunately bad things happen for the working families. We also are hearing about a nanny. The problem with the new NAF done there's some good and there's some bad in that. But once again there is no consequence. So why why would anybody follow the rules. If there's no consequence. One great consequence that Rich Trumka had discussed was. Once there is an agreement in place then. We are permitted to have inspectors. In. Canada and Mexico. And if the agreement is not followed that product cannot get across the border. I think that's a huge incentive. For folks to follow the law. Nabisco that was discussed. And. When that company went to Mexico they're making anywhere from one dollar and 20 cents. Upwards to like. Dollar 70. An hour. You're always going to find a country where people are that desperate. And what we have to do is in these agreements like I said. We have to do something because when you look at the business man that's competing with other businesses that are saying hey you know they're going over there and their human capital is. Next to nothing. [15:40:00] Compared. That's why we have to put teeth in the legislation and we have to. Everyone. [15:40:06] Agreed. So I'll give you some talking points if you don't have it later on. [15:40:12] Take care. [15:40:16] Thank you. My name's Gary Steinbeck. And. Short business of. I worked in a plant for. 20 years and I took the international freshman. Class. Forty five years of steel. And I remember why I went on. And. [15:40:35] What I mean when I first got her 18 years old. Which gas plant shut down. Two years. But. This whole valley was booming. The jobs. I mean. I know guys that changed jobs three or four times in a year. They got more time. A good old. One of our steel plants and go to IU we seek out a backer and fifteen. Eighteen thousand people there. There was so much to the point that it was unbelievable. This whole area was booming. And I'll tell you what. Since 1978 just our union alone just the steelworkers. We lost 50000 thousand steel for jobs in this valley. And that's a fact. Just our union. And I got to tell you something. The worst thing that could ever happen to a worker. In their life. Is to lose their job. And there's only one thing worse than that an SUV losing a loved one. [15:41:35] And there's three groups of people when they lose their jobs. The skilled trades guys they use. They can move along. They're going to find work because they're skilled trades. Not saying it's easy for me anyway. But. They could not find work. You've got a group from the middle. You know they're going to go on work they've got to work somewhere. But then you've got a group on the bottom that falls apart. And they're suicide. It's devastating. And. We take our hand up as we've done with the UAW folks for decades. And what a great plant. Great leadership. What you've done for this valley yet to lose this plant. Is another disgrace. And we just keep going through it over and over and over again and wonder how is it going to end. And you want to talk about NAFTA. [15:42:24] I'm telling you right now that was the worst thing that ever happened to this country. Because. Plants distorted leave and right and left they're moving out of here like it's unbelievable. I don't want. You're hardly making a thing in America anymore. We've got to get back and making profit. That's the only way we can be strong. And then. End up in the tax base. Look what's. Going to happen to the tax base. It's affecting everybody. You can't it's just it's absolutely terrible here. We need we need labor law. We need some strong labor law. Divisions no question about. Somehow some way. [15:43:11] We can't do this alone as workers because we bend. We marched on Washington every year. Lobbying senators that congressional people about jobs about our plants closing down. Layoffs plants moving out of the country. You just it's like going down to a grocery store and buying a. Pound of apples. They just pick up and move up. They don't care. General Motors. We bailed them out. I can get some real detail about that story. We bailed them out and Obama was under Obama's term. We bailed them out. They were in deep trouble. We bailed them out. And then they turn right around. After they reach your prosperity instead of building plants all over the world. [15:44:03] And that's what they did us. That's what they did. These folks turned around. They knew they they knew five years ago. They think they can forecast they get the smartest people in the world working for what. They can forecast. They knew four or five years ago they were going to shut down all plants of America. And this was one of them. They also knew they were gonna build a plant in Mexico and start shipping blazers up here. I want to know enough is enough. And I'll tell you what. Whoever whoever is gonna be the president. I'm telling you right now they need to get up. Get in there and we need a Democrat. No question about it is a RINO Republican gonna do anything for working people. We all know that. That's why we're here today. But I doubt whoever is gonna be this next president they'd better do something about labor reform. We need strong labor laws and labor to protect. The workers in this country and they need to do something about these companies picking up shop and just taking off and abandoning us and destroying our cities. And our economies. [15:45:07] That's it for me right now. Thank you very much. As a paying job. [15:45:13] It's full of my body. Look I I. I worked under Gary Stein but my name is Jose or. You know. It. Is also. Steel worker. From. 19 years down at the local. [15:45:27] Plant called commercial shearing. And from then I then got selected to be on staff and I'm also the vice president of political coverage for phoning Trumbull County. AFL CIO. So I'm a third generation steelworkers. My grandfather come here from Puerto Rico. My father retired from the mills. And. Right. Next to the lineage. Personally I've closed. Five plants in the last four and a half years. One of them was a direct result. Of what happened on board stone. Place called comprehensive logistics. I lost six hundred members two years after we inked a record contract for those workers to greatly improve their standard of living. Two years into that contract. There. Were a feeder plant to General Motors. And when they went down we went down. [15:46:13] And so you want to talk about sitting in front of a group of people for us with 600 members and telling them that. This is the end of the road. They experience the same ramp down as you lost the ship five members lost the ship. We've supported the UAW and always will. But our backs. Dave Green stood with us on our strike lines on on word Masry. Stood in solidarity with us. We stand with solidarity with you during your actions right now. Steel workers. Will. UAW only be tied together. We're looking around at Warren Ohio and seeing just the empty space and it is the highest. The highest. [15:46:51] Unemployment rate in the state. It's ridiculous here. And when I hear the stories on the news about this this this raging economy. This is not the economy that we see here in the Midwest. This is not the economy that most of the people I know in Ohio. Pennsylvania places like Michigan and Wisconsin because we see the loss. You know you don't we don't have the politics of the east and west coast. Look this is the Midwest that we do manufacturing. We do steel and with our industries hurting we're seeing a lot of families hurting right now which is affecting everything health care. Across the board the crime. You see the heroin epidemic. People need a reason to. Stay clean. People need a reason to live. And without good paying jobs without. Living wage jobs that's not going to happen. You know what. Whoever. Becomes the president. Must speak in faith and say that we're going to have a change. Whoever becomes president needs to take a look at. Like you said are our labor laws the Constitution. Of. Who's making up the board right now. There are four. Horrible decisions coming up on Labor which are gutting our ability because there's really only one way to adjust. For an income across every state. That's collective bargaining. [15:48:06] Instead of try to balance out what minimum wage works. Well you know it works well. Collective bargaining works several times and that's what we need to get back to. As far as I'm concerned. You know. We need to get back to manufacturing base. Look. The value of a college degree is even. Depreciating. Because there are no manufacturing jobs. It hurts. The American Dream is being eroded for us people in the Midwest specific. It's hard. It's hard to see people without jobs. And you're seeing PLANTS. THIS GENTLEMAN WORKS AT A PLACE THAT YOU'RE titanium aerospace it'll make some of the planes. We have places down here that make tankage for oil and gas. We need somebody who understands a complicated diverse economy and as well as not applying unilateral tariffs across the board which are killing some of our industries. Some help in some places but they're not the answer we need. You need to pull it as you look at passing rates. It's somebody to understand and just not slap something on some one size fits all solution because I've got other places there. The tariffs are killing I mean the places are shrinking. I'm just trying to stay alive right now. So we need to leave the base to understand what's going on. That's what we're looking for. [15:49:22] We appreciate you coming down. Thank you. It's a pleasure. Thank you. Really helpful too to just listen and learn everything that you have had to say and also some of the solutions that you brought forward. And Gary you talked about and Kathleen you said this as well that the labor laws that we have and the ability for corporations to do this because they can't do this and they will do this for as long as they are are able to say saying that you know the right to collectively bargain is the most effective thing in the world and we know it passed so our sister city is that what is in El Paso Poston after we had more than twenty thousand trade adjusted job losses in our community. Every one of them a voter moved over to what is the worker and those my keyless employers are making 40 and 50 bucks a week. And as you probably know and Kathleen you brought this up and you're talking about NAFTA. They have no right to organize that. [15:50:16] There are sham unions these syndicates they're formed before the first workers hired so the deals already struck between management and whoever the handpicked syndicate leader is no ability to use the leverage of what they provide in value to exact better working conditions. And I've begun to understand how this is all connected to Ohio because when when their leverage is diminished it sets an unequal uneven playing field for you here or really anyone around the world has to compete with Mexico. And so it's not good for the people in that community definitely not good for the people in this community. So I hear you loud and clear on higher standards and NAFTA better enforcement having those inspectors who certify before anything crosses the border and also the right to organize especially in states like mine in Texas where it's a right to work state which is this strange George Orwell invention because it makes it obviously much harder for people to work and can earn earn a living wage what. [15:51:15] And Bill I don't know if you want to begin what are some ideas in addition to what we just talked about talked about the pro act and some specific pieces of legislation that over the long term are going to address this. Because many times it's been brought up in this conversation with many different examples of many different corporations over many different eras shutting down and really devastating this region. What's a long term view and what would that take from national leadership to produce. So. One of the things around the table. Has been. How. [15:51:49] Workers feel like they have no protection. Look at what General Motors did. I heard on the news today that a lady woke up from surgery and her husband told her. What would. Happen. If we lost our health insurance. How can. A. Corporation like General Motors unilaterally just with no warning. Say. Your health care. It's just Bloomberg reported today that family health care now has reach over the average. Family health care means over twenty thousand dollars a year. People how. People. Talk. That. The cost of a car. Most of the workers and I know that the health care costs go up and. They see more of their disposable income shrinking. If they can afford health care at all. You had mentioned the impact. To the school district care. Ws. Eight. Hundred thousand dollars a year. [15:52:35] The schools can't. Have that kind of loss like you're going to see layoffs here. Is going to have the ripple effect we're talking about because the more and more families. Losing losing their jobs. And it's really hard on our kids. I'm also the president a board of learning and health care the largest. Drug and alcohol facility in northeast Ohio. We have three hundred employees a budget of over 18 million dollars a year. Stuff like this happens or drug abuse or alcoholism or gambling addiction. And so it's just that ripple effect. You're talking about the impact. On families. And so we want to see the federal government look at. That pays to look out for workers and look for companies. That will talk about the right to organize. Also in the way we look at it is we look at everybody. We just don't look at our. Look at the community. Because there's a lot of unorganized people that. That are suffering the same way we are. And so we want a government that. Cares about us. Look out for us. And not look out for the corporation like I've already said we're the biggest economic engines in Ohio was agriculture. You know we have farmers going under. We have a trade war with China is is is killing all most of the soybeans we made grew in this state. Corn went to China. That's all gone because our president wants a trade war. [15:53:51] That market is closed. Yeah exactly. They worked for 20 years to be able to ship stuff over there. Guess what. What's more people out of work over here. [15:53:59] And people outside of union members and that has a ripple effect. It just keeps growing and growing and growing. And. We don't. Feel. This current administration. Has any long term plan any long term strategy. It's like a it's just like kicking a football down the field you know where it's going to go and and. Whatever happens that's. What they react to it and the people of America don't want that. They want to call. The. Leadership with a strategy. That's what we're looking for in a president that will try to improve the lives of all of. All Americans. And we haven't had that for a while and that's why we're looking for that change. [15:54:38] And not talking before you arrived here. That's the theme I got from everybody here is what are you looking for in the president wouldn't the open to a one they also change you know. And so we we appreciate. I know you have to leave a message you have about five more minutes before you have to go. And you're going to. Visit. Some of the workers. That's right on the picket line and then you got to go to a rally. So I don't. I don't want to take up too much time but. We appreciate you coming in. You really love to have you here to hear us. And to me you can read the news accounts but it's different when you sit here and you find out about a family that's split up and you see a person and you relate to them and hear their story. You know going from Michigan and Kentucky and Indiana and just the dividing up families that's like that's. Part of the problem. Until. [15:55:26] People look at marriage report they just want the numbers statistic right. They don't see that. It's fine. You know when you have and. I've said this many times you know companies. Are being treated by people and people are just. Increasing numbers. When you when you have that happening. It's so much easier to do a gentleman's going right now because you know you just look at the bottom line the profits are. Desperate. Profits. These numbers are standing in the way so much is going to close this plant down plant that plant. The humanity has been taken out of our. Economic system. It's all about numbers. And money now. And. I would like to just say to I agree with. What we need to do. We need some kind of. Change. In the laws. We have laws protecting investors. We have laws protecting the investment classes. [15:56:13] And we don't have any laws protecting people. We have. Power. They were able to close down a plant that was on contract until September. They should have been able to tell my husband on March 19th in. Kentucky. And come up here and that's where we got started got get. [15:56:30] Going. I got your last comment. Yeah of course. It's. Kind of like you said about the health care. [15:56:36] That was a real big issue for. He is negotiating with Ms. When they took out health care. Just. Went. Right. It's already negotiated launched by. I hope you. Know that. Ago that. For them to come out the blue I to call my kids because I'm in Michigan. Hey. My daughter. Yeah. You find a doctor. Now go back to Gabby appointment. You have to cancel. [15:57:03] I'm sorry. I think. We were we were with striking UAW members in Cincinnati yesterday and this really surprised me. They said many their members had surgeries that were scheduled that then got canceled. Others were refilling prescriptions for insulin for diabetes as myself. Yes. [15:57:24] Yeah. Yeah. So you got to the times and you're like you're chasing a. Decline. In here. When the news. GM made 8 billion in profits. [15:57:38] Last year I said I've been here before. Paid an effective tax rate of zero. You mentioned Carrie that the historic bailout that everybody in America paid into including the workers at GM bail out General Motors for the investors bail it out because when your hot. Dog. Was. Stolen. That's. Exactly. What we were. Going to. Go back. And you see. One picture. Go back to the 1930s. [15:58:05] It was a two class society in America. Labor unions started off I know the International. School. Twelve guys. [15:58:26] Plants are still needed. Other unions. I received. A. UAW. Trade unions I mean all kinds of unions for. [15:58:40] Profit. They built a middle class in America. Sure it's now. Starting like about 30 years ago. You had. Rich. For. You had. [15:58:53] People in the middle class labor unions created a middle class in America. Not only did we do it for our members but we also did it for these plants where they were non-union because employers lifted their wages and benefits to keep us out of stuff. So that's who created a middle class in America. And I tell you it's been a great ride for a lot of decades not today with the trains running down the track. [15:59:20] And nobody's running and nobody's running the engine. There's there's a young man at that Cincinnati strike yesterday and it's interesting because very often. Especially those from an older generation will sometimes say well young people who really understand service or sacrifice or or what made this country great in the first place. Much of the history that you just shared and this young man could have said almost verbatim what you said. And he said I'm out on this picket line not just for myself and other UAW members. I'm out here for the middle class. He said if if we fail in this and we will fail the entire country. This is not just for us it is for this country. [15:59:56] It's really a shame that he gets that and he knows what what his role is right now at this moment. And he feels that level of service and sacrifice. And so I'm struck by the UAW members who are taking 250 bucks a week and their health care is uncertain right now and the future is indefinite but they're willing to do it. And this young man tell me he's in for the duration. I don't care how long this takes. I'm in this to do the right thing for the country. And you really saw that that kind of historic role for himself and for the. Other comments questions as. Well. [16:00:32] OK. One last one last comment and then we're out of time. Getting rid of social. Watch out for. This. Every time he's going to keep. In. Mind. He has. Created the middle class I. [16:00:47] Guess going to purchase. Problem. Right. Right. From. Right. If. You do not. We don't have. Any. More. You're going to go. You can't have a consumer based on the kind of pork. So. [16:01:04] You make the point I think this economy will collapse on itself. We have some indications some indicators point towards sports recession. Right now. That didn't happen by accident. When you have. A middle class that is diminishing or is more anxious or does not have the resources to spend. Then this economy starts to slow down stop and then. Go into reverse. We saw that wages increased on average point five percent. Last year and this two trillion dollar tax cut which was sold on the premise that it's going to used to pay workers more. It was really used to buy back shares and to pay higher dividends and to help investors. Many of you have made this point. [16:01:42] I agree with it. I wrote down what you said that companies are being treated like people. People are being treated like numbers and we're losing the humanity in our system. That's the tax code. That's the NLRB and somebody mentioned the composition of the court say the NLRB right now. That the lack of legislation protecting workers are just everyday Americans. I mean this idea that it's about all of us not just union members and I think that's part of my job as a candidate is to say if UAW members are successful it's great for the UAW. It's even better for the rest of the United States. And so if you're in a union if you're not in a union you've got to want them to succeed right now. And we've got to give them a fighting chance to have Supreme Court justices that don't give us that decision. [16:02:23] That's right. The ones. That we have right now. Absolutely. Looks like you're worried. Great thanks. [16:02:30] I think it's very hard to break anything right. Yeah. We'll ask we have a good money and free care at least. [16:02:42] Absolutely not going to look like you ever had a guy. Thank you. Yes. Do we have time that. Everybody wants. Absolutely. Thank you. Thank you all for spending time I really appreciate. Jeremy thank you so much. Wrote down a lot of what you said. But it really hit home. Without. Me. It's not like. I just. Want to say. Yes. [16:03:09] I. He's. Going to go.

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee holds a hearing on Toyota safety record with Ray LaHood, David Strickland of the NHTSA Mr. Akio Toyoda, Mr. Yoshimi Inaba Other witnesses will include Joan Claybrook, Clarence Ditlow, Sean Kane of the Safety Research and Strategies Inc., and two victims 16:00:01 MR. TOYODA, I WAS IMPRESSED WITH YOUR OPENING REMARKS. 16:00:03 IN FACT, I'M IMPRESSED WITH YOUR BEING HERE. 16:00:07 I'M IMPRESSED WITH SOME OF WHAT YOU HAVE SAID YOU INTEND TO DO 16:00:11 BECAUSE WE ARE REALLY GOING FORWARD. 16:00:14 I AM TRYING IN MY OWN QUESTIONS TO GET SOME SENSE OF WHERE WE 16:00:20 NEED TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN TOYOTA AND WHERE THERE IS STILL 16:00:23 SOME QUESTIONS. BUT IN YOUR TESTIMONY YOU SAY -- 16:00:27 AND I'M QUOTING -- I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT HERE, THIS IS PAGE 16:00:33 ONE OF YOUR TESTIMONY, THAT TOYOTA'S PRIORITY HAS 16:00:37 TRADITIONALLY BEEN THE FOLLOWING: FIRST, SAFETY, 16:00:42 SECOND, QUALITY, AND THIRD, VOLUME. 16:00:46 I'M GOING TO ASK YOU A QUESTION ABOUT WHAT SEEMS TO BE A FOURTH 16:00:52 PRIORITY. THAT IS FOR ME THE MOST 16:00:56 TROUBLING ASPECT OF THIS CONTROVERSY. 16:00:59 AND THAT FIRST FOURTH QUALITY IS SECRECY. 16:01:08 TO GET TO THE HEART OF MY CONCERN ABOUT SECRECY AND THE 16:01:12 CULTURE OF SECRECY, I WOULD GO TO THE DATA RECORDER, OTHERWISE 16:01:25 KNOWN AS BLACK BOX. PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES ARE 16:01:28 VERY FAMILIAR WITH AIRLINE BLACK BOXES BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT A 16:01:33 IN THAT BLACK BOX IS CRITICAL INFORMATION. 16:01:37 AND IF YOU GET TO IT FAST YOU CAN FIND THE CAUSE. 16:01:43 YOU CAN PUT -- YOU CANNOT ONLY RESPOND TO THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN 16:01:48 HURT, YOU CAN PUT TO REST SOME OF THE CONCERNS AS PEOPLE BEGIN 16:01:53 TO SPECULATE WHAT, INDEED, CAUSED THIS. 16:01:55 AND THEY COME UP WITH SOMETIMES WILD CONCLUSIONS. 16:02:01 BUT THAT BLACK BOX IS CRITICAL. NOW, OTHER MANUFACTURERS, 16:02:10 UNDERSTANDING JUST HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO GET TO THE CAUSE OF THE 16:02:13 ACCIDENT FOR ALL CONCERNED, MAKE THE BLACK BOX DATA AVAILABLE TO 16:02:23 D DOWNLOAD. 16:02:24 I HAVE HAD A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING, THEREFORE, GIVEN 16:02:28 THE FACT THAT YOUR COMPETITORS MAKE THIS DATA DOWNLOADABLE 16:02:38 EASILY, I HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY UNDERSTANDING TOYOTA INVOKING 16:02:45 PROPRIETARY TECHNOLOGY THAT ALLOWS ONLY YOU, TOYOTA, ON THE 16:02:53 SPOT TO DOWNLOAD. WHY SHOULD WE RESPECT YOUR 16:03:00 PROPRIETARY TECHNOLOGY ANY MORE THAN WE WITH RESPECT THE 16:03:07 PROPRIETARY TECHNOLOGY OF OTHER AUTOMAKERS, PARTICULARLY GIVEN 16:03:10 THE SAFETY ASPECTS OF THIS MATTER AND THE FACT THAT AN 16:03:15 ACCIDENT HAS ALREADY OCCURRED. WHY DO YOU NOT WANT TO CLEAR THE 16:03:21 AIR AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE? ON WHAT BASIS DO YOU INVOKE SOME 16:03:29 PROPRIETARY TECHNOLOGY INTEREST WHEN YOUR COMPETITORS DO NOT IN 16:03:33 THE DOWNLOADING AREA? >> LET ME RESPOND TO THAT 16:03:46 QUESTION FIRST THAT YES, WE KNOW DETROIT'S THREE MANUFACTURERS 16:03:50 HAVE THIS INFORMATION AND THEN THE READER IS COMMERCIALLY 16:03:55 AVAILABLE. TOYOTA IS ALSO -- 16:03:59 >> WAIT A MINUTE. WHAT'S COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE 16:04:03 AND WHEN? >> THE DETROIT THREE -- GENERAL 16:04:08 MOTORS, FORD, CHRYSLER -- HAVE THIS COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE 16:04:15 READER THAT THIS -- WHAT YOU -- >> WHY DON'T YOU HAVE SUCH A 16:04:20 READER? >> WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF 16:04:22 MAKING IT AVAILABLE COMMERCIALLY BY PROBABLY MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR 16:04:27 WHICH IS AHEAD OF THE LAW REQUIREMENT, A. 16:04:31 B, THAT THIS YEAR, BY APRIL, IN LESS THAN TWO MONTHS' TIME, WE 16:04:37 ARE GOING TO MAKE A HUNDRED UNITS OF READERS AVAILABLE AT 16:04:43 ANY REGION, ANY AREA. THE POINT IS THAT, YOU KNOW, 16:04:49 ALSO IN THE PAST WITH REQUESTS WE MADE IT ALWAYS OPEN. 16:04:56 NOW, THIS IS THE INFORMATION THAT IS THE OWNERS' INFORMATION. 16:05:00 WITH THEIR CONSENT, WE CAN MAKE THAT INFORMATION -- 16:05:02 >> YEAH, IT WAS AVAILABLE IF YOU WERE ON THE SPOT. 16:05:04 >> NO. WE DO NOT HIDE IT AT THE REQUEST 16:05:10 OF AUTHORITIES LIKE POLICE REQUEST OR NHTSA REQUEST OR SOME 16:05:14 GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY'S REQUEST. WE MADE IT OPEN. 16:05:17 >> ONCE YOU CAME AS IF THERE WAS SOMETHING SO SECRET THAT YOU HAD 16:05:22 TO BE THERE IN ORDER FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OR REGULATORS TO 16:05:26 READ IT. I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THE 16:05:29 DIFFERENCE. INDEED, LET ME MAKE SURE I 16:05:31 UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR TESTIMONY IS. 16:05:33 ARE YOU SAYING THAT THE COMPANY IS REDESIGNING THE BLACK BOX SO 16:05:39 THAT IT CAN BE READABLE BY LAW ENFORCEMENT, BY SAFETY 16:05:44 INVESTIGATORS AND CONSUMERS? >> AND OWNERS. 16:05:49 >> CONSUMERS, YES. >> IT SHOULD NOT BE MADE 16:05:53 AVAILABLE TO ANYBODY ELSE UNLESS THERE IS A CONSENT, TO MY 16:05:57 KNOWLEDGE, OF THE OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE. 16:06:03 >> YOU WOULD NOT HAVE TO BE -- TOYOTA WOULD NOT HAVE TO BE 16:06:08 PRESENT IN ORDER FOR THE BLACK BOX TO BE READ. 16:06:10 IS THAT TRUE? JUST LIKE OTHER MANUFACTURERS, 16:06:16 YOU DON'T HAVE TO COME TO UNLOCK THE BLACK BOX PERSONALLY? 16:06:23 >> I DON'T KNOW THAT TECHNICAL DETAIL TO ANSWER. 16:06:27 >> WELL, THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT, SIR. 16:06:30 ONE SECOND. THE GENTLEMAN FROM UTAH HAS FIVE 16:06:54 MINUTES. >> MR. TOYODA, THANK YOU FOR 16:06:57 BEING HERE. VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. 16:07:00 MR. TOYODA, DO YOU BELIEVE YOU ARE BEING TREATED THE SAME AS 16:07:05 OTHER MANUFACTURERS IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA? 16:07:14 [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ] >> YES, I BELIEVE SO. 16:07:16 >> DO YOU HAVE ANY REASON TO BELIEVE THAT OTHER AUTOMAKERS 16:07:20 ARE TREATED ANY DIFFERENTLY BY NHTSA? 16:07:36 [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ] >> Translator: NO, I DON'T THINK 16:07:38 SO. >> IF YOU COULD HAND THE 16:07:40 DOCUMENT, PLEASE, TO THEM. THERE IS A DOCUMENT DATED JULY 6 16:07:46 OF 2009. IF YOU COULD TAKE A LOOK AT 16:07:50 THIS, PLEASE. THIS IS AN INTERNAL TOYOTA 16:07:52 DOCUMENT DATED JULY 6, 2009. IT HAS YOUR NAME ON IT, MR. 16:08:01 INABA. MY APOLOGIES IF I PRONOUNCED IT 16:08:05 WRONG. ON PAGE SEVEN, THE SECOND PAGE, 16:08:07 IT SAYS UNDER THE FIRST BULLET POINT, CHANGING POLITICAL 16:08:10 ENVIRONMENT, MASSIVE GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR DETROIT AUTOMAKERS. 16:08:14 IS THAT CONCERNING? WHY WAS THAT BROUGHT UP? 16:08:21 >> THIS IS ONE OF -- I EXPLAINED ALREADY ONCE PART OF IT. 16:08:27 THIS IS ONE OF MY ORIENTATION BECAUSE I WAS A FEW DAYS INTO 16:08:32 THIS POSITION. THIS IS PREPARED BY WASHINGTON 16:08:35 OFFICE TO GIVE ME SORT OF A FIRST LOOK OF IT. 16:08:41 I DO NOT HONESTLY RECALL ALL THESE NOTIONS. 16:08:48 I RECALL THERE IS A QUIET CAR REGULATION WHICH STRUCK ME WITH 16:08:51 A VERY STRANGE FEELING, BUT THAT WAS THE ONLY THING. 16:08:53 BUT LOOKING AT ALL THESE PAPERS, THIS CERTAINLY DOES NOT 16:09:00 REPRESENT THE TOYOTA'S OVERALL GUIDING PRINCIPLE OR BELIEF. 16:09:03 >> ON THE SECOND PAGE, UNDER KEY SAFETY ISSUES, ON THE FIRST 16:09:10 POINT IT SAYS US-DOT NHTSA UNDER OBAMA ADMINISTRATION NOT 16:09:15 INDUSTRY FRIENDLY. IS THAT A COMPLIMENT OR A 16:09:21 CRITICISM? >> I CAN'T COMMENT ON THAT. 16:09:22 >> WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU? LET ME GO TO THE LAST POINT. 16:09:39 PERHAPS BOTH OF YOU COULD TAKE THIS. 16:09:41 QUOTE, THE NEW TEAM HAS LESS UNDERSTANDING OF ENGINEERING 16:09:45 ISSUES AND ARE PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON LEGAL ISSUES. 16:09:50 CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT TOYOTA MEANT BY THAT? 16:10:09 >> I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE 16:10:13 TWO. ENGINEER, LEGAL. 16:10:15 BOTH ARE INVOLVED ANYHOW. >> BOTH WHAT? 16:10:18 >> BOTH SIDES HAVE BEEN -- WILL BE INVOLVED IN A DISCUSSION 16:10:22 ANYHOW. >> THIS IS AN INTERNAL TOYOTA 16:10:28 DOCUMENT. MR. TOYODA, HOW WOULD YOU READ 16:10:29 THIS? [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ] 16:10:37 >> Translator: I CAN'T UNDERSTAND IT. 16:10:45 >> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT BOTH TOYOTA AND NHTSA KNEW ABOUT THIS 16:10:49 PROBLEM BACK AS EARLY AS 2007. YET IT TOOK SO LONG TO GET IT 16:10:53 TAKEN CARE OF. IS THERE A REGULATORY COMPONENT 16:10:57 HERE THAT WAS SLOWING US DOWN? [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ] 16:11:34 >> Translator: TODAY I CAME TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS PARTICULAR 16:11:39 DOCUMENT WAS PREPARED AS A PART OF THE PRESENTATION MATERIAL 16:11:42 ADDRESSED TO THE NEW PRESIDENT. HOWEVER, I DO NOT KNOW THE 16:11:45 BACKGROUND OF THIS WRITING, NOR DO I KNOW HOW THIS DOCUMENT WAS 16:11:50 PREPARED. THEREFORE, I APOLOGIZE, BUT I 16:11:54 SIMPLY DO NOT KNOW THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION. 16:11:56 >> DO YOU BELIEVE IT'S TRUE? DO YOU STAND BY IT OR DO YOU 16:12:01 WANT TO DISTANCE YOURSELF FROM IT? 16:12:08 [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ] >> Translator: WELL, I NEED TO 16:12:15 UNDERSTAND THIS FURTHER. THAT IS TO SAY, I CANNOT 16:12:17 UNDERSTAND THE ENGLISH WRITTEN HERE. 16:12:21 >> NOW, EIGHT MONTHS INTO THIS POSITION, I'M BEGINNING TO LEARN 16:12:26 MYSELF AND FORM MY OWN OPINION. SO THAT IS NOT CONSISTENT -- OR 16:12:31 I'M LEARNING THIS DOES NOT REPRESENT MY FEELING TODAY. 16:12:37 OF COURSE I WILL LEARN MORE. I WOULD LIKE TO BUILD A VERY 16:12:41 GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH NHTSA SO THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER VERY 16:12:45 GOOD. >> EXPLAIN TO ME THE NEGOTIATION 16:12:53 THAT HAPPENS BETWEEN AN AUTO MANUFACTURER AND NHTSA. 16:12:58 OFTEN THE WORD "NEGOTIATION" IS USED. 16:13:00 HOW DOES THAT WORK? WHAT IS NEGOTIATED IN YOUR -- 16:13:07 >> I HAVE MET NHTSA OFFICIALS TWICE. 16:13:11 SO I AM NOT ABLE TO EXPLAIN WHAT THE NEGOTIATION MEANS. 16:13:16 SO IT IS STILL A LITTLE BIT TOO PREMATURE FOR ME TO SAY 16:13:22 ANYTHING. BUT I DON'T KNOW. 16:13:25 CERTAINLY NEGOTIATION DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A GOOD WORD. 16:13:27 THERE IS A DISCUSSION, YES. BUT ALSO EXCHANGE OF 16:13:32 INFORMATION, YES. WE OFTENTIMES GET THE GOOD 16:13:36 GUIDANCE FROM NHTSA, FROM AN OFFICIAL. 16:13:39 WE LISTEN TO IT, RESPECT THEM. THEY ASK US INFORMATION. 16:13:43 WE PROVIDE THEM. SO THIS IS SORT OF LIKE THE 16:13:49 NATURE OF THE RELATIONSHIP, AS I UNDERSTAND, WHETHER IT FALLS 16:13:52 INTO NEGOTIATE OR NOT, I CAN'T -- I DON'T KNOW. 16:13:57 >> DO YOU BELIEVE, MR. TOYODA, THAT AMERICAN UNIONS HAVE AN 16:14:02 UNDUE INFLUENCE IN THIS PROCESS? [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ] 16:14:28 >> Translator: SINCE I HAVEN'T UNDERSTOOD THE CONTENT OF THIS, 16:14:31 I DON'T KNOW HOW I SHOULD ANSWER THAT QUESTION. 16:14:34 I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. >> TOYOTA HIRED SOME FORMER 16:14:41 NHTSA EMPLOYEES. WHY WOULD IT BE APPEALING TO 16:14:44 HIRE FORMER NHTSA EMPLOYEES? >> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THOSE TWO 16:14:52 GENTLEMEN WHO CAME FROM NHTSA I KNOW PERSONALLY. 16:14:57 SO, OF COURSE, HAVING -- >> HOW DID YOU KNOW THEM? 16:14:59 >> I JUST STARTED MEETING HIM MORE OFTEN BECAUSE I AM A 16:15:04 PRESIDENT OF THAT COMPANY AND MEET THEM. 16:15:06 >> DID YOU KNOW THEM BEFORE THEY WERE HIRED? 16:15:08 >> NO, I DID NOT. I'M BEGINNING TO KNOW THEIR 16:15:14 PERSONALITY, THEIR PROFESSIONAL STANDARD. 16:15:15 SO I HAVE A VERY HIGH RESPECT FOR BOTH GENTLEMEN'S 16:15:24 PROFESSIONALISM AND ETHICAL STANDARDS. 16:15:26 SO IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER THEY ARE COMING FROM NHTSA OR 16:15:29 NOT, TO ME. IT DOES NOT. 16:15:30 >> DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NHTSA AND 16:15:35 TOYOTA OR OTHER MANUFACTURERS IS TOO CLOSE, TOO COZY? 16:15:43 >> I DON'T BELIEVE SO. >> THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS 16:15:49 EXPIRED. FIVE MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN 16:15:52 FROM OHIO. >> I THANK THE GENTLELADY. 16:15:57 WE HAVE HEARD MR. TOYODA SAY THAT TOYOTA GREW TOO FAST. 16:16:02 IT'S INTERESTING THAT IT'S BEING TOLD US AS WE ARE INVESTIGATING 16:16:07 CARS THAT ARE ACCELERATING OUT OF CONTROL. 16:16:10 IT'S IRONIC. BUT I WOULD SUBMIT PERHAPS A 16:16:14 MISLEADING PARALLEL. THE PROBLEM IS NOT THAT YOU WERE 16:16:18 MOVING TOO FAST BUT THAT YOU WERE MOVING TOO SLOW. 16:16:22 TOO SLOW TO RECOGNIZE THE MATERIAL DEFECTS THAT A PUT 16:16:27 PEOPLE'S LIVES AT RISK AND TOO SLOW TO HAVE SOME INTERNAL 16:16:34 QUESTIONING ABOUT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF YOUR OWN VALUE 16:16:38 INNOVATION PROGRAM WHICH IN THE MID DECADE BEGAN SLASHING 16:16:45 PRODUCTION COSTS SO THAT YOU COULD REACH A 10% OPERATING 16:16:50 PROFIT AND WHEN CHINA CAME INTO FULL COMPETITION AND BEGAN 16:16:54 DROPPING THEIR PRICE FOR PARTS, YOU BEGAN TO CUT YOUR COSTS EVEN 16:16:59 MORE. THIS COMMITTEE HASN'T REALLY 16:17:02 LOOKED AT THE ECONOMIC BACKDROP OF THE CHANGE -- WHAT APPEARS TO 16:17:07 BE A CHANGE IN TOYOTA'S CULTURE BUT WHICH MAY BE, IN FACT, A 16:17:11 KIND OF A CUTTHROAT CORPORATE COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT WHICH 16:17:16 CAUSED TOYOTA TO DRIVE COSTS DOWN AND, AS WE KNOW, SAFETY IS 16:17:23 THEN PUT AT RISK. THERE ARE 180 DIFFERENT PARTS 16:17:25 YOU LOOKED AT WHERE YOU CUT THE COST BY AT LEAST 30% ACCORDING 16:17:30 TO INDUSTRY REPORTS. NOW, MR. TOYODA, TO YOUR 16:17:47 KNOWLEDGE WERE THERE EVER ANY DISCUSSIONS AT TOYOTA THAT 16:17:51 CERTAIN DESIGN OR ENGINEERING FLAWS WOULD CREATE SYSTEM 16:17:56 FAILURES THAT WOULD RESULT IN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION? 16:18:00 [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ] [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ] 16:18:59 >> Translator: YOU POINTED OUT THAT BEFORE I BECAME PRESIDENT 16:19:05 THE SPEED OF GROWTH MAY HAVE BEEN TOO FAST. 16:19:08 I WAS REFERRING TO THE FACT THAT THE GROWTH MAY HAVE OUTPACED OUR 16:19:14 ABILITY TO DEVELOP AND TRAIN HUMAN RESOURCES. 16:19:18 AND YOU ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE COMPANY MAY HAVE BECOME A 16:19:23 FINANCE-DRIVEN MANUFACTURING COMPANY. 16:19:25 AND -- >> I UNDERSTAND YOUR ANSWER. 16:19:27 IT'S NOT RESPONSIVE TO THE QUESTION I'M ASKING. 16:19:29 I WANT TO BE POLITE, BUT I ALSO HOPE THAT YOU WILL ANSWER THE 16:19:33 QUESTION THAT I ASK WHICH IS -- WERE THERE EVER ANY DISCUSSIONS 16:19:40 AT TOYOTA THAT CERTAIN DESIGN OR ENGINEERING FLAWS WOULD CREATE 16:19:44 SYSTEM FAILURES THAT WOULD RESULT IN UNINTENDED 16:19:48 ACCELERATION. THAT WAS MY QUESTION AND I WOULD 16:19:53 APPRECIATE THE COURTESY OF A DIRECT RESPONSE. 16:19:56 [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ] >> Translator: WHENEVER THE 16:20:28 ISSUES OF RECALL CAME ABOUT WITHIN TOYOTA, WE HAD VERY 16:20:32 SERIOUS DISCUSSION AS TO AT WHICH STAGE SO-CALLED UNINTENDED 16:20:36 ACCELERATION TAKES PLACE. >> LET ME ASK A FOLLOW UP 16:20:40 QUESTION, MR. TOYODA. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ADVISED BY 16:20:44 YOUR ATTORNEYS OR BUSINESS ASSOCIATES NOT TO DISCUSS ANY 16:20:50 DEFECTS IN THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM BECAUSE 16:20:54 SUCH AN ADMISSION WOULD CREATE SUCH LIABILITY WHICH WOULD BE 16:21:00 FINANCIALLY DEVASTATING TO TOYOTA? 16:21:08 [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ] >> Translator: THAT HAS NEVER 16:21:11 HAPPENED. >> MR. INABA? 16:21:14 >> NEVER HAPPENED. >> YOU HAVE HAD NO DISCUSSION 16:21:17 WITH YOUR ATTORNEYS ABOUT MATTERS OF MATERIAL DEFECTS IN 16:21:19 YOUR PRODUCTS? [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ] 16:21:23 >> NOTHING COST TOYOTA MORE THAN THE LOSS OF A CUSTOMER'S TRUST 16:21:31 IN OUR VEHICLES. FOR THAT PERSPECTIVE, WE ARE AS 16:21:36 EAGER AS ANYBODY ELSE TO KNOW IF THERE IS ANY PROBLEM. 16:21:41 >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. >> MR. SAUTER? 16:21:49 >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. FIRST, I WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE 16:21:52 OF COMMENTS AT THE VERY BEGINNING. 16:21:54 FIRST, I WANT TO THANK MR. INABA FOR VISITING WARSAW, INDIANA TO 16:22:02 THE NEW TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THERE. IT WAS A BIG THING FOR THE SMALL 16:22:06 TOWN. DAVE ILLING IS RUNNING THAT IN 16:22:09 MY DISTRICT. PEOPLE WERE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE 16:22:12 YOU IN. SECONDLY, I HAVE SOME CONCERNS 16:22:14 ABOUT THE WAY THE HEARINGS HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED. 16:22:17 TO SOME DEGREE IT SEEMS WE ARE HAVING A HANGING BEFORE THE 16:22:20 TRIAL. I'M NOT SAYING YOU'RE NOT 16:22:22 GUILTY. IT SEEMS BY HAULING YOU IN HERE 16:22:24 AND THE WAY WE HAVE HANDLED THIS AND BY GOING THROUGH A LOT OF 16:22:27 INTERNAL MEMOS, THERE IS A LOT YET TO BE DECIDED. 16:22:31 AND I'M TRYING TO GET TO THE TRUTH. 16:22:33 I REPRESENT AN AUTO AREA. WE MAKE PARTS THROUGH MY WHOLE 16:22:37 DISTRICT. FT. WAYNE, INDIANA IS THE PROUD 16:22:39 HOME OF THE SILVERADO AND SIERRA WHO IS IN COMPETITION WITH YOU 16:22:44 EVERY DAY. MY GOAL IS TO SELL FORD, TOYOTA 16:22:48 AND CHRYSLER. ALSO CTS IS RIGHT AT THE EDGE OF 16:22:52 MY DISTRICT. THESE TWO PEDALS HAVE DIFFERENT 16:22:59 PROBLEMS. THE LONGER ONE WAS HAVING A 16:23:01 SLIGHTLY SLOW RELEASE WHICH MEANS WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT 16:23:05 OFF, IT COMES UP JUST A FRACTION OF SECONDS TOO SLOW. 16:23:10 IT ALSO WAS STICKING IN FLOOR MATS BECAUSE IT WAS LONGER, BUT 16:23:14 NOBODY WAS KILLED FROM THAT. IT WAS A STANDARD RECALL PROBLEM 16:23:18 WHERE YOU SAY, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO FIX THE PART A. 16:23:21 THIS ONE, HOWEVER, WHETHER IT'S ELECTRONIC OR WHATEVER, THE ONE 16:23:27 FROM -- IS IT DENSO? IT HAD ACCELERATION. 16:23:33 IN OTHER WORDS THAT WHEN YOU LET GO IT WENT UP. 16:23:35 IT WAS CAUSING THE CAR TO GO FASTER AND THAT'S -- ALL THE 16:23:40 DEATH CASES CAME FROM THE DENZEL MODEL, NOT THE CTS. 16:23:45 WHEN YOU GO THROUGH THE MODELS, AND THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR MANY 16:23:49 THINGS. ONE OF OUR CONCERNS AS AMERICAN 16:23:52 CONGRESSMEN IS YOU TREAT AMERICA LIKE THE REST OF THE WORLD. 16:23:55 WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT MEMOS THAT SUGGEST YOU WERE ADDRESSING 16:23:58 THE PROBLEMS IN EUROPE AND JAPAN BEFORE THE UNITED STATES. 16:24:00 THE OTHER THING IS PARTS SUPPLIERS. 16:24:02 WHAT'S AMAZING IS THAT THE AMERICAN PARTS SUPPLIER WAS 16:24:05 ACTUALLY DELIVERING THE SAFER MODEL AND THAT YOUR 16:24:10 SUBSIDIARY -- AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU'RE AWARE THAT A 16:24:12 LITTLE AFTER 3:00 THE FBI RAIDED THREE TOYOTA SUPPLIERS. 16:24:19 AND ONE IS THIS ONE THAT MADE THE PEDAL THAT'S CAUSING IT. 16:24:23 THERE IS CLEARLY GOING TO BE AN INVESTIGATION AS TO THAT. 16:24:26 I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE AN AMERICAN 16:24:30 COMPANY FOR WORKING WITH OUR PARTS SUPPLIERS. 16:24:32 I UNDERSTAND YOU NEED MULTIPLE SUPPLIERS, THAT HAVING -- AND 16:24:35 IT'S GOOD TO HAVE THE COMPETITION. 16:24:37 THAT'S HOW WE GET BETTER THINGS. I UNDERSTAND WHY AS A 16:24:41 CORPORATION YOU NEED LEGAL PROTECTION. 16:24:43 ALTHOUGH YOU NEED TO BE HONEST ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE. 16:24:45 WHEN YOU HAVE HEARINGS LIKE THIS MORE PEOPLE FILE LAWSUITS. 16:24:49 YOU HAVE TO PROTECT YOURSELVES AND STOCKHOLDERS. 16:24:52 I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT IN LOOKING FOR SAFETY I URGE 16:24:56 YOU TO LOOK AT THE AMERICAN SUPPLIERS. 16:24:58 I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS WHETHER YOU WERE TRYING TO DO COST 16:25:01 CONTROLS INTERNALLY ON YOUR HISTORIC SYSTEM, BUT WHAT I SEE 16:25:05 HAPPENING -- AND IT'S INTERESTING WHEN YOU MATCH UP 16:25:07 THESE MODELS, WHAT HAPPENED IS THAT IT ISN'T TRUE THAT THE 16:25:10 AMERICAN COMPANY WAS SUPPLYING YOUR AMERICAN-MADE VEHICLES. 16:25:13 THAT YOU HAVE BEEN TRANSITIONING OVER AND WHERE THE PROBLEMS WERE 16:25:17 OCCURRING WERE IN THE DENZEL MODEL AND YOU MOVED 50% TO CAMRY 16:25:25 IN 2007. BUT YOU HAVE BEEN MOVING LEXUS 16:25:27 OVER. I'M PRAISING YOU, NOT 16:25:29 CRITICIZING YOU, FOR MOVING OVER, BUT IT'S AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT 16:25:33 THAT WHEN YOU HAD PROBLEMS IN THIS ONE, THEY WEREN'T AS GREAT 16:25:36 AS THIS ONE. I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AT 16:25:39 WHETHER THERE WAS INTERACTION IN THE TYPE OF PEDAL, WHETHER IT 16:25:42 WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL OR THE ELECTRONIC OR WHETHER THERE IS 16:25:46 SOMETHING INSIDE HERE. BECAUSE YOU'RE ADDRESSING THE 16:25:50 SNAP-BACK. BECAUSE THAT'S JUST A FRACTION. 16:25:54 WE HAVE PEOPLE STICKING CARPET UNDER. 16:25:57 YOU CAN HAVE ANY KIND OF PENCIL GET UNDER TO AFFECT THAT. 16:26:00 BUT THAT'S STILL DIFFERENT FROM THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. 16:26:04 I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE -- YOU HAVE MULTIPLE MANUFACTURING 16:26:09 PLANTS IN THE STATE OF INDIANA NOT IN MY AREA. 16:26:12 WE ARE MORE THE BIG THREE. I ALSO WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU IN 16:26:16 ADDITION TO NOT TREATING US DIFFERENTLY COMPARED TO JAPAN 16:26:20 AND EUROPE AND SAFETY QUESTIONS AND CONTINUING TO USE AMERICAN 16:26:24 SUPPLIERS AND DOING YOUR STANDARDS, THE COMPANIES IN MY 16:26:26 DISTRICT ARE SAYING WHEN YOU COME IN, YOU'RE AGGRESSIVE 16:26:30 MAKING SURE THEY HAVE GOOD STANDARDS, BUT TO CONTINUE TO DO 16:26:32 THAT AND I ALSO ENCOURAGE YOU -- I'M DISCOURAGED THAT A NUMBER OF 16:26:36 YEARS AGO YOU SAID YOUR GOAL WAS TO BE THE NUMBER ONE AUTO 16:26:39 SUPPLIER TO IRAN. WE HAVE RULES IN THE UNITED 16:26:42 STATES ABOUT SUPPLYING IRAN. I HOPE TOYOTA ALSO REVERSES THAT 16:26:46 POSITION BECAUSE, AS AMERICANS, WE ARER VERY CONCERNED ABOUT 16:26:49 THAT. I WOULD WELCOME ANY COMMENTS. 16:26:51 [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ] >> THANK YOU FOR THE 16:27:07 SUGGESTIONS. WE DO NOT TREAT AMERICAN 16:27:10 CUSTOMERS ANY DIFFERENTLY FROM EUROPE OR JAPAN. 16:27:15 JUST A MATTER OF TIMING THAT THERE MAY BE A DIFFERENCE IN 16:27:21 REACTING OR RESOLVING THE PROBLEM, BUT THERE IS NO WAY WE 16:27:25 CAN DIFFERENTIATE ANY AMERICAN DRIVERS FROM THE REST. 16:27:30 >> THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. 16:27:34 THE GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS, CONGRESSMAN QUIGLEY. 16:27:40 >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. 16:27:44 MY COLLEAGUE FROM OHIO STRESSED THAT HE RAISED A POINT TO GET A 16:27:49 MORE SPECIFIC ANSWER. I WILL BRIEFLY TRY TO DO THE 16:27:52 SAME THING AS IT RELATES TO BLACK BOXES. 16:27:57 CLEARLY, OTHER MANUFACTURERS MAKE THIS BLACK BOX DATA 16:28:01 AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD. AT THIS POINT TOYOTA HAS 16:28:07 PROPRIETARY TECHNOLOGY THAT ALLOWS ONLY TOYOTA TO DOWNLOAD 16:28:11 THIS DATA. NOW, BEYOND ADDING MORE THE 16:28:17 SPECIFIC QUESTION IS -- WILL YOUR COMPANY REDESIGN THE BLACK 16:28:20 BOX SO THEY CAN BE READABLE BY LAW ENFORCEMENT, SAFETY 16:28:24 INVESTIGATORS AND CONSUMERS? [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ] 16:28:30 >> IT IS TRUE THAT WE HAVE ONE READER IN THE UNITED STATES 16:28:36 WHICH CAN READ EDR. AND WE HAVE MADE A DECISION THAT 16:28:41 WE WILL HAVE A HUNDRED UNITS OF THEM MADE AVAILABLE BY THE END 16:28:46 OF APRIL. >> HOW WILL THEY BE MADE 16:28:49 AVAILABLE? TO WHOM? 16:28:50 >> THIS IS MADE BY OUR SUPPLIER. SO IT'S TOYOTA'S TECHNOLOGY. 16:28:55 LET ME CARRY ON. BY MIDDLE, I GUESS, OF 2011, 16:29:04 PRIOR TO THE LAW REQUIREMENT, WE WILL MAKE THIS READER 16:29:09 COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE IN THIS MARKET. 16:29:13 SO THERE ARE STEPS THAT WE HAD TO TAKE MAYBE BECAUSE OF THAT 16:29:21 REASON, BUT ALSO FOR US IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW THE 16:29:29 REASONS OF ANY ACCIDENT AND, YOU KNOW, GETTING INTO MORE 16:29:35 TECHNICAL DETAILS OF THAT. OF COURSE, WE HAVE BEEN ALWAYS 16:29:40 OPENING OUR INFORMATION TO THE AUTHORITIES' REQUESTS. 16:29:43 >> BUT THE OTHER MANUFACTURERS DON'T MAKE THESE ENTITIES HURDLE 16:29:49 TO GET THIS. IT'S JUST -- IT'S NOT 16:29:55 PROPRIETARY. YOU'RE STILL MAKING IT 16:29:57 DIFFICULT, EVEN IF YOU ADD MORE READERS. 16:29:59 AS YOU SAY, INFORMATION IS SO IMPORTANT. 16:30:02 AS WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, ONE OF OUR BIG CONCERNS HERE IS WE 16:30:08 DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENING. 16:30:13 YESTERDAY IT WAS SAID MR. LINTS ISN'T CERTAIN A RECALL WOULD 16:30:17 SOLVE THE SAFETY PROBLEM. AGAIN, WE ARE FLYING BLIND AND 16:30:20 WITH RESPECT, I DON'T SEE THAT WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS A 16:30:25 DRAMATIC LEAP FORWARD TO IMPROVE HOW MUCH INFORMATION WE'RE 16:30:30 GETTING WITH THESE INCIDENTS AS THEY TAKE PLACE. 16:30:34 >> AND AS OTHER MANUFACTURERS YOU ARE REFERRING TO IN MY 16:30:37 UNDERSTANDING, TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE IT'S ONLY AGAIN 16:30:41 MOTORS, FORD AND CHRYSLER. NO OTHER MAKES ARE NOT READY 16:30:45 YET, I DON'T THINK. SO I THINK WE ARE STILL AMONG 16:30:50 THE EARLY WAVE OF THAT INFORMATION AVAILABLE. 16:30:56 >> WITH RESPECT, I THINK THAT IT WOULD BEHOOVE YOU AND EVERYONE 16:31:01 WHO DRIVES YOUR VEHICLES, INCLUDING MY FAMILY, IF YOU 16:31:06 RETHOUGHT THAT AND ADVANCED THE EFFORTS TO MAKE THIS INFORMATION 16:31:10 AVAILABLE FAR MORE QUICKLY THAN IT ALLOWS AND EVEN IN THE 16:31:14 REDRESS ATTEMPTS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW. 16:31:16 >> YES. WE ARE TRYING TO, SIR. 16:31:21 >> GETTING TO THE MAIN POINT MADE BY MR. LINTS, HE WASN'T 16:31:27 CERTAIN THAT A RECALL WOULD SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS. 16:31:30 IT CAME DOWN TO THE ISSUE OF ELECTRONICS AND STILL A QUESTION 16:31:36 THERE. WHAT IS YOUR LEVEL OF CERTAINTY 16:31:38 AS TO WHETHER ELECTRONICS IS A MAIN CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM? 16:31:46 >> WELL, LET ME TRY MY WAY. >> OKAY. 16:31:51 >> MY LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE IS 100%. 16:31:57 I THINK I HAVE FULL TRUST IN TOYOTA'S ENGINEERS. 16:32:01 OVER 50 YEARS, I THINK THEY HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB TO BRING 16:32:05 TOYOTA'S NAME UP TO HERE. AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THEY ARE 16:32:09 STILL DOING IT. SO, OF COURSE, ALL THE 16:32:12 EXHAUSTIVE TESTING DONE AT TOYOTA, IT IS EXHAUSTIVE IN 16:32:17 THEIR MIND. THAT'S WHY WE WENT OUTSIDE TO 16:32:22 EXPONENT. IF THAT IS NOT ENOUGH, WE ARE 16:32:26 WILLING TO STAND. WE ARE JUST IN THE PROCESS -- 16:32:29 JUST VERY CLOSE TO ANNOUNCE WHAT MR. TOYODA REFERRED TO AS 16:32:34 OUTSIDE ADVISORY BOARD. THIS IS GOING TO BE TWO VERY 16:32:39 PROMINENT -- I CAN'T NAME IT NOW -- MAYBE IN A COUPLE OF 16:32:45 DAYS -- TWO PROMINENT SAFETY EXPERTS LEADING THE PANEL TO 16:32:51 INVESTIGATE THIS ETCS OF TOYOTA, WHETHER IT IS ANY -- I MEAN, 16:32:56 WHETHER IT IS ANY PROBLEM OR IT IS ROBUST. 16:32:59 AND THEY CAN CHOOSE ANY OUTSIDE LABORATORY TO TEST IT. 16:33:06 SO WE ARE NOW HOPING THAT WE CAN ANNOUNCE IT FULLY SO YOU WILL 16:33:10 UNDERSTAND, BUT WE ARE WILLING TO TAKE THAT SORT OF TEST 16:33:13 THROUGH THIS ADVISORY AND THEY CAN BE ALSO ADVISORY BOARD TO 16:33:19 OUR OVERALL QUALITY IMPROVEMENT. THIS IS WHAT I WANTED TO SAY. 16:33:25 >> THANK YOU. >> CONGRESSMAN FORTENBURY FROM 16:33:33 NEBRASKA. >> THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY. 16:33:36 FRANKLY, IT IS REFRESHING TO SEE CORPORATE EXECUTIVES SHOW 16:33:42 REMORSE IN WHAT IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE AND TO TRY TO 16:33:46 UNPACK THE WAY TO MOVE FORWARD ON SAFETY CONCERNS WITH YOUR 16:33:50 PRODUCT. WITH THAT SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO 16:33:52 ASK YOU ONE QUESTION AND THEN PERHAPS PROPOSE A CREATIVE 16:33:57 OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO CONSIDER. IS YOUR CORPORATE CULTURE IN 16:34:02 AMERICA DIFFERENT THAN YOUR CORPORATE CULTURE IN JAPAN SO 16:34:07 THAT THE CORPORATE CULTURE IN AMERICA IS IMPEDED FROM 16:34:11 RESPONDING MORE QUICKLY TO SAFETY CONCERNS? 16:34:20 >> IF I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION CORRECTLY, IS CORPORATE AMERICA 16:34:27 CULTURE DIFFERENT FROM JAPAN AT TOYOTA. 16:34:29 IS THAT THE QUESTION? >> IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE 16:34:34 AN UNDERSTANDING IF YOUR CORPORATE CULTURE IN AMERICA IS 16:34:37 FULLY FREE AND INDEPENDENT TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND QUICKLY TO THE 16:34:41 SAFETY PROBLEMS PRESENTED TO THEM HERE. 16:34:45 >> WELL, OF COURSE THERE IS A DIFFERENCE. 16:34:48 BECAUSE OUR CORPORATE CULTURE IN AMERICA IS VERY MUCH COMPOSED OF 16:34:55 SO MANY AMERICANS, VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICANS AND THEREFORE, 16:34:58 THERE MIGHT BE A DIFFERENCE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME IT IS AMAZING 16:35:03 THAT WE SEE A LOT OF -- I PERSONALLY SEE A LOT OF 16:35:07 CAMARADERIE. I HAVE WORKED IN THIS COUNTRY 16:35:10 NINE YEARS. SO I HAVE SEEN MANY OF THE 16:35:14 TOYOTA ASSOCIATES HERE, INCLUDING OUR LEADERS AND THE 16:35:18 CORPORATE CULTURE IS VERY, VERY SIMILAR, TO MY SURPRISE, TO THAT 16:35:23 OF TOYOTA VALUE IN JAPAN. BUT THERE IS ALSO A DIFFERENCE, 16:35:26 YOU KNOW, IN COMMUNICATION, I HAVE TO ADMIT. 16:35:31 AND THERE IS SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, A LACK OF COMMUNICATION 16:35:36 BECAUSE OF THE LANGUAGE DIFFERENCES, BECAUSE OF THE 16:35:39 CULTURAL DIFFERENCES, TOO. SO HERE I AM BEING THE HEAD OF 16:35:44 THIS NORTH AMERICAN OPERATION. I AM CALLED HALF AMERICAN, HALF 16:35:49 JAPANESE. SO I THINK I CAN BRIDGE THAT GAP 16:35:51 VERY EASILY SO THAT OUR CORPORATE CULTURE OF CUSTOMER 16:35:56 FIRST AND THEN HONEST AND TRANSPARENCY SHOULD BE KEPT 16:36:00 INTACT. >> SO THERE IS NOTHING IN THE 16:36:03 AMERICAN TOYOTA CORPORATE SYSTEM THAT IS NOT FREE OR IS IMPEDED 16:36:07 BY THE DOMINANT CORPORATE CULTURE IN JAPAN TO QUICKLY 16:36:12 ADDRESS SAFETY ISSUES? >> IT WOULD BE FAIR TO SAY THAT 16:36:16 THERE IS NONE. BUT THERE IS ALWAYS A 16:36:17 DIFFERENCE. >> I UNDERSTAND. 16:36:19 >> I THINK MY JOB IS TO SORT OF EVEN IT. 16:36:22 >> ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ISSUES HERE, OF COURSE, IS THE 16:36:25 UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE EARLIER COMMENTS WERE 16:36:31 SUGGESTING THAT -- AND YOUR EXECUTIVE YESTERDAY SUGGESTED 16:36:35 THAT WHAT YOU ARE DOING MAY NOT TOTALLY FIX THE PROBLEM. 16:36:39 NOW IN THAT REGARD, UNINTENDED ACCELERATION HAS AFFECTED OTHER 16:36:44 CAR MANUFACTURERS. SO I WOULD SUGGEST TO YOU THAT 16:36:47 YOU HAVE A POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITY HERE, AS THE DOMINANT PLAYER IN 16:36:54 WORLDWIDE AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURING, OR CERTAINLY ONE 16:36:55 OF THEM, TO PERHAPS LEAD ON A NEW WAY OF THINKING ABOUT THE 16:36:59 SAFETY PROBLEM, WORKING PERHAPS IN A CONSORTIUM WITH OTHER 16:37:03 MANUFACTURERS, YOUR COMPETITORS, WORKING WITH THE UNITED STATES 16:37:05 GOVERNMENT. WE HAD THE SECRETARY OF 16:37:08 TRANSPORTATION HERE TO THINK MORE CREATIVELY AND PERHAPS DO 16:37:12 THE RESEARCH AND COLLABORATION THAT SHOWS IT IS THIS MECHANICAL 16:37:17 PROBLEM THAT WE WERE DEMONSTRATING EARLIER OR IS 16:37:21 THERE SOME ELECTRICAL ISSUE THAT HAS NOT BEEN DISCOVERED YET THAT 16:37:26 MORE COLLECTIVE MINDS WORKING TOGETHER COULD ACTUALLY 16:37:29 DISCOVER, AND BROADEN THE IMPACT OF THE SAFETY CHANGES FOR THE 16:37:33 ENTIRE CAR INDUSTRY. [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ] 16:38:07 >> Translator: AS THE CONGRESSMAN POINTED OUT, 16:38:10 THROUGHOUT THE WORLD TOYOTA HAS BEEN DEPLOYING AND PURSUING 16:38:14 BUSINESS IN THE WORLD. I BELIEVE THE CORPORATE CULTURE 16:38:19 OF THINGS WE TREASURE VERY MUCH ARE COMMONLY SHARED ANYWHERE IN 16:38:22 THE WORLD. [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ] 16:39:02 >> Translator: HOWEVER, DIFFERENT REGIONS DO HAVE ITS 16:39:04 OWN CULTURES, ITS OWN CUSTOMS AND LOCAL PEOPLE OF A SPECIFIC 16:39:11 COUNTRY WORK FOR A COMPANY AND WE DELIVER PRODUCTS TO CUSTOMERS 16:39:14 IN THE LOCAL MARKETS. IN THAT SENSE, I HAVE BEEN 16:39:19 THINKING SINCE APRIL THAT WE WILL GIVE GREATER INITIATIVE TO 16:39:23 DIFFERENT REGIONS OF THE WORLD. FOR EXAMPLE, BY EMPHASIZING MORE 16:39:26 OF THE CULTURE OF THE UNITED STATES OR THE CUSTOMS HERE. 16:39:33 >> THE I NOW RECOGNIZE THE GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS, 16:39:39 CONGRESSMAN DAVIS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. 16:39:41 CHAIRMAN. I THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN, FOR 16:39:43 APPEARING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE. MR. TOYODA, FOR YEARS, THERE 16:39:49 HAVE BEEN COMPLAINTS POURING INTO YOUR COMPANY ABOUT 16:39:54 U UNINTENDED ACCELERATION PROBLEMS 16:39:56 IN YOUR VEHICLES. YOUR OWN FIELD TECHNICIANS IN 16:39:58 EUROPE WERE ALERTING YOU THAT SOMETHING IN THE ACCELERATOR 16:40:02 PEDAL WAS CAUSING CARS TO SPEED UP UNCONTROLLABLY MORE THAN A 16:40:06 YEAR AGO. WHEN DID TOYOTA FIRST LEARN IT 16:40:10 HAD A PROBLEM WITH SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. 16:40:15 WHY DID IT TAKE YOU ALMOST A YEAR TO BRING THIS TO THE 16:40:20 ATTENTION OF REGULATORS AND EVEN MORE TIME TO TELL THE PUBLIC 16:40:24 ABOUT THE PROBLEM? IS THERE SOME POLICY IN YOUR 16:40:32 COMPANY THAT PREVENTS YOU FROM ALERTING REGULATORS AS QUICKLY 16:40:38 AS POSSIBLE ABOUT A PROBLEM OR THE PUBLIC SO THAT WE ALL BECOME 16:40:43 AWARE? [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ] 16:41:40 >> Translator: IN THE NAME OF OUR COMPANY'S TRADITION AND 16:41:45 PRIDE, I CAN CLEARLY SAY THAT WHENEVER A PROBLEM ARISES, 16:41:49 TOYOTA PURSUES IS FACTS THOROUGHLY AND RIGOROUSLY AND 16:41:55 LOOKS INTO THOSE MATTERS IN GREAT DETAIL. 16:41:57 AND IN DOING SO, OUR FUNDAMENTAL APPROACH AND STANCE IS TO GIVE 16:42:03 THE HIGHEST PRIORITY TO CUSTOMERS' SAFETY AND 16:42:07 CONVENIENCE. IN ADDITION TO THAT, ONCE THAT 16:42:10 IS ACCOMPLISHED, WE PROVIDE AND CREATE PRODUCTS THAT ALSO 16:42:17 SATISFIES THE MANDATE OF THE TIMES. 16:42:19 FOR EXAMPLE, IN CONSERVING ENVIRONMENT OR EXISTING IN 16:42:24 HARMONY WITH NATURE. NOW, WITH RESPECT TO YOUR 16:42:27 SPECIFIC QUESTION OF WHEN WE LEARNED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, I DO 16:42:31 NOT KNOW WHEN WE LEARNED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. 16:42:36 BUT I DO HOPE THAT YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND THE BASIC SENSE AND 16:42:41 ATTITUDE OF THE COMPANY WHICH I DESCRIBED. 16:42:43 >> REPORTS WERE ACTUALLY SURFACING SEEMINGLY SEVERAL 16:42:49 YEARS AGO AND YET IT APPEARS THAT THERE WAS NO SIGNIFICANT 16:42:53 EFFORT TO DEAL WITH IT UNTIL THE ACCIDENT IN CALIFORNIA. 16:42:59 DO YOU FEEL THAT YOUR COMPANY ACTED QUICKLY ENOUGH TO BEGIN TO 16:43:06 ADDRESS THE ISSUE IN A WAY THAT REGULATORS AND THE PUBLIC WOULD 16:43:11 KNOW THAT YOU WERE DOING SO? [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ] 16:43:50 >> Translator: AS IT TURNED OUT, IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, THE 16:43:58 RESPONSE, ACCORDING TO YOUR IMPRESSION, WAS NOT QUICK 16:44:01 ENOUGH. HOWEVER, GOING FORWARD WE WILL 16:44:04 ESTABLISH THE FRAMEWORK VERY FIRMLY AND DILIGENTLY SO THAT WE 16:44:11 WILL NOT BETRAY YOUR EXPECTATIONS IN THAT REGARD. 16:44:15 AND I WILL PERSONALLY TAKE LEADERSHIP IN PUTTING A PLACE 16:44:19 THE STRUCTURE THAT WILL ENABLE US TO CAPTURE INFORMATION FROM 16:44:24 THE LOCAL AREAS CONCERNED IN A MORE TIMELY MANNER. 16:44:28 >> MEDIA REPORTS SUGGEST THAT YOUR COMPANY KNEW AT LEAST A 16:44:33 YEAR ABOUT THE STICKING PEDALS BEFORE YOU SHARED THAT 16:44:37 INFORMATION OR COMMUNICATED THAT INFORMATION TO THE REGULATORS. 16:44:45 DO YOU THINK THAT WAS PERHAPS A BIT LENGTHY OF TIME TO TELL 16:44:51 REGULATORS IF THE COMPANY KNEW? [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ] 16:44:57 >> NOW I KNOW THE STICKY PEDAL SITUATION IS IN QUESTION. 16:45:02 AND, YES, WE KNEW THAT PROBABLY A YEAR AGO IN EUROPE. 16:45:07 AS I HAVE BEEN SAYING THAT THIS HAD NOT BEEN SHARED WELL ENOUGH 16:45:13 ON THIS SIDE. SO WE DID NOT HIDE IT, BUT IT 16:45:16 WAS NOT PROPERLY SHARED. SO WE NEED TO DO A MUCH BETTER 16:45:20 JOB IN SHARING WHATEVER IS HAPPENING IN EUROPE SHOULD BE 16:45:24 KNOWN IN THE UNITED STATES SO THAT WE ARE ALL ALERT TO SEE IF 16:45:29 THERE IS ANY DANGER TO AMERICAN CONSUMERS AND DRIVERS. 16:45:35 THE OTHER ISSUE IS THAT THE FIRST INFORMATION WE GET TO KNOW 16:45:42 IN EUROPE WAS ALL RIGHT-HAND DRIVE CARS, AND ALSO DIFFERENT 16:45:47 MODELS, MUCH SMALLERER CARS THAN THOSE MODELS SOLD HERE, THAT'S 16:45:54 WHY INITIAL JUDGMENT -- WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE WRONG -- BUT IT 16:45:57 WAS LIMITED TO A RIGHT-HAND DRIVE AND MUCH SMALLER CARS. 16:46:01 SO THERE IS A LACK OF MAYBE -- YOU MAY CALL IT SENSITIVITY, BUT 16:46:06 THERE IS NO DELIBERATE SORT OF DELAY IN THE PROCESS. 16:46:10 >> WELL, LET ME JUST SAY I APPRECIATE YOUR ANSWERS AND I 16:46:14 THANK YOU FOR INDICATING THAT YOU EXPECT TO DO A BETTER JOB. 16:46:19 I'M ALWAYS REMINDED OF MY MOTHER WHO TOLD US WHEN I WAS A KID 16:46:23 GROWING UP THAT WHAT YOU DO SPEAKS SO LOUDLY UNTIL IT IS 16:46:28 HARD FOR ME TO HEAR WHAT YOU SAY. 16:46:30 SO I HOPE YOUR ACTIONS WILL BE CERTAINLY FORTHCOMING. 16:46:33 I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ANSWERS. 16:46:37 >> THANK YOU, GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS. 16:46:41 NOW I CALL ON THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA. 16:46:47 >> THANK YOU. MR. INIBA, YOU JUST MADE A 16:46:51 COMMENT THAT WAS STARTLING FOR ME. 16:46:53 I APOLOGIZE THAT YOU HAVE TO TESTIFY IN A SECOND LANGUAGE AND 16:46:59 IN A SETTING THAT MAY NOT BE AS COMFORTABLE AS YOU AS YOU 16:47:06 PREFER. BUT YOU STATED THAT YOU HAD 16:47:10 100% -- YOU WERE 100% SURE THAT THE DIFFICULTIES WITH THE 16:47:19 PEDALS, WITH THE ACCELERATION WAS NOT ELECTRONIC, THAT IT WAS 16:47:25 NOT GOING TO BE INVOLVED WITH THE DATA SYSTEMS, THAT IT WAS A 16:47:29 PHYSICAL PROBLEM. YOU STAND BY THAT STATEMENT? 16:47:32 >> SIR, MAY I CLARIFY WHAT I MEANT? 16:47:36 BECAUSE THE QUESTION, I THOUGHT, WAS THAT I PERSONALLY -- WHAT IS 16:47:42 MY CONFIDENCE LEVEL ABOUT ETCS, ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL 16:47:49 SYSTEM, SO MY FEELING IS THAT SINCE I HAVE A TRUST IN OUR 16:47:53 ENGINEERS, EVEN THOUGH IT HAS NOT BEEN EXTENSIVELY TESTED BY 16:47:57 THE OUTSIDERS WHICH I ADDED, BUT MY CONFIDENCE -- PERSONAL 16:48:02 CONFIDENCE LEVEL IS 100%. BUT I AM ONLY REFERRING TO ETCS 16:48:08 SYSTEM, SIR. >> OKAY. 16:48:10 BECAUSE IT DOES CONCERN ME WHEN ANYONE CAN SAY ANYTHING TO 100%. 16:48:13 IT'S ONE THING TO STAND BEHIND YOUR VEHICLES. 16:48:15 IT'S ONE THING TO ASK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO STAND IN 16:48:18 FRONT OF THEM, ESPECIALLY WITH THEIR CHILDREN. 16:48:21 AND 100% IS A VERY STRONG STATEMENT. 16:48:24 IT'S FINE TO SAY IT HERE IN THESE HEARINGS, BUT OUT IN THE 16:48:27 REAL WORLD, WE HAVE HAD SOME TERRIBLE TRAGEDIES. 16:48:30 I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE AS BEING A REPRESENTATIVE IN SAN 16:48:34 DIEGO WHERE THE TRAGEDY THAT FINALLY OPENED UP THIS BOOK 16:48:38 CAUSED NOT ONLY TOYOTA BUT THE AMERICAN COMMUNITY TO BE WILLING 16:48:43 TO ASK THE TOUGH QUESTIONS THAT I DON'T THINK HAVE BEEN MADE. 16:48:47 MR. TOYODA, YOUR FAMILY HAS SPENT DECADES CREATING A 16:48:53 REPUTATION THAT IS SECOND THE TO NONE. 16:48:56 PROBABLY ONLY COMPATIBLE WITH THE INVENTOR OF THE AUTOMOBILE 16:49:01 THEMSELVES. THE BIG QUESTION IS DO YOU THINK 16:49:04 THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THAT REPUTATION, BEING SO GOOD, MIGHT 16:49:12 HAVE MADE THOSE OF US WHO WERE REGULATORS NOT ASK THE TOUGH 16:49:15 QUESTIONS THAT WE MIGHT HAVE ASKED FROM GENERAL MOTORS OR 16:49:19 SOME OTHER AUTOMAKER OR THAT SAME REPUTATION AND FEELING OF 16:49:25 SUCCESS AND CONFIDENCE MIGHT HAVE LEFT TOYOTA NOT TO ASK THE 16:49:29 TOUGH QUESTIONS OF YOURSELF? IN OTHER WORDS, YOUR SUCCESS 16:49:34 CREATED THE PROBLEM OR CREATED THE ATMOSPHERE AND THE 16:49:37 ENVIRONMENT THAT ALLOWED THIS PROBLEM TO GO ON FROM '07 TO 16:49:40 JUST RECENTLY? [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ] 16:50:35 [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ] >> Translator: I PERSONALLY DO 16:50:46 NOT BELIEVE THAT WE DIDN'T ASK THAT QUESTION BECAUSE WE HAD 16:50:51 VERY HIGH REPUTATIONS. SINCE I BECAME PRESIDENT IN 16:50:56 JULY, I HAVE BEEN SAYING INTERNALLY WITHIN THE COMPANY 16:50:59 THAT WE NEED TO HEED CUSTOMERS, DEALERS, AND WE NEED TO BECOME A 16:51:06 GOOD LISTENER. BECAUSE OF THE INADEQUACY ON MY 16:51:13 PART, PROBABLY, THAT ABILITY ITSELF MAY NOT HAVE SPREAD 16:51:16 WIDELY WITHIN THE COMPANY. BUT FOR THE PAST 70 YEARS WE 16:51:20 HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED BY CUSTOMERS AND BY OUR PARTNERS BECAUSE 16:51:27 TOYOTA HAS BEEN A COMPANY AND LISTENED TO OPINIONS OF 16:51:32 OUTSIDERS VERY MODESTLY AND SINCERELY. 16:51:34 AND YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT THAT WE WILL CONTINUE DOING SO GOING 16:51:40 FORWARD. >> LOOK, THE DAMAGE DONE TO THE 16:51:43 TOYOTA NAME WILL DO MORE -- WILL IMPACT TOYOTA MORE THAN ANYTHING 16:51:48 THIS CONGRESS CAN DO. THE CONSUMER AND THE MARKET WILL 16:51:54 WAGE A VERY -- DEMAND A VERY HIGH PRICE FROM TOYOTA FOR THESE 16:51:59 MISTAKES. THE QUESTION IS, THOUGH, HOW DO 16:52:01 WE PREVENT IT IN THE FUTURE FOR TOYOTA AND EVERYBODY ELSE. 16:52:05 DO YOU AGREE THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES 16:52:07 SHOULD REQUIRE ALL MANUFACTURERS, INCLUDING TOYOTA, 16:52:11 TO REPORT ALL INCIDENTS OF MALFUNCTIONS NO MATTER WHERE IN 16:52:17 THE WORLD THOSE OCCUR? NOT JUST HERE IN THE UNITED 16:52:19 STATES. [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ] 16:52:58 [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ] >> Translator: I PERSONALLY 16:53:29 BELIEVE THAT REALISTICALLY THERE ARE LIMITATIONS TO THE CURRENT 16:53:34 ENGINEERING CAPABILITY. HOWEVER, TOYOTA HAS A 16:53:42 CHALLENGING SPIRIT TO MAKE THINGS BETTER OR TO CORRECT 16:53:48 INADEQUACIES OR TROUBLES WHEREVER THAT MAY HAPPEN. 16:53:51 GOING FORWARD, WE'LL CONTINUE TO STRIVE TO MINIMIZE THOSE 16:53:54 TROUBLES AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE TO ZERO BY EXAMINING EACH 16:53:58 INDIVIDUAL REPORTED CASES, PUTTING THEM UNDER SCRUTINY, AND 16:54:02 MAKING PUBLIC ANY FINDINGS IN THAT PROCESS. 16:54:05 AND WE WOULD LIKE TO WORK TOGETHER IN THIS INDUSTRY. 16:54:09 >> IN ALL FAIRNESS, I WOULD JUST LIKE A YES OR NO, SHOULD THE 16:54:14 FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES REQUIRE TOYOTA AND EVERY 16:54:18 OTHER MANUFACTURER TO REPORT TOTAL MALFUNCTIONS NOT JUST 16:54:21 THOSE WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 16:54:23 YES OR NO, SHOULD WE REQUIRE ALL INFORMATION OR SHOULDN'T WE? 16:54:28 WHAT IS THE POSITION OF MR. TOYODA? 16:54:36 [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ] >> Translator: WE WOULD LIKE TO 16:54:43 EXTEND FULL COOPERATION. >> SO WE'LL TAKE THAT AS A YES? 16:54:53 >> Translator: YES. >> THANK YOU. 16:54:55 FIVE MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS. 16:55:02 >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. I REPRESENT THE SAN ANTONIO AREA 16:55:08 DOWN THROUGH THE VALLEY WHERE WE HAVE A TOYOTA PLANT. 16:55:12 CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW THERE'S 2,500 HARDWORKING AMERICANS IN 16:55:17 THE SAN ANTONIO AREA PLANT WHERE THEIR JOBS AND FAMILY 16:55:20 LIVELIHOOD. I SEE JAY HERE, WHICH I VISITED, 16:55:23 A COUPLE OF OTHER FOLKS HERE. SO WE'RE ASKING YOU TO PUT 16:55:26 TOYOTA BACK ON TRACK SO AMERICANS JOBS ARE NOT PUT IN 16:55:32 JEOPARDY AND OF COURSE THE AMERICAN DRIVERS THAT ARE AT 16:55:35 RISK IS WHAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS. IT IS MY HOPE YOU MOVE SWIFTLY 16:55:40 TO FIX THE SAFETY PROBLEMS, REBUILD THE REPUTATION TALKING 16:55:44 ABOUT AND RESTORE THE TOYOTA LEGACY WHICH EMPLOYS AMERICANS 16:55:48 HERE AT HOME. AMERICAN DRIVERS AND AMERICAN 16:55:51 WORKERS ARE WATCHING AND WAITING. 16:55:54 TOYOTA HAS A GLOWING LEGACY IN THIS COUNTRY FOR DECADES FOR THE 16:55:58 SAKE OF SAFETY AND FOR THE SAKE OF JOBS, WE NEED TO GET THAT 16:56:02 BACK. YOU ALL NEED TO GET THAT BACK. 16:56:05 IN THIS COUNTRY WE HAVE AMERICAN MADE TOYOTAS MADE BY AMERICAN 16:56:10 WORKERS, AMERICAN DRIVERS BEHIND THE WHEEL. 16:56:14 THE RESPONSIBILITY TOYOTA HAS TO AMERICANS RUNS WIDE AND RUNS 16:56:20 DEEP. AND THIS IS ABOUT SAFETY AND 16:56:23 THIS IS ABOUT JOBS. AS I MENTIONED IN MY AREA, IT 16:56:30 DOESN'T INCLUDE SUPPLIERS, ABOUT 5500 WHEN YOU INCLUDE EVERYONE, 16:56:35 DOES NOT INCLUDE TOYOTA DEALERS. MILLIONS OF AMERICANS ALSO DRIVE 16:56:39 YOUR VEHICLES. AS I MENTIONED, I MET WITH JAY 16:56:42 AND A COUPLE OF OTHER FOLKS, A TOYOTA FORKLIFT OPERATOR. 16:56:49 SHE SAID EVEN AT THIS TIME OF RECESSION TOYOTA HAS NOT LET 16:56:52 ANYBODY OFF, HAS SPARED THE EMPLOYEES AND IS STILL WORKING. 16:56:55 WE APPRECIATE THAT. WITHOUT A DOUBT YOUR ABILITY TO 16:56:58 REPAIR YOUR REPUTATION IN THIS COUNTRY WILL AFFECT AMERICAN 16:57:01 WORKERS AN DRIVERS WHO DEPEND ON TOYOTA. 16:57:04 ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO LOOK AT, IN FAIRNESS, IN FAIRNESS TO 16:57:10 ALL, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NHTSA NUMBERS, YOU SEE -- I DON'T WANT 16:57:16 TO GO, ONE COMPANY AT 32%, I'VE HANDED THIS OUT, MR. CHAIRMAN, 16:57:22 ONE AT 17%, ANOTHER 15, AND ANOTHER, COMBINED ONES, TOYOTA 16:57:29 WAS AT 11%. SO IN THE PAST YOU WERE DOING 16:57:33 WELL, VERY WELL. BUT AGAIN, WE NOW HAVE TO LOOK 16:57:36 AT WHAT LESSONS HAVE WE LEARNED. SO MY QUESTION, MR. TOYODA, WHAT 16:57:42 LESSONS HAS YOUR COMPANY LEARNED AS A RESULT OF THESE RECALLS? 16:57:51 [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ] [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ] 16:58:34 >> Translator: THIS PAST DATA CLEARLY PLACES HIGH EVALUATION 16:58:40 TO OUR TRACK RECORD. HOWEVER, CURRENTLY WE ARE HAVING 16:58:43 A SERIES OF RECALLS, BRAKE SYSTEM OR ACCELERATOR PEDALS HAS 16:58:49 CAUSED CONCERNS. BUT WE ARE EXAMINING THOSE 16:58:54 MATTERS, PURSUING THE TRUE CAUSE OF THOSE PROBLEMS, IDENTIFYING 16:59:02 COUNTER-MEASURES. AND GOING FORWARD WE'LL MAKE 16:59:03 SURE WE SEGMENT [1] 2010/02/24 ************************************************ Toyota hearing Part II 2/24/10 Mr. Akio Toyoda - Pres and CEO, Toyota Mr. Yoshimi Inaba - Pres and CEO Toyota, North America 16:01:20 culture of secrecy 16:05:25 are u saying company redesigning black box readable by consumers? You don't have to come to unlock the black box? 16:06:19 don't know that technical detail 16:14:40 why hire fmr nhtsa employees? 16:14:54 I met them, high respect for their professionalism 16:15:31 too cozy? 16:15:39 I don't believe so 16:21:20 nothing hurts Toyota more than customer trust Souder 16:22:15 it seems by hauling you in here, trying to get to the truth, represent auto area 16:22:51 holds up 2 pedals w distinctly different problems 16:23:45 treat America like the rest of the world, amer part supplier delivering safer model , fbi raided 3 suppliers and one is this one that made pedal 16:26:58 we do not treat American customers any differently, matter of timing, no way we can differentiate American drivers from the rest Quigley question about electronics 16:31:50 exhaustive testing done, we went outside, if that is not enough, close to announce outside advisory board, 2 very prominent safety experts leading the panel to investigate whether it is any problem, they can choose any outside lab to test Bilbray 16:48:51 do you think there's a possibility that that reputation might have made those of us who are regulators not ask the tough questions, your success created the atmosphere and environment that allowed this to go on? 16:54:05 should we require all reporting or not? 16:54:25 would like to extend full cooperation 16:54:34 we'll take that as a yes What lessons have you learned? 16:58:23 interpreter - we are examining those matters pursuing true cause, get info more swiftly, we'll regain good reputation 17:00:27 >> Translator: FIRST, ABOVE ANYTHING ELSE, WE WILL MAKE 17:00:31 DOUBLE COMMITMENT WITH NEW VIGOR TO HAVE SACHT AND CUSTOMER FIRST 17:00:37 PERMEATE THROUGH EVERY BUSINESS AND EVERY PROCESS THROUGH 17:00:40 TOYOTA. THAT, I BELIEVE, WOULD BE THE 17:00:42 BEST WAY FOR US TO WIN BACK THE TRUST THAT WE ENJOYED IN THE 17:00:49 PAST. ON TOP OF THAT AS WE DEPLOYED 17:00:52 BUSINESS GLOBALLY, WE WILL MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ENHANCE THE 17:00:55 TRANSPARENCY OF OUR BUSINESS IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE WORLD. 17:00:59 >> TIME HAS EXPIRED. NOW CALL ON THE GENTLEMAN FROM 17:01:04 TENNESSEE, CONGRESSMAN DUNCAN. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. 17:01:10 CHAIRMAN. YESTERDAY A WOMAN NAMED RHONDA 17:01:12 SMITH TESTIFIED AT THE ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE AND SHE'S 17:01:16 FROM EAST TENNESSEE, FROM JUST OUTSIDE MY DISTRICT, WHICH IS 17:01:21 BASED AROUND KNOXVILLE. SHE WAS DRIVING INTO KNOXVILLE 17:01:27 IN HER LEXUS AUTOMOBILE. ON OCTOBER 12th, 2006, THREE AND 17:01:33 A HALF YEARS AGO, AND SHE EXPERIENCED ONE OF THESE SUDDEN 17:01:39 ACCELERATION EVENTS AND HER AUTOMOBILE REACHED 100 MILES AN 17:01:44 HOUR. SHE SAID SHE THOUGHT IT WAS HER 17:01:46 TIME TO DIE. SHE SAID SHE CALLED HER HUSBAND 17:01:49 AND TRIED TO PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE BUT THE COMPUTER 17:01:53 APPARENTLY DIDN'T RECOGNIZE IT. SHE FEELS THAT TOYOTA'S RESPONSE 17:02:02 TO HER COMPLAINTS WAS A FARCE. TOYOTA APPARENTLY TOLD HER THERE 17:02:06 WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH HER CAR. OUR INVESTIGATORS FOR ENERGY AND 17:02:11 COMMERCE COMMITTEE AND THIS COMMITTEE HAVE FOUND THEIR 17:02:15 COMPLAINTS STARTED COMING IN ABOUT THESE EVENTS IN 2001 AND 17:02:19 NHTSA STARTED AN INVESTIGATION APPARENTLY IN 2004 AIMED AT 17:02:28 TOYOTA. NOW, 2004, THAT'S SIX YEARS AGO, 17:02:34 IF THAT INVESTIGATION STARTED EARLY IN THE YEAR. 17:02:36 MAYBE FIVE AND A HALF YEARS AGO IF IT STARTED LATE IN THE YEAR. 17:02:40 BUT MR. TOYOTA HAS SAID SEVERAL TIMES TODAY THAT HE JUST BECAME 17:02:46 PRESIDENT LAST SUMMER, AS IF THIS EXCUSES HIM. 17:02:52 MR. INABA, THOUGH, BECAME HEAD, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, NINE YEARS 17:02:59 AGO OF THE U.S. TOYOTA OPERATION. 17:03:01 NOW, ONE OF MY SONS HAD A TOYOTA FORERUNNER SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND 17:03:07 MY WIFE DROVE A SMALL LEXUS UNTIL ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO. 17:03:11 BOTH OF THOSE ARE VERY GOOD AUTOMOBILES. 17:03:13 I THINK YOU'VE GOT A VERY GOOD COMPANY AND PUT OUT ALMOST 17:03:16 ENTIRELY GOOD AUTOMOBILES. I HAVE A GOOD IMPRESSION OF YOUR 17:03:20 COMPANY. BUT HAVING SAID THAT, I DON'T 17:03:21 BELIEVE I'VE HEARD A GOOD ANSWER TODAY -- AND I'VE BEEN IN AND 17:03:25 OUT SOME -- I DON'T BELIEVE I'VE HEARD A GOOD ANSWER OR A 17:03:28 COMPLETE ANSWER AS TO WHY IT TOOK YOUR COMPANY SO LONG TO 17:03:33 RESPOND TO THESE COMPLAINTS. BECAUSE APPARENTLY THERE WERE 17:03:37 MANY COMPLAINTS. I'VE SEEN IT DESCRIBED AS 17:03:39 SEVERAL HUNDRED. I'VE SEEN IT DESCRIBED AS A FEW 17:03:44 THOUSAND. I DON'T KNOW WHICH IT IS. 17:03:46 BUT THERE WERE MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS. 17:03:48 I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU'VE EXPRESSED REMORSE AND YOU 17:03:53 SAY YOU'RE GOING TO DO BETTER. BUT WHY WAS THERE NOT A RESPONSE 17:03:58 BEFORE NOW, WHEN YOU HAD ALL THESE COMPLAINTS? 17:04:08 [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ] [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ] 17:05:12 >> Translator: I LISTENED TO THE TESTIMONY BY MISS SMITH 17:05:19 Y YESTERDAY, AND I FEEL VERY SORRY 17:05:21 AND REGRET FOR THE FACT THAT WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING A CAR, 17:05:29 SUCH HUGE ANXIETY WAS CAUSED TO HER. 17:05:32 AT THE SAME TIME, I APOLOGIZE FOR THE RESPONSE BY THE DEALER, 17:05:39 WHICH IS NOT REALLY UP TO OUR STANDARDS. 17:05:41 AS TO WHY IT TOOK US SO LONG, IN ORDER TO ACCELERATE OUR RESPONSE 17:05:45 GOING FORWARD, I HAVE ESTABLISHED THE SPECIAL 17:05:48 COMMITTEE FOR GLOBAL QUALITY, AND WE ARE NOW SETTING UP THE 17:05:52 FRAMEWORK SO THAT THE FIRST MEETING CAN TAKE PLACE ON MARCH 17:05:55 THE 30th. WE HAVE DEEPLY REFLECTED ON WHAT 17:05:58 HAS HAPPENED THUS FAR. WE LEARNED A VERY IMPORTANT 17:06:02 LESSON FROM WHAT HAS HAPPENED. TO TAKE ACTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT 17:06:08 AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, I THINK, IS THE JOB THAT I REALLY HAVE TO 17:06:12 ATTEND TO AT THE MOMENT. >> LET ME JUST SAY THIS. 17:06:15 I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE NO AMERICANS IN THE TOP LEADERSHIP 17:06:19 OF TOYOTA IN JAPAN. I THINK YOU CAN SAY THERE'S MANY 17:06:23 AMERICANS IN THE TOP LEADERSHIP HERE. 17:06:24 BUT IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA TO PUT A COUPLE OF AMERICANS IN THE 17:06:31 TOP LEADERSHIP IN JAPAN. THANK YOU. 17:06:36 >> GENTLEMEN, TIME HAS EXPIRED. NOW THE CONGRESSWOMAN FROM 17:06:42 CALIFORNIA. >> A QUESTION TO BOTH THE 17:06:45 PRESIDENT AND THE CEO HERE IN THE STATES. 17:06:49 HAVE YOU TURNED OVER EVERY DOCUMENT TO NHTSA THAT RELATES 17:06:55 TO THE STICKY PEDAL AND THE SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION? 17:07:14 >> I BELIEVE SO. >> I BELIEVE SO. 17:07:16 >> THERE'S NOT ANY SUPPRESSED DOCUMENT OR SECRET DOCUMENT 17:07:19 WE'RE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT A YEAR FROM NOW? 17:07:28 >> Translator: THAT WON'T HAPPEN. 17:07:29 >> THE PEOPLE OF JAPAN ARE VERY HOSPITABLE. 17:07:33 I KNOW THAT FOR A FACT. THIS IS THE NUMBER TWO MOST 17:07:39 IMPORTANT MARKET FOR TOYOTA IN THE WORLD. 17:07:43 WHEN A UNITED STATES REGULATORS FLIES TO JAPAN TO MEET WITH YOUR 17:07:53 LEADERSHIP, I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT, ONE, YOU DIDN'T 17:07:57 KNOW ABOUT THE MEETING. AND TWO, YOU NEVER HAD A REPORT 17:08:01 ABOUT THE MEETING. CAN YOU RESPOND TO THAT? 17:08:13 [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ] >> Translator: BUT THAT'S A 17:08:21 FACT. AND I REGRET THAT THE RESPONSE 17:08:24 IN THAT MANNER WAS NOT GOOD. [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ] 17:08:45 >> Translator: OF COURSE, THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE REFLECT UPON. 17:08:50 BUT I BELIEVE PEOPLE IN THE QUALITY DIVISION RESPONDED TO 17:08:54 THAT VERY ADEQUATELY. THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING AND I 17:08:57 HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND. >> I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU TO 17:09:00 TURN OVER TO THE COMMITTEE, ANY DOCUMENTATION, ANY MEMOS THAT 17:09:04 AROSE OUT OF THAT MEETING BY THE REGULATORS IN THE UNITED STATES 17:09:07 COMING TO JAPAN. >> Translator: I WILL DO THAT. 17:09:19 >> I WANT TO READ TO YOU A LITTLE BIT OF AN E-MAIL I 17:09:22 RECEIVED FROM A CONSTITUENT WHO OWNS A TOYOTA TACOMA TRUCK THEY 17:09:28 PURCHASED IN 2008. SOON AFTER WE BOUGHT THE TRUCK, 17:09:31 WE BEGAN TO NOTICE THAT THE ENGINE WOULD SURGE WHEN WE WERE 17:09:36 STOPPED AND HAD OUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE. 17:09:38 WE TOOK THE TRUCK INTO THE DEALER AS SOON AS WE STARTED TO 17:09:41 NOTICE THESE PROBLEMS. WE WERE -- RETURNED AT LEAST 17:09:48 THREE MORE TIMES WITH THE PROBLEM. 17:09:51 THEY HAD A SERVICE PERSON TEST-DRIVE IT AND TOLD US THEY 17:09:53 WERE UP ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. 17:09:56 MY WIFE ASKED TO SPEAK TO THE HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT AND HE 17:10:00 TOLD HER THE TRUCK NEEDED TO GET USED TO HER DRIVING STYLE AND TO 17:10:07 GIVE IT A FEW MONTHS. I 17:10:19 IN EXASPERATION THEY WENT TO THE INTERNET AND FOUND OTHERS. 17:10:29 WE WENT BACK AND THEY CONTINUED TO BLAME IT ON MY WIFE. 17:10:35 I WANT YOU TO REVOW THIS COMPLAINT AND REPORT BACK TO ME. 17:10:38 MORE IMPORTANTLY, I HOPE MOVING FORWARD YOU NEVER AGAIN USE THE 17:10:41 EXCUSE IT WAS DRIVER ERROR. [ SPEAKIN 17:11:20 >> Translator: I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS CASE BUT WE WOULD 17:11:22 LIKE TO GIVE AN EXPLANATION ON THAT WITH DOCUMENTS AND OTHER 17:11:25 MEANS. ALL OVER THE COMPANY, I WILL 17:11:28 MAKE SURE WE NEVER, EVER BLAME THE CUSTOMERS GOING FORWARD. 17:11:31 >> THANK YOU. ONE LAST QUESTION. 17:11:32 YOU SAID SAFETY FIRST, MR. TOYODA. 17:11:36 WE KNOW THAT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL MAY BE 17:11:42 PROBLEMATIC. YOU'VE ALREADY DECIDED TO PUT 17:11:45 THE OVERRIDE -- BRAKE OVERRIDE CHIP INTO MODELS MOVING FORWARD. 17:11:50 YOU ARE GOING TO DO IT FOR SOME MODELS RETROACTIVELY. 17:11:54 WOULD YOU BE WILLING FOR A CUSTOMER WHO CAME INTO YOUR 17:12:00 DEALERSHIP TO OFFER THAT CHIP TO ANYONE WHO HAD CONCERNS ABOUT 17:12:05 THE SAFETY OF THEIR VEHICLE? [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ] 17:12:33 >> Translator: I DO NOT KNOW THE TECHNICAL DETAILS, BUT IF IT IS 17:12:41 TECHNICALLY AND ENGINEERLY POSSIBLE AND IF WE CAN FIND A 17:12:45 GOOD METHOD, WE WILL DO THAT. OTHER THAN THAT, I DO NOT KNOW A 17:12:47 GOOD ANSWER TO THAT. >> ALL RIGHT. 17:12:49 THANK YOU. >> NOW CALL ON THE GENTLEMAN 17:13:02 FROM OHIO. >> I'M FROM CALIFORNIA. 17:13:06 >> CALIFORNIA. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. 17:13:10 MAY I SAY TO YOU -- [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ] 17:13:20 MINE IS MORE OF A COMMENT. MR. CHAIRMAN, I'M GOING TO 17:13:24 CONCEDE MY TIME. WE DO HAVE ANOTHER PANEL AND 17:13:27 THERE'S ANOTHER COMMITTEE WAITING FOR THIS ROOM. 17:13:30 CURRENTLY ABOUT 8 MILLION TOYOTA VEHICLES HAVE BEEN RECALLED IN 17:13:33 THIS COUNTRY DUE TO THE SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION EVENTS 17:13:38 AND BRAKING CONCERNS. AND I HOPE THAT THE INTEREST 17:13:43 SHOWN HERE IN AMERICA WILL BE TAKEN BY SO THAT YOU CAN FIX 17:13:50 WHATEVER IS CAUSING THIS. AND WE HEAR IT'S COMPUTER 17:13:55 DRIVEN, THESE CAUSES. SO I WOULD HOPE -- AND THERE'S A 17:14:04 SAYING THAT KAISER PERMANENTE USES, I HOPE WE ALL THRIVE. 17:14:07 I HOPE YOU THRIVE. WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE 17:14:10 VICTIMS, THEY ARE GOING TO BE THE NEXT PANEL UP. 17:14:12 I WAS HOPING WE COULD GET BOTH PANELS TOGETHER SO THEY COULD 17:14:15 EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM AND YOU COULD COMMENT. 17:14:19 BUT A WORD TO THE WISE, AND THAT IS LISTEN CLOSELY, MAKE A 17:14:23 COMMITMENT TO GO BACK AND MAKE THE DECISIONS AT THE TOP SO THAT 17:14:30 YOUR PARTICULAR PRODUCT WILL BE, AGAIN, NUMBER ONE. 17:14:37 WITH THAT -- [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ] 17:14:42 THANK YOU AND I YIELD BACK MY TIME. 17:14:45 >> THANK YOU FOR YIELDING BACK YOUR TIME. 17:14:47 I RECOGNIZE NOW THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM OHIO. 17:14:54 >> I THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN, MR. TOYODA, AND YOUR ASSOCIATES FOR 17:14:58 COMING TODAY. MR. TOYODA, I AM NOT SATISFIED 17:15:00 WITH YOUR TESTIMONY. I'M BEING VERY FORTHCOMING. 17:15:03 I DO NOT FEEL IT REFLECTS SUFFICIENT REMORSE FOR THOSE WHO 17:15:07 HAVE DIED, AND I DO NOT THINK YOU HAVE ACCURATELY REFLECTED 17:15:11 THE LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED WITH TOYOTA 17:15:15 FOR A DECADE. I AS ONE MEMBER AM DISAPPOINTED. 17:15:21 I DEDICATE MY TESTIMONY IN MEMORY OF GUADALUPE ALBERTO, AGE 17:15:29 76, WHO DIED WHEN HER 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY SPED OUT OF CONTROL 17:15:34 AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. BUSINESS WEEK REPORTS SHE BLEW 17:15:39 PAST AN INTERSECTION. WITNESSES SAW HER WITH BOTH 17:15:42 HANDS ON THE WHEEL. SHE APPEARED TO BE STANDING ON 17:15:50 THE BRAKE WHILE STEERING. WHERE IS THE REMORSE? 17:15:53 AS FAR BACK AS 2002, NHTSA -- AND OUR GOVERNMENT IS AT FAULT, 17:16:02 TOO, RECORDS TWO TOYOTA EXECUTIVES, BOTH OF WHOM WERE 17:16:06 FORMER NHTSA EMPLOYEES HIRED BY YOUR COMPANY, WORKED WITH THEIR 17:16:10 FORMER CO-WORKERS, SCOTT, YOU AND JEFFREY AT NHTSA WHEN IT 17:16:16 DECIDED IT WOULDN'T INVESTIGATE WHAT THEY TERMED LONGER DURATION 17:16:21 INCIDENTS INVOLVING UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION. 17:16:24 I CALL IT SUDDEN DEATH ACCELERATION WHERE BRAKE PEDAL 17:16:30 APPLICATIONS ALLEGEDLY HAD NO AFFECT. 17:16:35 NHTSA LIMITED ITS INVESTIGATION TO THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE IT WAS 17:16:38 A SECOND OR UNDER A SECOND. THAT WAS A MAJOR DECISION THAT 17:16:45 AFFECTED LIVES ALL THROUGH THIS DECADE. 17:16:49 SO I AM DISAPPOINTED. THIS BOOK, "THE TOYOTA WAY," IS 17:17:00 USED IN BUSINESS SCHOOLS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY. 17:17:02 THE AUTHOR TALKS ABOUT YOUR COMPANY'S PRINCIPLES. 17:17:09 PRINCIPLE NUMBER FIVE READS, BUILD A CULTURE OF STOPPING TO 17:17:13 FIX PROBLEMS, TO GET QUALITY RIGHT THE FIRST TIME. 17:17:17 THE FIRST TIME. MR. TOYODA, HOW DID TOYOTA LOSE 17:17:24 ITS WAY? YOU SAY IN YOUR TESTIMONY YOUR 17:17:30 COMPANY GREW TOO FAST. SOME SMART LAWYERS GAVE YOU 17:17:38 THOSE WORDS. I THINK WHAT HAPPENED WAS YOUR 17:17:40 COMPANY WENT FROM EMPHASIZING LONG-TERM QUALITY VALUES AND 17:17:47 CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITIES TO FIGHTING AGAINST SAFETY 17:17:52 REGULATIONS, AGAINST INSIDER INFLUENCE INSIDE THIS CITY AND 17:17:54 YOUR OWN CAPITAL IN JAPAN, AND ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS. 17:18:00 AND, INDEED, WORKER RIGHTS AND CAR CHECKS INSIDE YOUR 17:18:06 COMPANIES. SO IS IT THE TOYOTA WAY TO USE 17:18:10 INSIDER DEALING TO CHANGE DECISIONS? 17:18:13 IS IT THE TOYOTA WAY TO PUSH A DEREGULATION AGENDA THAT WORKS 17:18:18 AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF OUR COUNTRY AND OTHER COUNTRIES? 17:18:21 DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE IN JAPAN DIED BECAUSE OF WHAT YOUR 17:18:25 COMPANY DID? [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ] 17:18:56 >> Translator: NOT JUST LIMITING TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS YOU 17:18:59 SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED, I FEEL DEEPLY SORRY FOR THOSE PEOPLE 17:19:06 WHO LOST THEIR LIVES, OR WHO ARE INJURED BY TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, 17:19:11 ESPECIALLY THOSE IN OUR OWN CARS. 17:19:14 AND I EXTEND MY SINCEREST CONDOLENCES TO THEM FROM THE 17:19:18 BOTTOM OF MY HEART. [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ] 17:19:41 >> Translator: I CAME FROM JAPAN TO APPEAR AT THIS HEARING. 17:19:48 BUT AT THE SAME TIME I WANTED -- I HAD BEEN TRYING TO CONVEY MY 17:19:55 SINCERE FEELINGS, MY OWN BELIEFS TO THE PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE 17:20:02 WORLD. BUT THE FACT THAT WAS NOT 17:20:09 SOMETHING I WILL REFLECT UPON. [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ] 17:20:34 >> Translator: AS YOU POINTED OUT, THE DEVELOPMENT OF PEOPLE, 17:20:39 HUMAN RESOURCES AT TOYOTA MAY NOT HAVE KEPT PACE WITH THE PACE 17:20:49 OF EXPANSION. I WILL OBSERVE THAT AND LOOK AT 17:20:51 THAT FACT VERY SINCERELY. GOING FORWARD TO BRING ABOUT AND 17:20:56 EFFECT CHANGES TO BECOME A BETTER CARMAKER AND TO BECOME A 17:21:01 MORE TRANSPARENT CARMAKER I THINK IS THE ROLE AND MISSION OF 17:21:04 MYSELF AS PRESIDENT. [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ] 17:21:37 [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ] >> Translator: HOWEVER, SOME 17:21:48 CUSTOMERS OF TOYOTA, AS A MATTER OF FACT MANY CUSTOMERS OF TOYOTA 17:21:52 AROUND ME SAY THEY ARE WILLING TO CONTINUE BUYING TOYOTA 17:21:57 VEHICLES GOING FORWARD. AS LONG AS THERE IS SUCH 17:22:01 CUSTOMERS FEELING AND ACCEPTING THE GRAVITY OF THOSE VICTIMS OF 17:22:06 TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, I THINK IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO CARE FOR 17:22:10 THOSE CUSTOMERS AND CREATE CARS FOR THOSE CUSTOMERS. 17:22:13 I BELIEVE THAT I AM THE ONLY PERSON WHO CAN DISPLAY THE 17:22:18 LEADERSHIP TO TRANSFORM A TOYOTA IN THAT DIRECTION. 17:22:25 >> GENTLEWOMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. 17:22:29 FIVE MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM MISSOURI, CONGRESSMAN. 17:22:35 >> THANK YOU AND THAT THE WITNESSES FOR BEING HERE. 17:22:38 MR. TOYODA, YESTERDAY, DAVID GILBERT, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF 17:22:44 AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY AT SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY 17:22:48 TESTIFIED THAT TOYOTA HAS AN ELECTRONIC PROBLEM. 17:22:53 A CONCLUSION HE DERIVED FROM TESTING THAT ONLY TOOK HIM THREE 17:22:58 AND A HALF HOURS. I NOTE THIS HIS CREDENTIALS ARE 17:23:04 SIGNIFICANT AND HE'S VERY QUALIFIED TO DO THIS TESTING. 17:23:11 TOYOTA HAS ANNOUNCED THAT TO HELP SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, TOYOTA 17:23:17 WILL BEGIN TO INSTALL BRAKE OVERRIDE SYSTEMS ON YOUR CARS. 17:23:24 ISN'T IT TRUE THAT IF WHAT DR. GILBERT TESTIFIED TO, THAT 17:23:30 TOYOTA HAS AN ELECTRONICS PROBLEM, YOU CANNOT BE CERTAIN 17:23:33 THAT A BRAKE OVERRIDE SYSTEM WOULD EVEN KICK IN AND WORK WHEN 17:23:42 YOUR ELECTRONICS MALFUNCTION? [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ] 17:24:31 [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ] >>> WITH RESPECT TO THE PROBLEM 17:25:00 OF ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM, I GAVE THE INSTRUCTION 17:25:04 TO CONDUCT THOROUGH DUPLICATION AND REPRODUCTION TESTS. 17:25:10 WE HAVE CONDUCTED ACTUALLY NUMEROUS REPRODUCTION, 17:25:14 DUPLICATION TESTS ON A 24-HOUR BASIS. 17:25:17 THUS FAR WE HAVE NOT IDENTIFIED ANY PROBLEM WITH OUR ETC SYSTEM. 17:25:26 I KNOW THIS TESTIMONY GIVEN BY PROFESSOR KBIL BERT YESTERDAY 17:25:32 AND PERSONALLY DO NOT KNOW THE DETAILS OF WHAT SORT OF TESTING 17:25:35 HE CONDUCTED. BUT JUST THE CONFRONTATION 17:25:40 BETWEEN TOYOTA AND PROFESSOR GILBERT, WE HAVE NOT CLARIFIED 17:25:44 WHICH SIDE IS CORRECT. THIS MEANS THERE ARE PROBLEMS 17:25:48 THAT HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED FOR THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY. 17:25:52 AND THEREFORE, IN THE OPEN FORUM, TO VALIDATE THE 17:25:57 SITUATION, WE ARE WILLING TO CONDUCT TESTING TOGETHER SO OUR 17:26:00 CUSTOMERS WOULD BE ABLE TO FEEL SAFE IN THE VEHICLES AS QUICKLY 17:26:04 AS POSSIBLE. TOYOTA IS READY TO EXTEND 17:26:08 COOPERATION IN THAT REGARD. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT. 17:26:10 YES, SIR? >> PLEASE ALLOW ME TO GIVE A 17:26:12 LITTLE MORE -- I HAVE A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT. 17:26:15 WE'LL BE GLAD TO MEET WITH HIM OR HAVE HIM MEET WITH OUR 17:26:23 ENGINEERS AND THEN EXPLAIN HIS TEST METHOD. 17:26:29 IF THERE'S ANY INPUT HE MAY HAVE, WE'RE WILLING TO LISTEN TO 17:26:35 ANYTHING HE HAS FOR THE ISSUE. BUT WE HAVE SOME CONCERNS, AS 17:26:40 FAR AS WE KNOW, AND OUR ENGINEERS GAVE US SOME CONCERNS 17:26:44 ABOUT IT, BECAUSE HE CUT INTO A CIRCUITRY AND THEN MANIPULATED 17:26:51 THE SYSTEM IN A WAY THAT IS VERY UNREALISTIC. 17:26:57 ALSO, IN THE MEANTIME, WITH THE VERY SHORT TIME WE HAVE 17:27:00 CONDUCTED IF SOME OTHER MANUFACTURER'S CARS WOULD RCHL 17:27:04 THE SAME, WE HAVE DONE THREE CARS ALREADY WITH A VERY LOW UA 17:27:11 RATES. IN OTHER WORDS, THEY ARE 17:27:12 CONSIDERED TO BE A VERY SAFE CAR. 17:27:15 AND IT REPLICATED THE SAME WAY. SO IN MY VERY AMATEUR TERM, IT 17:27:22 IS NOT UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. IT IS AN INTENDED MANIPULATION. 17:27:30 >> SO YOU HAVE DETERMINED IT'S NOT ELECTRONIC. 17:27:34 BUT I WOULD HOPE YOU WOULD GET WITH PROFESSOR GILBERT AND 17:27:39 COMPARE YOUR NOTES, COMPARE YOUR TESTING TO MAKE A DETERMINATION 17:27:44 ON WHETHER IT IS OR ISN'T. >> YES, SIR. 17:27:49 >> THANK YOU. THE TIME HAS EXPIRED. 17:27:51 NOW CALL ON THE GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO. 17:27:55 >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. I WANT TO THANK OUR WITNESSES 17:27:59 FOR THEIR TIME TODAY AND FOR COMING IN AND TESTIFYING BEFORE 17:28:04 THE COMMITTEE. MR. INABA, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT 17:28:07 SOME OF WHAT YOU SAY IN YOUR TESTIMONY RELATIVE TO WHAT WE 17:28:14 HAVE LEARNED ABOUT TOYOTA EMPLOYEES AND FORMER NHTSA 17:28:18 EMPLOYEES. AS HAS BEEN EXPLORED BY MULTIPLE 17:28:22 MEMBERS HERE TODAY, THERE SEEMS TO BE A CONFLICT OR CERTAINLY 17:28:26 SEEMS TO BE AN EFFORT ON THE PART OF FORMER NHTSA EMPLOYEES 17:28:31 EMPLOYED BY TOYOTA OR FORMERLY EMPLOYED BY TOYOTA TO PUT A HALT 17:28:37 TO INVESTIGATIONS. I'LL REFER TO THE BUSINESS WEEK 17:28:40 ARTICLE ON FEBRUARY 12th. IT SAID ONE EXAMPLE, IN A 17:28:47 LAWSUIT, THE COMPANY AND NHTSA EXPRESSED LIMITING UNINTENDED 17:28:51 ACCELERATION COMPLAINTS TO INCIDENTS LASTING LESS THAN A 17:28:56 SECOND. THAT'S WHAT REPRESENTATIVE WAS 17:28:58 REFERRING TO. ALL FOUR OF THE PROBES, TOYOTA 17:29:01 AIDES HELPED END WERE COMPLAINTS UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WAS 17:29:05 CAUSED BY FLAWS IN THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRONIC THROTTLE SYSTEMS. 17:29:10 DO YOU BELIEVE THAT HAD THESE EFFORTS NOT BEEN MADE TO LIMIT 17:29:13 THESE INVESTIGATIONS, THAT TOYOTA AS A COMPANY WOULD HAVE 17:29:18 REACTED MORE QUICKLY AND NHTSA WOULD HAVE REACTED EARLIER TO 17:29:21 SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE NOW ADDRESSING TODAY IN TERMS OF 17:29:25 THE NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS AND THE SEVERITY OF THESE ACCIDENTS? 17:29:31 >> WELL, I DON'T KNOW ANY OF THE SPECIFIC INCIDENTS OR OCCURRENCE 17:29:39 YOU CAN MENTIONED. AS I SAID, I BELIEVE IN THEIR -- 17:29:44 IN TWO OF OUR ASSOCIATES VERY HIGH ETHNIC STANDARD AND ALSO 17:29:52 THEIR INTEGRITY. SO I HAVE GOOD REASONS TO 17:29:57 BELIEVE IN THAT, RATHER THAN JUST HINTING THIS THEY MAY HAVE 17:30:03 SOME RELATIONSHIP IN FAVOR TO US. 17:30:06 ALSO ON THE NHTSA PART, THEY ARE A VERY, VERY PROFESSIONAL TEAM 17:30:10 OF PEOPLE. >> JUST TO FOLLOW UP, YOU'RE 17:30:12 SUGGESTING THEY DIDN'T ENGAGE IN THIS BEHAVIOR TO TRY TO LIMIT 17:30:18 THE INVESTIGATIONS AND -- IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? 17:30:23 >> WELL, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO -- ALL I'M SAYING IS THAT WHATEVER 17:30:28 THEY HAVE DONE IS WITHIN THE VERY GOOD ETHICAL SORT OF CODE. 17:30:33 >> MY QUESTION, THOUGH, IF THE INVESTIGATIONS HAD NOT BEEN 17:30:37 LIMITED, IF THE INVESTIGATIONS HAD NOT BEEN LIMITED, WOULD WE 17:30:40 HAVE ADDRESSED THE SITUATION EARLIER THAN WE ARE TODAY? 17:30:44 >> I THINK IT IS A VERY ISSUE THAT SINCE I DON'T KNOW THE 17:30:49 CONVERSATION OR EVENT, I WOULD NOT MAKE ANY MORE COMMENT ON 17:30:54 THAT. >> ALSO, MR. INABA, IN YOUR 17:30:56 TESTIMONY EARLIER, YOU SUGGESTED THAT THE INFORMATION IN EUROPE 17:31:02 WITH REGARD TO SOME OF THESE CHALLENGES WASN'T SHARED WITH 17:31:07 FOLKS IN THE UNITED STATES. I PERSONALLY FIND THAT HARD TO 17:31:12 BELIEVE, THAT TOYOTA HERE IN THE UNITED STATES WAS UNFAMILIAR 17:31:17 WITH WHAT WAS GOING ON ADDRESSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION 17:31:20 PROBLEMS IN EUROPE. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT 17:31:23 I HAVE THIS RIGHT. SO YOU ARE SAYING THAT TOYOTA OF 17:31:28 AMERICA WAS NOT AWARE OF THE EFFORTS BY TOYOTA TO ADDRESS THE 17:31:31 SUDDEN ACCELERATION ISSUES IN EUROPE, WHEN THAT WAS GOING ON. 17:31:40 >> WELL, I MUST SAY IN OUR TERM, STICKY PEDAL ISSUES. 17:31:49 I THINK IN OUR TERM, TOYOTA, AMERICAN SIDE, WAS NOT AWARE OF 17:31:53 THAT OR WAS NOT INFORMED OF THAT. 17:31:54 THAT IS TRUE. THAT'S ALL I KNOW. 17:31:57 >> SO WHEN THAT WAS GOING ON, WHEN THOSE COMPLAINTS WERE BEING 17:32:02 ADDRESSED, WHEN SOLUTIONS WERE BEING CREATED AND A RECALL 17:32:05 TAKING PLACE IN EUROPE, YOU WERE UNAWARE OF THAT HERE IN THE 17:32:08 UNITED STATES? >> I PERSONALLY GOT TO KNOW THAT 17:32:13 FACT IN JANUARY THIS YEAR. >> I WILL JUST CONCLUDE WITH THE 17:32:20 CASE, I'M ENCOURAGED BY THE FACT MY FOLKS IN CINCINNATI WHEN I 17:32:24 WENT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND WENT TO THE SERVICE 17:32:28 DEPARTMENT SAID THEY HADN'T SEEN COMPLAINTS. 17:32:30 WHEN I WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT NHTSA RECORDS, IT WAS PRETTY 17:32:34 CLEAR THERE WERE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT SUDDEN 17:32:37 ACCELERATION. I WILL JUST REFLECT UPON THIS 17:32:41 ONE. THAT I SAW AND IT'S A COMPLAINT 17:32:46 FROM 2009. THE GENTLEMAN SAID I BOUGHT MY 17:32:50 TACOMA THREE MONTHS AGO I EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM THREE 17:32:53 TIMES NOW, THE LAST TIME AFTER PICKING UP MY DAUGHTER FROM 17:32:58 WORK. IT WAS ACCELERATING AND I WAS 17:33:00 LITERALLY STANDING ON THE BRAKE. THE ENGINE WAS RACING AND IT 17:33:03 WOULDN'T STOP. I THREW IT INTO NEUTRAL AND IT 17:33:07 SOUNDED LIKE IT WOULD EXPLODE. I HAD NO RUGS, IT DID NOT COME 17:33:09 WITH ANY, I WAS GOING TO GET ALL WEATHER MATS BUT DID NOT BUY 17:33:14 THEM YET. CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ENGAGED, 17:33:17 I DO NOT CONSIDER MYSELF TO BE AN INEXPERIENCED DRIVER. 17:33:19 I USED TO RACE, ACTUALLY. AND HE GOES ON. 17:33:22 CLEARLY THIS ISN'T A MAT PROBABLY. 17:33:25 THIS ISN'T A STICKY PEDAL PROBLEM. 17:33:27 THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER EXPERIENCING 17:33:30 SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THIS IS IN A 2005 TACOMA. 17:33:35 I THINK WE CERTAINLY AS A CONGRESS WANT TO KNOW AND I 17:33:38 THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW, IF THEIR VEHICLES ARE 17:33:42 SAFE. IF YOU CAN STAND HERE TODAY AND 17:33:45 TELL US THAT THEY DON'T RISK BECAUSE OF A COMPUTER ISSUE OR 17:33:53 AN ELECTRONIC ISSUE SUDDEN ACCELERATION IN TOYOTA ON THE 17:33:59 STREETS TODAY. [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ] 17:34:49 >> Translator: I DO NOT KNOW THE TACOMA CASE OF 2005 OR 2009, 17:34:54 AND, THEREFORE, WITHOUT KNOWING THOSE SPECIFICS, I CANNOT GIVE 17:34:57 YOU ANY SPECIFIC ANSWER. BUT IF I MIGHT JUST REFER TO 17:35:04 ELECTRONICS CONTROL SYSTEM, TO THE SYSTEM WE HAVE CONDUCTED 17:35:07 VARIOUS TESTS THUS FAR TO DATE, WE HAVE NOT ENCOUNTERED THE SAME 17:35:14 PHENOMENON AS A RESULT OF THAT TEST. 17:35:17 THEREFORE, I BELIEVE THE VEHICLE IS SAFE. 17:35:20 HOWEVER, GOING FORWARD, WE ARE WILLING TO WORK TOGETHER IN AN 17:35:26 OPEN FORUM WITH INDUSTRY PARTNERS TO VALIDATE THE 17:35:30 SITUATION, INTRODUCING OPINIONS OF OTHER PEOPLE, INCLUDING 17:35:33 PROFESSOR GILBERT FOR THAT MATTER. 17:35:38 >> GENTLEMEN, TIME HAS EXPIRED. >> THANK YOU. 17:35:41 >> LET ME SAY THAT, FIRST OF ALL, I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE 17:35:47 YOUR COMING TO TESTIFY. WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. 17:35:50 WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR FOLLOW-UP ON THE SAFETY ISSUE. 17:35:53 BECAUSE AS I INDICATED TO YOU, THIS IS WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT, 17:35:59 ABOUT SAFETY AND MAKING CERTAIN WHEN PEOPLE GET INTO CARS, THEY 17:36:04 ARE SAFE. WE HOPE THAT YOU CONTINUE TO 17:36:07 WORK ON THAT. LET ME SAY TO YOU, MR. TOYODA, I 17:36:10 WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I'M IMPRESSED WITH THE FACT THAT YOU 17:36:15 CAME VOLUNTARILY TO COME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE TO TESTIFY. 17:36:19 I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THAT TO ME INDICATES YOUR COMMITMENT, 17:36:23 INDICATES YOUR DEDICATION, AND THAT YOU ARE SERIOUS ABOUT 17:36:28 MAKING CERTAIN THAT THESE AUTOS ARE SAFE. 17:36:30 I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU, MR. 17:36:34 INABA, FOR YOUR BEING IN TOUCH AND UNDERSTANDING THE FACT THAT 17:36:38 THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED. 17:36:42 ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO SAY? >> MR. CHAIRMAN, IF I COULD JUST 17:36:46 ECHO YOUR WORDS AND SAY A GREAT MANY PROMISES WERE MADE, 17:36:51 COMMITMENTS FOR CHANGE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THAT 17:36:53 AS SOMEBODY WHO HAS WORKED WITH THE SOCIETY OF AUTOMOTIVE 17:36:57 ENGINEERS FOR MANY YEARS, I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT CHANGE BEING 17:37:02 SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE DESIGN INDUSTRY IN QS 9,000 AND OTHER 17:37:10 STANDARDS. I BELIEVE WHAT WE HAVE BEGUN 17:37:12 HERE TODAY IS GOING TO BE CRITICAL FOR ALL AUTOMOBILE 17:37:15 MANUFACTURERS PARTICULARLY AS WE PUT MORE ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS IN 17:37:18 THE CAR. I, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR 17:37:21 GREAT DISTANCE AND YOUR PATIENCE THROUGH THIS LONG DAY. 17:37:26 MR. CHAIRMAN, I WOULD ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT BOTH OUR 17:37:31 BOOKLETS OF INCLUSIONS BE PUT IN THE RECORD AT THIS TIME. 17:37:36 >> WITHOUT OBJECTION. RECOGNIZE FROM OHIO. 17:37:40 >> UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO INCLUDE MATERIALS IN THE RECORD 17:37:44 ATTENDANT TO MY QUESTION. >> WITHOUT OBJECTION. 17:37:47 THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING. NOW WE GO TO OUR THIRD PANEL. 17:42:11 >>> THE MEETING WILL COME TO ORDER. 17:42:16 I WOULD NOW LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR THIRD PANEL OF WITNESSES, 17:42:25 MRS. ESTRELLA, WELCOME TO THE COMMITTEE, WHO LOST FAMILY 17:42:30 MEMBERS IN A CAR ACCIDENT INVOLVING A TOYOTA VEHICLE. 17:42:32 I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY. 17:42:37 I KNOW HOW TOUGH IT IS WHEN YOU LOSE A LOVED ONE. 17:42:40 SO I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING. 17:42:45 MR. HAGGERTY EXPERIENCED SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN A 17:42:49 TOYOTA VEHICLE. I CAN IMAGINE, YOU KNOW, WHAT 17:42:52 THAT'S LIKE. SO WANT TO THANK YOU, TOO. 17:42:57 I IMAGINE THAT EXPERIENCE, ALL OF A SUDDEN YOUR CAR JUST TAKES 17:43:01 OFF. I CAN IMAGINE. 17:43:03 MISS CLAYBROOK, FORMER ADMINISTRATOR OF THE NATIONAL 17:43:08 HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION AND PRESIDENT 17:43:12 EMERITUS OF THE PUBLIC CITIZENS. OF COURSE, WELCOME. 17:43:14 WE'RE SO DELIGHTED TO HAVE YOU AND YOUR EXPERIENCE YOU CAN 17:43:19 SHARE WITH US. YES. 17:43:23 MR. DITLOW, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR AUTO SAFETY. 17:43:27 WE'RE DELIGHTED TO HAVE YOU WITH US AS WELL. 17:43:30 SO WHAT WE WILL DO IS JUST START WITH YOU, MRS. ESTRELLA AND JUST 17:43:34 COME RIGHT DOWN THE LINE. WE HAVE FIVE MINUTES, AND OF 17:43:40 COURSE WHEN YOU START OUT THE LIGHT IS ON GREEN. 17:43:43 THEN IT TURNS TO YELLOW, THEN, OF COURSE, IT BECOMES RED 17:44:04 EVERYWHERE MEANS STOP. WHY DON'T WE START DOWN THE 17:44:08 LINE. I'M SORRY, LET ME CLOSE THE 17:44:10 DOOR. I HAVE TO SWEAR YOU IN, TOO. 17:44:14 WOULD ALL OF YOU STAND, PLEASE. DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR TO TELL 17:44:20 THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH? 17:44:27 IF SO, ANSWER IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. 17:44:30 LET THE RECORD REFLECT, ALL THE WITNESSES ANSWERED IN THE 17:44:37 AFFIRMATIVE. >> MR. CHAIRMAN, CONGRESSMAN 17:44:40 ISSA, AND MEMBERS OF THE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE, THANK 17:44:43 YOU FOR INVITING ME HERE. AND GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO 17:44:50 SPEAK FOR MY FOUR SIBLINGS. TO TESTIFY WITH TOYOTA RECALL AS 17:45:00 THEY RELATE TO MY BELOVED FAMILY. 17:45:08 WHO WERE TAKEN PREMATURELY AWAY FROM US. 17:45:14 I WOULD NOT DISCUSS OR TALK ABOUT THE ACCIDENT. 17:45:18 US, WE HAVE HEARD ENOUGH. WE HAVE HEARD SO MUCH. 17:45:24 FROM THE MEDIA, ANYWHERE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, I'M HERE 17:45:28 TO SPEAK FOR MY FOUR CHILDREN AND FOR THE SAFETY OF THE 17:45:37 CONSUMERS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. I BRAVE THIS TIME MYSELF. 17:45:44 I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE MYSELF. 17:45:49 I AM FE ESTRELLA. I AM A SCHOOL TEACHER BY 17:45:55 PROFESSION, AND I VENTURED INTO THE REAL ESTATE BUSINESS WHEN WE 17:46:01 MOVED TO VALLEJO. NOBODY PROBABLY KNOWS WHERE 17:46:05 VALLEJO IS. THAT IS A SUBURB FROM SAN 17:46:12 FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA. WE MOVE IN 1979 -- OR '77 TO 17:46:21 VALLEJO. WE WERE IN ALAMEDA FOR QUITE A 17:46:25 WHILE. BEFORE COMING TO CALIFORNIA, MY 17:46:26 HUSBAND WAS STATIONED IN MIDWAY ISLAND. 17:46:33 SO FOR 46 YEARS. HE WAS A RETIRED MASTER CHIEF 17:46:42 U.S. NAVY FOR 30 YEARS IN WORK FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR 17:46:48 ANOTHER TEN YEARS. WE HAVE FIVE CHILDREN. 17:46:54 THE OLDEST ONE, AND THE MIDDLE OF THE FIVE WHO WAS WITH THEM 17:47:14 WHO CALLED 911. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, I WILL 17:47:20 NOT DISCUSS THE ACCIDENT. SO LET ME START WITH MY SON. 17:47:26 GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA DAVIS. 17:47:29 SHE WORKED FOR HER IMMEDIATE BOSS FOR A YEAR IN RESEARCH 17:47:39 DEPARTMENT. THEN SHE WORKED FOR WHICH SHE 17:47:44 HAS -- I WENT TO HER -- I KNOW I ONLY HAVE FIVE MINUTES BUT I'D 17:47:48 LIKE TO MENTION THIS. SHE HAD THAT EXPERIMENT IN WHICH 17:47:51 WE DIDN'T MENTION THE COTTON. IT WAS PRESENTED BY THE 17:47:57 PRESIDENT OF THE COLLEGE ON TV. THEN SHE WORKED FOR VARIOUS 17:48:03 PHARMACEUTICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL COMPANIES. 17:48:12 THE LAST ONE WAS LAMBREX IN LA JOLLA, WHICH SHE RECEIVED AN 17:48:20 ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR A SIGNIFICANT TECHNOLOGICAL 17:48:26 INNOVATIONS AWARDED TO HER IN OCTOBER 2009. 17:48:37 MARK WESLEY SAILOR, HER HUSBAND, WAS A HIGHWAY PATROL OFFICER. 17:48:49 HE WAS RESPECTED, VERY RESPECTFUL PERSON, AND VERY 17:48:55 CARING. HE WAS A PERSON OF HONOR AND 17:48:59 INTEGRITY. HE WAS A VERY RELIGIOUS MAN, A 17:49:03 DEVOTED FATHER AND HUSBAND. HE GAINED RESPECT FROM HIS 17:49:11 COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS. MARK DEDICATED HIS TIME AND LIFE 17:49:15 TO HIS FAMILY AND TO HIS JOB. IN 1997, HE RESPONDED TO A 17:49:26 TRAFFIC COLLISION IN INTERSTATE 5. 17:49:30 HE SAVED THE LIFE OF A MAN WHO WAS TRAPPED IN HIS CAR, BURNING 17:49:40 CAR. AND HE WAS AWARDED FOR THAT, 17:49:43 TOO, FOR HIS EFFORT AND FOR HIS SUPERIOR ACT. 17:49:48 AND THIS IRONIC HE SAVED SOMEONE BUT HE WAS NOT ABLE TO SAVE HIS 17:49:53 FAMILY FROM THE FIERY CRASH IN SANTEE. 17:50:04 MAHALA, MY 13-YEAR-OLD GRANDDAUGHTER, WAS A PROMISING 17:50:10 ATHLETE. HE LOVED HER LOVE FOR SOCCER AND 17:50:17 MADE HER THE TEAM CAPTAIN. SHE WAS BLESSED TO HAVE THEM AS 17:50:28 PARENTS. AFTER WORKING HOURS, HER PARENTS 17:50:33 WOULD ATTEND TO HER GAMES, TO HER PRACTICE, TO SCHOOL, AND TO 17:50:36 CHURCH. THE WEEK OF THE TRAGEDY, MY 17:50:43 DAUGHTER TOOK OFF FOR A WEEK TO PREPARE HER DAUGHTER ENTERING 17:50:52 NINTH GRADE AT MATER DAI CATHOLIC SCHOOL. 17:51:02 SHE MISSED THE INVITATION AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL AS SHE 17:51:07 WAS INVITED BY THE SPORTS AMBASSADOR. 17:51:17 KNOWING MARK AND CLEOPHIE, THEY WILL MAKE AN INVESTMENT IN THEIR 17:51:23 CHILD'S FUTURE. THAT'S MAHALA. 17:51:31 EXCUSE ME. CHRIS LASTRELLA, HIS PASSION WAS 17:51:39 BASKETBALL. HE GRADUATED AT ST. VINCENT'S 17:51:44 ST. PATRICK HIGH SCHOOL. HE WORKED FOR THE UNITED PARCEL 17:51:51 SERVICE AS A LOADING SUPERVISOR. AFTER HIS GRADUATION IN COLLEGE 17:52:01 AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, HAYWARD, HE WENT INTO THE 17:52:10 FINANCIAL MORTGAGE BUSINESS ALSO. 17:52:13 AS WE ENCOURAGED BECAUSE IT GOES HAND IN HAND WITH THE REAL 17:52:17 ESTATE BUSINESS. SO HE VENTURED INTO THAT. 17:52:19 WHILE DOING THAT, HE WORKED FOR WELLS FARGO MORTGAGE COMPANY. 17:52:24 WHILE DOING THAT, HE WENT TO SCHOOL FOR VOICE ACTING IN SAN 17:52:29 FRANCISCO. CHRIS' VOICE WAS HEARD BECAUSE 17:52:40 OF HIS PRACTICE, HE WAS TO COMPOSE WHEN HE WAS -- THE ONE 17:52:47 THAT CALLED FOR 911 AND EVERYBODY HEARD IT. 17:52:50 I HAVE NOT HEARD IT. I STAYED AWAY FROM IT. 17:52:55 I DON'T WANT TO HEAR THE REST OF IT. 17:53:00 AND THE MESSAGE WAS STRONG. HE ANSWERED TO THE OPERATOR TO 17:53:07 HOLD ON AND PRAY, PRAY, PRAY. THAT WAS VERY GREAT OF HIM, THE 17:53:22 COURAGE THAT HE HAD. AND I THANK HIM FOR THAT. 17:53:43 ON AUGUST 28th, THAT WAS THE TRAGIC DATE THAT TRIGGERED THIS 17:53:45 ALL. BUT WE DIDN'T HEAR ABOUT IT 17:53:49 UNTIL THE FOLLOWING MORNING WHEN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER CAME 17:53:56 TO OUR DOOR WITH A NOTE TO CONTACT THE CORONER'S OFFICE. 17:54:00 THEN I SAID, OH, NO. HOW COULD YOU IMAGINE A 17:54:08 CORONER'S OFFICE AND WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU? 17:54:13 SO WAS IT ONLY MY DAUGHTER? BECAUSE I KNOW MY DAUGHTER 17:54:21 ALWAYS CHECKS TO SEE HOW THEY ARE DOING ON THE WEEKENDS. 17:54:24 THAT'S HOW DEDICATED SHE WAS. SO WHEN WE HEARD FROM THE COPS 17:54:33 THAT THERE WERE THREE OF THEM, AND I WAS SO GLAD THERE'S 17:54:41 ANOTHER PERSON SOMEWHERE. BUT WHEN WE CALLED THE CORONER'S 17:54:47 OFFICE, THERE WERE FOUR. COULD YOU IMAGINE TO LOSE FOUR 17:55:03 PEOPLE? SO I BRAVED THIS MOMENT, SO 17:55:08 HOPEFULLY, MR. CHAIRMAN, AND THE COMMITTEE, AND THE DIFFERENT 17:55:15 ORGANIZATIONS, THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WOULD DO 17:55:17 SOMETHING FOR THE SAFETY OF THE WORLD. 17:55:23 YOU DON'T WANT ANOTHER FAMILY TO SUFFER LIKE WE ARE SUFFERING. 17:55:32 WE HAVE A 7-MONTH-OLD BABY, HIS NAME IS CONNOR. 17:55:43 WE WERE TALKING TO HIM. I KNOW HE IS BABBLING ALL THE 17:55:49 TIME. BUT HE WOULD NOT EVEN SMILE. 17:55:52 THAT'S HOW THE IMPACT OF THE TRAGEDY WAS FELT IN MY 17:55:55 HOUSEHOLD. IT HAD A BIG IMPACT ON MY 17:56:01 FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND THE WHOLE COMMUNITY IN SAN FRANCISCO AREA, 17:56:05 IN THE SAN DIEGO AREA. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LISTENING 17:56:11 TO ME. AND I KNOW I DIDN'T COME HERE TO 17:56:14 CRY ON SOMEONE ELSE SHOULDER, BUT AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, IT 17:56:19 IS FOR THE SAFETY OF THE WORLD. THANK YOU. 17:56:25 >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR VERY MOVING TESTIMONY. 17:56:28 MR. HAGERTY? >> MY NAME IS KEVIN HAGERTY AND 17:56:46 I OWNED A 2007 TOYOTA AVOLON. IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS I'VE 17:56:49 EXPERIENCED FIVE EVENT WHERE IS MY CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. 17:56:53 THE FIRST FEW TIMES I EXPERIENCED IT WITHOUT MY FOOT 17:56:56 ON THE GAS PEDAL, I WAS DRIVING THROUGH TOWN. 17:57:00 THE CAR WOULD GO BACK TO ITS NORMAL RPMs AFTER A FEW MILES OR 17:57:08 AFTER IT WAS STOPPED AND TURNED OFF. 17:57:10 AFTER EXPERIENCING THIS FOR THE THIRD TIME, I TOOK IT TO BE 17:57:14 CHECKED BY MY LOCAL AUTO SHOP. THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING 17:57:18 WRONG. AFTER TWO MORE INCIDENTS, I 17:57:20 BROUGHT MY CAR TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ON NOVEMBER 11th, 17:57:25 2009 TO BE CHECKED. AFTER KEEPING MY CAR TWO DAYS, 17:57:28 THEY FOUND NO ACCELERATION PROBLEMS AND CONFIRMED THE MATS 17:57:34 WERE INSTALLED PROPERLY. ON DECEMBER 28th, 2009, I WAS 17:57:38 DRIVING TO WORK ON ROUTE 78 IN NEW JERSEY. 17:57:40 THE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS 17:57:44 PEDAL. AS I PUSHED ON THE BRAKE, THE 17:57:46 CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. AT THAT TIME I WAS NOT ABLE TO 17:57:49 STOP MY VEHICLE BY PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. 17:57:52 THE ONLY WAY I WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN WAS TO PUT THE CAR 17:57:56 INTO NEUTRAL. I GOT OFF THE NEXT EXIT WHICH 17:57:59 WAS THE EXIT FOR THE DEALERSHIP. DETERMINED TO GET THE CAR TO THE 17:58:05 DEALERSHIP, I SHOWED THEM FIRSTHAND THIS WAS HAPPENING. 17:58:10 I DROVE APPROXIMATELY FIVE MILES BY ALTERNATING FROM NEUTRAL TO 17:58:16 DRIVE AND PRESSING ON THE BRAKES. 17:58:19 I ASKED FOR THE SERVICE MANAGER TO MEET ME OUTSIDE. 17:58:21 AS I PULLED INTO THE FRONT, I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND EXITED THE 17:58:27 CAR. WITH THE BRAKES SMOKING FROM THE 17:58:29 EXCESSIVE BRAKES, THE MANAGER ENTERED MY CAR. 17:58:35 HE CONFIRMED THE MATS WERE PROPERLY IN PLACE AND THE RPMs 17:58:40 WERE VERY HIGH. HE CONTACTED A TOYOTA TECH TO 17:58:42 COME TO THE DEALERSHIP AND LOOK AT MY CAR. 17:58:45 HE ARRIVED WITHIN A FEW HOURS. THE DEALERSHIP HAD MY CAR FOR 17:58:49 1 1/2 WEEKS. WHEN I WAS TOLD THE CAR WAS 17:58:51 READY TO BE PICKED UP, I ASKED WHAT PROBLEM THEY HAD FOUND. 17:58:55 I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT PER TOYOTA, THEY 17:58:59 REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY AND ACCELERATOR ASSEMBLY, INCLUDING 17:59:03 A

TOYOTA The House Energy and Commerce Committee, Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing with David Strickland, the administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and James Lentz, the President and CEO of Toyota Sales USA entitled "Update on Toyota and NHTSA's Response to the Problem of Sudden Unintended Acceleration" 10:02:28 REP. BART STUPAK: I WILL BEGIN TODAY'S 10:02:29 HEARING WILL SERVE AS A PROGRESS REPORT ON WHERE TOYOTA 10:02:32 AND THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, NHTSA, 10:02:36 ARE IN TERMS OF DIAGNOSING AND CORRECTING SUDDEN, UNINTENDED 10:02:41 ACCELERATION. WE WILL ALSO EXAMINE WHAT TOYOTA 10:02:43 HAS DONE SINCE OUR FEBRUARY 23rd HEARING. 10:02:46 DURING OUR FEBRUARY 23rd HEARING, WE HEARD FROM TOYOTA 10:02:50 MOTOR SALES PRESIDENT JIM LENTZ. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 10:02:54 SECRETARY, SECRETARY RAY LaHOOD, CONSUMER ADVOCATES SHANE CANE 10:02:58 AND FROM AN EXPERT WITNESS, PROFESSOR DAVID GILBERT OF 10:03:01 SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY. ABOUT SUDDEN UNINTENDED 10:03:07 ACCELERATION, SUA IN TOYOTA VEHICLES. 10:03:09 WE ALSO HEARD FROM RHONDA AND EDDIE SMITH ABOUT THEIR 10:03:12 EXPERIENCE WITH THIS IN THEIR LEXUS. 10:03:14 COMMITTEE MEMBERS ASKED MANY QUESTIONS. 10:03:16 BUT WE WERE LEFT WITH MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS. 10:03:19 TOYOTA ENGAGED IN DAMAGE CONTROL ALMOST IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING OUR 10:03:23 HEARING BY CONTINUING ASSERTING CONFIDENCE THAT THE EXTENSIVE 10:03:27 TESTING PROVES THE SAFETY OF THE ELECTRONICS SYSTEMS AND 10:03:31 ATTACKING THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO DISAGREED WITH THEM. 10:03:33 BUT AS CHAIRMAN WAXMAN NOTED IN HIS OPENING, THE RECORD DOESN'T 10:03:37 SUPPORT TOYOTA'S STATEMENTS THAT IT CONDUCTED EXTENSIVE TESTING. 10:03:40 THE TRUTH IS THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER THE ELECTRONICS PLAYS A 10:03:44 ROLE IN SUDDEN, UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND TOYOTA DOESN'T 10:03:46 KNOW EITHER. WHAT'S DISAPPOINTING TO ME IS 10:03:50 LEARNING THAT TOYOTA SEEMS TO HAVE FOCUSED MORE ON 10:03:54 DISCREDITING ITS CRITICS THAN ON RESOLVING THE PROBLEM. 10:03:57 WHEN DR.8n; GILBERT TESTIFIED BEFORE THIS SUBCOMMITTEE IN 10:04:00 FEBRUARY, HE EXPLAINED THAT HE FOUND A WAY TO INDUCE SUDDEN 10:04:04 UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN A TOYOTA VEHICLE WITHOUT 10:04:07 TRIGGERING AN AIR CODE IN THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER. 10:04:10 COMMITTEE STAFF HAVE SPOKEN WITH SEVERAL ACADEMICS WHO DESCRIBED 10:04:13 DR. GILBERT'S EXPERIMENT AS SENSIBLE AND AS A REASONABLE WAY 10:04:18 UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. 10:04:23 DR. CHRISTIAN GIRDIS, A PROFESSOR AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY 10:04:26 WHO TOYOTA ASKED TO REVIEW DR. GILBERT'S WORK TOLD THE 10:04:29 COMMITTEE THAT DR. GILBERT'S AAPPROPRIATE A LEGITIMATE 10:04:34 STARTING POINT FOR A MORE IN-DEPTH INQUIRY INTO THIS 10:04:38 PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY, TOYOTA APPEARS TO 10:04:41 HAVE BEEN MORE INTERESTED IN MESSAGING THAN SCIENTIFIC 10:04:44 INQUIRY. AFTER THE HEARING TOYOTA HIRED A 10:04:47 PUBLIC RELATIONS FIRM TO ADVISE THE COMPANY ON ITS PUBLIC'S 10:04:52 RESPONSE TO LAWSUITS THAT IT PLAYED A ROLE IN SUDDEN 10:04:57 UNINTENDED INVESTIGATION AND KNOW THAT THE PR FIRM, BSG, 10:05:03 CONDUCTED A POLL TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT TOYOTA COULD DO TO 10:05:06 REPAIR DAMAGE TO THE COMPANY'S IMAGE AMONG EDUCATED CONSUMERS 10:05:10 KNOWN AS OPINION ELITES. A PRESENTATION BY BENAZEN SHOWS 10:05:17 THAT AMONG THE KEY FINDINGS FROM THE POLL TOYOTA LEARNED THE 10:05:20 FOLLOWING, DEBUNKING CANE GILBERT'S TESTIMONY WILL BE 10:05:25 CRITICAL FOR RESTORING CONFIDENCE AMONG ELITES AND 10:05:28 REASSURING AUDIENCES THAT ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL IS, 10:05:31 IN FACT, NOT AN ISSUE. THAT'S A DOCUMENT MARCH 5th. 10:05:37 WE REVIEWED AN UPDATED BSG DOCUMENT SHOWING THAT THE 10:05:41 RESULTS FROM ANOTHER TOYOTA POLL TO TEST SOME AGGRESSIVE MESSAGES 10:05:45 FOR POSSIBLE USE IN FUTURE PUBLIC STATEMENTS OR 10:05:48 ADVERTISING. THIS POLL REFERRED TO DR. 10:05:50 GILBERT'S EXPERIMENTS AS PHONY, SHODDY SCIENCE, A HOAX AND A 10:05:55 PARLOR TRICK THAT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN IN REAL LIFE. 10:05:57 AND WE HAVE A DOCUMENT ON THAT AND BSG SUMMARIZE THE RESULTS 10:06:04 FROM THIS POLL MARCH 8th, 2010 SUGGESTING TOYOTA SHOULD TRY TO 10:06:09 DAMAGE DR. GILBERT'S CREDIBILITY BY ACCUSING HIM OF HAVING 10:06:13 "MONETARY OR SELF-INTERESTED MOTIVES." 10:06:17 TOYOTA TOLD THE COMMITTEE THAT THE COMPANY DID NOT FOLLOW ITS 10:06:21 POSTER'S SUGGESTION TO ATTACK DR. GILBERT BUT THE DOCUMENTS 10:06:24 SUGGEST OTHERWISE. ON MARCH 8th, A MONDAY, TOYOTA 10:06:28 HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE AND RELEASED A REPORT BY EX-POINT 10:06:32 CRITICIZING DR. GILBERT'S WORK. TWO DAYS BEFORE THE PRESS 10:06:35 CONFERENCE, THE VICE PRESIDENT OF TOYOTA'S PUBLIC RELATIONS 10:06:38 FIRM NOTED IN AN E-MAIL TO A COLLEAGUE THE IMPORTANCE OF 10:06:42 FINISHING THE POLL BEFORE THIS EVENT SAYING AND I'M QUOTING NOW 10:06:45 "WE REALLY, REALLY NEED TO GET THIS DONE HE PERSONALLY WITH EE 10:06:52 LEGALITIES. TOYOTA HAS A PRESS CONFERENCE ON 10:06:53 MONDAY AND NEED OUR DATA TO KNOW WHAT TO SAY." 10:06:56 THAT'S THE DOCUMENT WE HAVE RIGHT HERE. 10:06:57 AT THAT PRESS CONFERENCE, BEFORE EXPONENT PRESENTED ITS FINDING 10:07:02 TOYOTA SPOKESMAN MIKE MICHAELS DISPARAGED DR. GILBERT'S WORK 10:07:05 AND SAID IT WAS PAID FOR BY AN ADVOCATE FOR TRIAL LAWYERS, END 10:07:09 OF QUOTE. EX-POEPTS REPORT ON DR. 10:07:12 GILBERT'S RESEARCH WAS A HIT JOB, NOT SOLID SCIENCE. 10:07:16 EXPONENT CONFIRMED A KEY CONCLUSION THAT DR. GILBERT HAD 10:07:19 DRAWN IN HIS REPORT, BUT THEN DISPARAGED DR. GILBERT FOR NOT 10:07:22 TESTING THE LIKELIHOOD OF THE FAULTS HE IDENTIFIED. 10:07:26 EVEN THOUGH EXPONENT NEVER DID THIS ANALYSIS EITHER. 10:07:43 A COUPLE MORE BUZZES THERE. EXPONENT ADDED NEW STEPS. 10:07:50 THEY ADDED NEW STEPS AND MISCHARACTERIZED OTHERS. 10:07:53 ALL IN AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE HIS OUTCOME SEEM UNLIKELY AND TOO 10:07:58 INVENT FLAWS IN HIS ANALYSIS. BUT INDEPENDENT EXPERTS HAVE 10:08:01 DEFENDED DR. GILBERT'S APPROACH INCLUDING A STANFORD UNIVERSITY 10:08:04 PROFESSOR WHO REVEALED THE REPORT AT TOYOTA'S REQUEST AND 10:08:07 DESCRIBED DR. GILBERT'S EXPERIMENT AS PERFECTLY 10:08:10 REASONABLE STARTING POINT. WHEN I LOOK AT TOYOTA'S APPROACH 10:08:14 I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE COMPANY IS ATTACKING DR. GILBERT 10:08:17 FOR TRYING TO FIND A ROOT CAUSE OF SUDDEN UNINTENDED 10:08:22 ACCELERATION. TOYOTA OUGHT TO BE UNDERTAKING A 10:08:24 COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW AND ENCOURAGING AUTOMOTIVE EXPERTS 10:08:27 TO COME FORWARD WITH IDEAS OF WHAT COULD BE CAUSING THE 10:08:30 PROBLEM. BASED ON THE COMMITTEE'S REVIEW 10:08:33 OF EXPONENT'S WORK, WE REMAIN DERNED IT IS NOT OCCURRING. 10:08:41 THE COMMITTEE ASKED TOYOTA TO PRODUCE ALL REPORTS OR 10:08:46 COMMUNICATIONS DESCRIBING THE WORK FOR TOYOTA RELATED TO 10:08:49 UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OR ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL. 10:08:53 WE ALSO ASKED FOR ALL CONTRACTS, AGREEMENTS, MEMORANDUM OR 10:08:56 CORRESPONDENCE CONCERNING THE SCOPE OR EX-PREPONDERANCE O 10:09:09 EMPLOYEES. IT APPEARS THEIR ONLY WORK TO 10:09:11 DATE IS THE INTERIM STUDY AND REPORT ATTACKING DR. GILBERT'S 10:09:14 CREDIBILITY. I FIND THIS EXTREMELY TROUBLING 10:09:18 GIVEN THE FACT THAT TOYOTA AND E 10:09:25 EXPONENT HAVE DONE THIS. TO BE FAIR, TOYOTA HAS MADE 10:09:31 PROGRESS ON PROCESSING THEIR RECALLS. 10:09:33 THEY HAVE COMPLETED 80% OF THE STICKY PEDAL RECALLS. 10:09:36 THEY HAVE COMPLETED 30% OF THEIR FLOOR MAT RECALLS. 10:09:39 THEY HAVE ALSO MADE SOME MANAGEMENT CHANGES THAT WE HOPE 10:09:42 WILL LEAD TO IMPROVED SAFETY CULTURE. 10:09:45 ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS TOYOTA COULD MAKE 10:09:47 WOULD BE TO INSTALL BRAKE OVERRIDE TECHNOLOGY IN ALL OF 10:09:50 THEIR VEHICLES. BRAKE OVERRIDE TECHNOLOGY 10:09:53 ENSURES THAT IF BOTH THE ACCELERATOR AND THE BRAKE ARE 10:09:57 PRESSED AT THE SAME TIME, THE BRAKE WILL OVERRIDE THE 10:10:00 ACCELERATOR. TOYOTA TOLD THE COMMITTEE THAT 10:10:01 BEGINNING IN 2011, ALL VEHICLES WILL HAVE THIS FEATURE. 10:10:05 BUT THE COMPANY IS BEING MORE SELECTIVE ABOUT WHICH OLDER 10:10:10 MODELS WILL RECEIVE THE SOFTWARE UPGRADE. 10:10:12 DESPITE THE FACT THAT INSTALLING BRAKE OVERRIDE TECHNOLOGY ON 10:10:15 OLDER VEHICLES WOULD ONLY COST $50 PER VEHICLE, TOYOTA DOES NOT 10:10:19 PLAN TO OFFER THIS OPTION EVEN AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE TO OWNERS 10:10:24 OF CERTAIN MODELS. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING WHY 10:10:27 TOYOTA WON'T OFFER BRAKE OVERRIDE TO THEIR CUSTOMERS WITH 10:10:30 OLDER VEHICLES EVEN IF THE CUSTOMER PAYS FOR IT. 10:10:34 SINCE OUR FEBRUARY HEARING, NHTSA AND TOYOTA APPEAR TO HAVE 10:10:37 IMPROVED THEIR WORKING RELATIONSHIP. 10:10:39 NHTSA OFFICIALS TELL US THAT TOYOTA HAS SHOWN MORE 10:10:42 WILLINGNESS TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF CONCERN. 10:10:44 NHTSA HAS INFORMED US IT HAS COMMISSIONED TWO STUDIES TO 10:10:48 STUDY THIS IN VEHICLES. 9 FIRST IS A STUDY TO BE 10:10:51 CONDUCTED BY NASA SCIENTISTS WHO EXAMINE TOYOTA'S ELECTRONIC 10:10:56 THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR POSSIBLE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED 10:10:59 WITH HARDWARE OR SOFTWARE. THIS REPORT IS TARGETED TO BE 10:11:03 COMPLETED BY THE END OF AUGUST. THE SECOND STUDY WILL BE 10:11:06 CONDUCTED BY A PANEL OF INDEPENDENT SCIENTISTS SELECTED 10:11:08 BY THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 10:11:10 THE NAS STUDY WILL OFFER AN EXAMINATION OF UNINTENDED 10:11:15 ACCELERATION AND ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEMS ACROSS ALL 10:11:18 AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURERS. THIS STUDY SHOULD BE COMPLETED 10:11:20 BY FALL OF 2011. I'D LIKE TO THANK BOTH 10:11:24 MR. STRICKLAND AND MR. LENTZ FOR THEIR TESTIMONY TODAY AND 10:11:27 ONGOING COOPERATION WITH THE COMMITTEE'S INVESTIGATION. 10:11:30 MR. LENTZ, WE APPRECIATE TOYOTA AND ITS OUTSIDE COUNSEL TED 10:11:34 HESTER FOR THE COMPANY'S RESPONSIVENESS TO OUR SEVERAL 10:11:37 REQUESTS FOR DOCUMENTS AND FOR SUBSTANTIVE BRIEFINGS. 10:11:40 I WISH I COULD SAY WE RECEIVED THE SAME LEVEL OF COOPERATION 10:11:43 FROM TOYOTA'S CONSULTANT, EXPONENT. 10:11:47 UNFORTUNATELY, EXPONENT WITHHELD INFORMATION FROM THE COMMITTEE 10:11:51 AND HAS EVEN MODIFIED RESPONSIVE DOCUMENTS BEFORE PRODUCING THEM 10:11:55 TO US IN DIRECT VIOLATION OF THE COMMITTEE'S INSTRUCTIONS. 10:11:58 IT'S IRONIC THE FIRM TOYOTA HIRED TO CONDUCT AN INDEPENDENT 10:12:02 INVESTIGATION HAS BEHAVED LIKE IT HAS SOMETHING TO HIDE FROM 10:12:04 THIS COMMITTEE. I NEXT TURN TO MR. BURGESS FOR 10:12:07 AN OPENING STATEMENT, PLEASE. THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN STUPAK 10:12:12 AND AS ALWAYS THANK YOU AND CHAIRMAN WAXMAN FOR CONVENING 10:12:17 THIS HEARING AND WELCOME TO OUR WITNESSES HERE TODAY. 10:12:19 OUR FIRST HEARING ON THE TOYOTA PROBLEMS ALMOST THREE MONTHS AGO 10:12:23 TO THE DAY AT THAT TIME WE HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS, BUT NOT A LOT 10:12:27 OF ANSWERS, AS TO WHAT WAS CAUSING THE SUDDEN UNINTENDED 10:12:33 ACCELERATION EVENTS IN TOYOTAS, SO TODAY WE'RE HERE FOR ANSWERS, 10:12:36 BUT IT ALSO APPEARS THAT WE WILL NOT BE GETTING THOSE. 10:12:40 I WAS HOPING THIS HEARING WAS CALLED BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME 10:12:42 NEW INFORMATION THAT WAS COMING TO THE FLOOR, BUT, IN FACT, WE 10:12:46 MAY BE HAVING THIS HEARING BECAUSE WE FOUND OUT THAT TOYOTA 10:12:50 DID A POLL. NOW, MR. CHAIRMAN, IF POLLING IS 10:12:52 FOUND TO BE AT THE LEVEL OF A HIGH CRIME OR MISDEMEANOR, THIS 10:12:58 DAIS WOULD SUDDENLY BE IRREVOCABLY SILENT BECAUSE WE'D 10:13:03 ALL GO AWAY. WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET THOSE 10:13:05 ANSWERS TODAY. I'M CONCERNED THAT WE CONTINUE 10:13:09 TO HAVE HEARINGS WHERE WE LITERALLY GO IN CIRCLES BECAUSE 10:13:12 THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE AND IT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED. 10:13:15 NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED FOR THE SAFETY OF TOYOTA'S CUSTOMERS AND 10:13:18 NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED FOR THE FUTURE OF THE -- OF AUTO SALES 10:13:23 BY THAT MANUFACTURER. THIS HEARING DOES SEEM 10:13:26 PREMATURE. TOYOTA HAS COMMISSIONED 10:13:28 EXPONENT, AN ENGINEERING AND SCIENTIFIC FIRM TO DO A TOP TO 10:13:31 BOTTOM REVIEW OF ITS CARS TO FIGURE OUT THE CAUSE OF THESE 10:13:35 EVENTS. THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC 10:13:37 SAFETY ADMINISTRATION HAS ASKED FOR NASA'S FAILURE ANALYSIS 10:13:42 EXPERTS TO TAKE A LOOK AT TOYOTA'S ELECTRONICS. 10:13:45 AS OF TODAY, BOTH OF THOSE STUDIES ARE ONGOING. 10:13:48 THAT'S A GOOD THING. WE JUST DON'T HAVE ANSWERS YET. 10:13:51 ACCORDING TO EXPONENT THEY HAVEN'T FOUND THE ANSWER TO WHAT 10:13:54 IS CAUSING THESE EVENTS AND NASA'S WORK IS JUST GETTING 10:13:56 STARTED. IN FACT, AT THE HEARING PREVIOUS 10:14:01 RANKING MEMBER BARTON ASKED THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC 10:14:10 ADMINISTRATION TO FIND THE CAR BY THE SMITHS TO FIND IT AND 10:14:14 TEAR IT APART TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. 10:14:16 NOW, NHTSA HAS FOUND THE SMITH'S CAR AND HAS HAD IT FOR ALMOST 10:14:20 THREE MONTHS. ACCORDING TO NHTSA'S E-MAILS 10:14:24 ENGINEERS HAVE RUN TESTS ON THE CAR AND DO PLAN TO DO MORE, BUT 10:14:27 HERE'S WHAT THEY FOUND TO DATE AND LET ME QUOTE SO THERE WILL 10:14:30 BE NO QUESTION ABOUT IT. "NOTHING REMARKABLE." 10:14:36 MR. CHAIRMAN, I WOULD ASK THAT THESE E-MAILS FROM NHTSA AND THE 10:14:41 MINORITY STAFF BE INCLUDED IN THE RECORD. 10:14:43 APPARENTLY THE SMITHS' CAR WAS DELIVERED ON FEBRUARY 26th AND 10:14:47 THAT'S THE TIME THAT IT'S BEEN UNDER STUDY. 10:14:49 THREE MONTHS LATER WE DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER TO WHAT WENT WRONG 10:14:52 WITH THE SMITHS' CAR. NEVER MIND ANSWERS TO ALL OF THE 10:14:55 OTHER TOYOTAS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED EVENTS THAT ARE SO 10:14:59 FAR INEXPLICABLE AND THAT'S NOT REALLY SURPRISING BECAUSE THESE 10:15:03 ARE AFTER ALL VERY COMPLICATED PROBLEMS THAT POTENTIALLY 10:15:06 INVOLVE ELECTRONICS, SOFTWARE AND MECHANICAL ISSUES. 10:15:10 FINDING THE RIGHT ANSWER WILL TAKE TIME BUT THE IMPORTANT PART 10:15:13 IS FINDING THE RIGHT ANSWER AND NOT RUSHING TO AN ANSWER BECAUSE 10:15:17 OTHERWISE IT'LL BE IMPOSSIBLE TO IDENTIFY THE RIGHT SOLUTION IF 10:15:20 WE DON'T FIND THE RIGHT SOLUTION, THE CARS ARE NOT 10:15:23 SAFER, THE PUBLIC IS NOT PROTECTED AND TOYOTA'S 10:15:25 REPUTATION CONTINUES TO SUFFER. AS THIS SUBCOMMITTEE IS AN 10:15:28 INVESTIGATIVE BODY WE SHOULD BE CAREFUL NOT TO DRAW CONCLUSIONS 10:15:31 ABOUT THE NATURE OF THE COMPREHENSIVENESS OF THESE 10:15:34 INVESTIGATIONS WHILE THEY'RE ONGOING. 10:15:36 BOTH NASA AND EXPONENT HAVE LAID OUT A NUMBER OF AREAS TO EXAMINE 10:15:40 INCLUDING SOFTWARE, HARDWARE, SYSTEMS INTERACTION AND MAGNETIC 10:15:44 INTERFEIGNS. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT NASA 10:15:47 AND EXPONENT ARE LOOKING AT MANY OF THE SAME ISSUES. 10:15:50 MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT'S CALLED INDEPENDENT VERIFICATION. 10:15:52 THAT IS ACTUALLY PART OF THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD AND IT'S A 10:15:55 GOOD THING. I DO WANT TO IMPRESS UPON THE 10:15:59 NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC ADMINISTRATION AND EXPONENT THAT 10:16:02 OUR PATIENCE AT THIS COMMITTEE IS NOT ENDLESS WHEN IT COMES TO 10:16:05 GETTING ANSWERS. THEY HAVE RECENTLY PROVIDED THE 10:16:07 COMMITTEE WITH A WORKING DRAFT OF THEIR WORK. 10:16:09 I WILL ACCEPT THAT THIS DRAFT IS INCOMPLETE, THAT THE INFORMATION 10:16:13 IN IT HAS NOT BEEN THOROUGHLY TESTED AND THEY HAVE NOT 10:16:16 IDENTIFIED THE CAUSES OF THESE EVENTS. 10:16:18 THAT'S FINE. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE SCOPE 10:16:21 OF EXPONENT'S WORK WE HAVE SEEN TEST RESULTS AND RAW DATE THAT 10:16:26 BUT NO PAPER THAT SETS UP THEIR PLANS FOR TESTING TOYOTAS. 10:16:30 ESSENTIALLY WE'VE BEEN TOLD TO TAKE THEIR WORD FOR IT AS TO 10:16:33 WHAT EXACTLY THEY'RE DOING. EXPONENT IS NOT HERE TODAY TO 10:16:39 SPEAK FOR ITSELF. SINCE OUR LAST MEETING WE MET 10:16:42 WITH ONE OF THE EXPONENT ENGINEERS WORKING ON THE TOYOTA 10:16:45 CASE. PERHAPS WE STILL DON'T HAVE A 10:16:46 FULL PICTURE OF THEIR WORK. MR. LENTZ, I HOPE TO HEAR FROM 10:16:51 YOU -- WHAT I HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU TODAY IS WHAT TOYOTA'S 10:16:54 STRATEGY IS GOING FORWARD FOR SOLVING THIS PROBLEM AND THAT 10:16:57 TOYOTA IS COMMITTED TO WORKING AND SHARING WITH 10:17:01 AND THE PUBLIC WHATEVER EXPONENT FINDS WHEN IT FINDS IT. 10:17:05 I'D ALSO LIKE TO WELCOME ADMINISTRATOR STRICKLAND FROM 10:17:11 NHTSA. NHTSA HAS OPENED A NUMBER OF 10:17:13 DIFFERENT INQUIRIES INTO THEIR RESPONSIVENESS WHEN IT COMES TO 10:17:16 RECALLS AND SAFETY CONCERNS KNIT HAS ALSO PENALIZED TOYOTA OVER 10:17:22 $16 MILLION WITH RESPECT TO THE TIMELINESS OF TOYOTA'S RECALL, 10:17:26 WHICH TOYOTA PAID YESTERDAY WITHOUT ADMITTING FAULT TO THE 10:17:30 UNDERLYING CHARGES. MR. STRICKLAND, I KNOW YOU 10:17:32 RECENTLY TRAVELED TO JAPAN WITH SECRETARY LAHOOD TO MEET WITH 10:17:36 TOYOTA. BEFORE THAT MEETING, SECRETARY 10:17:38 LaHOOD SAID TOYOTA WAS SAFETY DEAF. 10:17:41 AFTER THAT MEETING SECRETARY LaHOOD SAID TOYOTA IS NOW 10:17:45 LISTENING AND PAYING ATTENTION TO NHTSA'S WARNINGS AND THAT IS 10:17:49 QUITE A TURNAROUND IN ONE MEETING'S TIME AND 10:17:52 MR. STRICKLAND, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU AGREE WITH THE 10:17:55 SECRETARY'S ASSESSMENT AND WHY YOU ARE CONFIDENT THAT NOW TODAY 10:18:00 TOYOTA HAS GOTTEN THE MESSAGE THAT BEFORE SEEMED TO HAVE SOME 10:18:03 DIFFICULTY GETTING THROUGH. I'D ALSO LIKE TO LEARN FROM 10:18:07 ADMINISTRATOR STRICKLAND HOW TOYOTA'S WORKING RELATIONSHIP 10:18:10 WITH NHTSA HAS IMPROVED SINCE OUR LAST HEARING BASED ON 10:18:13 SECRETARY LaHOOD'S TESTIMONY AT OUR LAST HEARING AND ON YOUR 10:18:15 TESTIMONY BEFORE THE COMMERCE, TRADE AND CONSUMER PROTECTION 10:18:19 SUBCOMMITTEE IN MARCH I BELIEVE IT IS NHTSA'S VIEW THAT IT HAD 10:18:22 THE NECESSARY AUTHORITIES AND DATA TO DO THE PROPER OVERSIGHT 10:18:24 OF TOYOTA. IF THAT IS TRUE, WAS THE ONLY 10:18:29 PROBLEM TOYOTA? ARE YOU STILL CONFIDENT TODAY 10:18:31 THAT NHTSA'S INVESTIGATIONS WERE AS THOROUGH AS THEY SHOULD HAVE 10:18:34 BEEN AND THAT NHTSA HAD THE NECESSARY SKILLS AND EXPERTISE 10:18:38 TO PERFORM SAME. IS NHTSA DOING A SYSTEMIC REVIEW 10:18:43 OF OTHERS TO MAKE SURE THE MANUFACTURERS -- OTHER 10:18:46 MANUFACTURERS ARE BEING RESPONSIVE? 10:18:48 ON THAT NOTE, MR. LENTZ, I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT RECENT 10:18:52 IMPROVEMENTS THAT TOYOTA HAS ANNOUNCED LIKE SMART TEAM 10:18:55 INSPECTIONS OF CARS AND QUALITY PANELS ARE NOT A MATTER OF FORM 10:18:59 OVER SUBSTANCE. I HOPE YOU CAN OFFER US SOME 10:19:01 SPECIFICS ABOUT HOW THIS HAS IMPROVED TOYOTA'S RESPONSIVENESS 10:19:05 TO ITS DRIVERS, TO OUR CONSTITUENTS AND NHTSA. 10:19:09 MR. CHAIRMAN, YOU'VE BEEN INDULGENT, I WOULD YIELD BACK 10:19:12 THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. CHAIRMAN WAXMAN FOR AN 10:19:16 OPENING STATEMENT. CHAIRMAN STUPAK, I WANT TO 10:19:18 THANK YOU FOR HOLDING TODAY'S HEARING ON SUDDEN UNINTENDED 10:19:22 ACCELERATION IN TOYOTA MADE CARS AND TRUCKS. 10:19:24 THIS IS OUR SECOND HEARING ON THIS SUBJECT. 10:19:29 SINCE TOYOTA HAS ALREADY RECALLED MILLIONS OF VEHICLES 10:19:31 DUE TO CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ABOUT SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION 10:19:35 HAD THEIR VEHICLES. A KEY QUESTION THAT WAS RAISED 10:19:39 AT OUR FIRST HEARING WAS WHETHER THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS OF THESE 10:19:43 VEHICLES WERE REPORTED BY CONSUMERS FOR SUDDEN 10:19:48 ACCELERATION COULD BE LINKED TO ELECTRONIC DEFECTS IN THE 10:19:51 VEHICLES AND THAT'S STILL THE SUBJECT OF OUR HEARING TODAY. 10:19:55 IN FEBRUARY, WE HAD OUR HEARING ON THIS AND I ASKED TOYOTA MOTOR 10:20:02 SALES MANAGER JAMES LEPTS WHETHER HE WAS CERTAIN THAT THE 10:20:05 RECALLS TOYOTA HAD ORDERED WHICH INVOLVED REPLACING FLOOR MATS 10:20:08 AND STICKY ACCELERATOR PEDALS WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF 10:20:14 TOYOTA -- CARS RACING OUT OF CONTROL. 10:20:16 HE REPLIED "NOT TOTALLY." THIS APPEARS TO BE -- HAVE BEEN 10:20:22 A RARE MOMENT OF CORPORATE CANDOR BECAUSE THE VERY NEXT 10:20:26 DAY, TOYOTA MOTOR SALES ISSUED A PRESS RELEASE ENTITLED 10:20:31 "CLARIFICATION OF TESTIMONY REGARDING EFFECTIVENESS OF 10:20:34 RECALLS" IN WHICH THE COMPANY REITERATED THAT EXTENSIVE 10:20:39 TESTING MADE IT CONFIDENT THAT NO PROBLEMS EXIST WITH 10:20:44 ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEMS IN ITS VEHICLES. 10:20:47 THE SAME DAY BEFORE A DIFFERENT HOUSE COMMITTEE, THE PRESIDENT 10:20:52 OF TOYOTA MOTOR COMPANY AKIO TOYODA TESTIFIED HE'S ABSOLUTELY 10:20:59 CONFIDENT THERE'S NO PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN OF TOYOTA'S 10:21:03 ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM BECAUSE VERY RIGOROUS 10:21:07 TESTING IDENTIFIED NO PROBLEM OR MALFUNCTION. 10:21:11 A FEW DAYS LATER TOYOTA RAN A FULL PAGE ADVERTISEMENT IN OTHER 10:21:16 PAPERS -- AMONG OTHERS IN "THE WASHINGTON POST" DECLARING THAT 10:21:20 FLOOR MAT AND STICKY PEDAL RECALL SOLUTIONS ARE EFFECTIVE 10:21:24 AND DURABLE AND THAT TOYOTA HAD CONFIDENT THAT NO PROBLEMS EXIST 10:21:29 WITH THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM. 10:21:33 WELL, THESE ASSURANCES ARE BAFFLING. 10:21:36 IN PREPARATION FOR OUR LAST HEARING WE HAD RECEIVED OVER 10:21:40 100,000 PAGES OF DOCUMENTS FROM TOYOTA AND THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY 10:21:44 TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. WHAT WAS MOST NOTABLE ABOUT 10:21:48 THOSE DOCUMENTS WAS WHAT WAS MISSING, THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE 10:21:54 THAT TOYOTA OR NHTSA TOOK A SERIOUS LOOK AT THE POSSIBILITY 10:21:59 THAT ELECTRONIC DEFECTS COULD BE CAUSING THE PROBLEM. 10:22:04 IN THE MONTH SINCE THAT HEARING, THE COMMITTEE HAS INVESTIGATED 10:22:07 THE BASIS FOR TOYOTA'S REPEATED ASSERTION. 10:22:12 WE ASKED TOYOTA TO BRING FROM JAPAN THE ENGINEERS MOST 10:22:15 FAMILIAR WITH THE TESTING OF THE THROTTLE SYSTEM AND WE DID AE 10:22:21 LENGTHYG U( R!ED INTERVIEW WITH THESE OFFICIALS. 10:22:24 WE TOOK A TRANSCRIBED INTERVIEW WITH THE PERSON MOST 10:22:27 KNOWLEDGEABLE OF THE TESTING TOYOTA IS DOING IN THE UNITED 10:22:31 STATES AND THIS IS THROUGH A FIRM CALLED EXPONENT AND WE 10:22:35 REVIEWED MANY MORE DOCUMENTS. WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED IS DEEPLY 10:22:40 TROUBLING. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT TOYOTA 10:22:43 HAS CONDUCTED EXTENSIVE OR RIGOROUS TESTING OF ITS VEHICLES 10:22:48 FOR POTENTIAL ELECTRONIC DEFECTS THAT COULD CAUSE SUDDEN 10:22:53 UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. OUR COLLEAGUE, MR. BURGESS, SAID 10:22:58 THERE'S A TOP TO BOTTOM REVIEW. WE SHOULDN'T JUMP TO 10:23:01 CONCLUSIONS. WELL, NHTSA -- BUT TOYOTA HAS 10:23:04 ALREADY JUMPED TO THE CONCLUSION AND MADE IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN 10:23:08 THAT THEY'VE RULED OUT ANY PROBLEM WITH THEGa4 ELECTRONICS. 10:23:14 WE ASKED TOYOTA FOR THE BASIS OF ITS ASSERTION THAT VEHICLES DO 10:23:18 NOT HAVE ELECTRONIC DEFECTS, AND THEY POINTED TO TWO PRIMARY5 10:23:23 JUSTIFICATIONS. ONE IS TH"PQNG THAT'S DONE 10:23:26 IN RECENT MONTHS BY THIS CONSULTING FIRM EXPONENT. 10:23:30 THAT'S BEING DONE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. 10:23:31 THE OTHER IS THE PREMARKET TESTING DONE OVER THE YEARS BY 10:23:36 ITS ENGINEERS IN JAPAN. SO WE FOCUSED OUR ATTENTION ON 10:23:40 THESE TWO AREAS. WE LOOKED AT EXPONENT'S WORK 10:23:47 WHICH CLAIMING TO BE COMPREHENSIVE AND INDEPENDENT 10:23:48 BUT THE DOCUMENTS REVIEWED BY THE COMMITTEE DON'T SUPPORT 10:23:50 THESE ASSERTIONS. ON THE SCREEN, I HOPE WE'LL SEE, 10:23:57 RECORD THAT EITHER -- NEITHER TOYOTA OR EXPONENT PRODUCED TO 10:24:01 THE COMMITTEE THAT EXPLAINED THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE 10:24:04 COMMITTEE'S CONSULTING WORK OR THE SCOPE OF EXPONENT'S WORK. 10:24:10 IT'S A CONTRACT AND IT'S A CONTRACT BY TOYOTA AND THEIR 10:24:16 CONSULTING FIRM FOR ENGINEERING CONSULTING SERVICES RELATED TO 10:24:20 CLASS ACTIONS FILED AGAINST TOYOTA. 10:24:25 NOWHERE IN THIS DOCUMENT DO THEY -- LAWYERS ASK EXPONENT TO 10:24:30 CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION OF SUDDEN UNINTENDED 10:24:34 ACCELERATION, IN FACT, THE WORDS SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION 10:24:38 DO NOT EVEN APPEAR. SO OUR COMMITTEE INTERVIEWED DR. 10:24:46 SHOOKRI p WORK DIANA WHAT WE LEARNED FROM 10:24:50 HIM WAS ASTONISHING. EXPONENT HAS NO WRITTEN WORK FOR 10:24:53 THE PLAN FOR THIS PROJECT, NO WRITTEN TIME LINE, NO WRITTEN 10:24:57 SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE EXPERIMENTS IT HAS RUN OR PLANS 10:25:01 TO RUN. THEY HAVE NO WRITTEN LIST OF THE 10:25:03 POTENTIAL CAUSES OF SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION THAT IT 10:25:07 PLANNED TO STUDY. AND THOUGH HE'S PERSONALLY 10:25:11 RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HARDWARE, SOFTWARE, ELECTRONIC 10:25:14 INTERFERENCE, TESTING THAT EXPONENT HAS DONE OR WILL DO FOR 10:25:18 TOYOTA, DR. SURI HAS NO WRITTEN NOTES ON EXPONENT'S WORK. 10:25:21 WE ASKED HIM TO EXPLAIN THIS. HOW CAN THERE BE THIS REMARKABLE 10:25:26 LACK OF DOCUMENTATION? AND HE EXPLAINED THAT WRITING 10:25:29 DOWN WHAT EXPONENT DOES WOULD LIMIT THE CREATIVITY OF THE 10:25:35 ENGINEERS WORKING ON THE PROJECT. 10:25:37 WELL, THAT'S PREPOSTEROUS. A FORMER EXPONENT ENGINEER TOLD 10:25:42 OUR COMMITTEE STAFF THAT THE REASON THEY DIDN'T WRITE 10:25:46 ANYTHING DOWN IS TO AVOID CREATING DOCUMENTS THAT MIGHT 10:25:49 HAVE TO BE PRODUCED AT A LAWSUIT. 10:25:53 WELL, TOYOTA'S LAWYERS APPEAR TO BE INVOLVED IN EVERY ASPECT OF 10:25:58 EXPONENT'S WORK. THE LAWYERS HAVE THE RIGHT TO 10:26:00 APPROVE THE PUBLICATION OF EXPONENT'S WORK. 10:26:05 DR. SURI REPORTED TO COMMITTEE STAFF THAT ALL COMMUNICATIONS 10:26:10 WITH TOYOTA HAVE COUNSEL PRESENT AND THE TWO REPORTS EXPONENT HAS 10:26:15 ISSUED BOTH STATE THAT THEY WERE PREPARED FOR MOMENT & BROOK, THE 10:26:23 LAW FIRM DEFENDING TOYOTA IN LITIGATION. 10:26:25 EXPONENT HAS ISSUED REPORTS TO DATE, AND THEY'RE NOT 10:26:29 A COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION OF SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. 10:26:33 THE FIRST WAS AN INTERIM REPORT. IT WAS REQUESTED BY THE LAWYERS 10:26:38 FOR USE AT OUR FEBRUARY HEARING, AND DR. SURI TOLD OUR TAFF THAT 10:26:42 THIS REPORT WAS UNUSUAL BECAUSE EXPONENT HAD NOT COMPLETED ITS 10:26:50 WORK. OUTSIDE EXPERTS CRITICIZED THIS 10:26:52 REPORT BECAUSE THEY HAVE AN UNCLEAR METHODOLOGY AND OVERLY 10:26:55 NARROW FOCUS. THEY HAVE A SECOND REPORT. 10:26:59 THIS WAS EVEN NARROWER DESIGNED ONLY TO REBUT THE TESTIMONY 10:27:02 PROVIDED BY OUR EXPERT WITNESS AT THE COMMITTEE'S FIRST 10:27:07 HEARING. IT DID NOT OFFER ANY DISCUSSION 10:27:10 OF EXPONENT'S INVESTIGATION OF SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION 10:27:15 OTHER THAN ITS REPLICATION OF A LABORATORY EXPERIMENT CONDUCTED 10:27:20 BY THE COMMITTEE'S WITNESS. WELL, THESE REPORTS DO NOT EVEN 10:27:24 COME CLOSE TO SUPPORTING TOYOTA'S CONTENTION THAT 10:27:28 EXPONENT HAS THOROUGHLY EXAMINED TOYOTA'S ELECTRONIC THROTTLE 10:27:33 CONTROL SYSTEMS. NOW, THE OTHER BASIS FOR THEIR 10:27:36 ASSERTION IS THAT THEY DID PREMARKET TESTING OF -- BY THEIR 10:27:40 OWN ENGINEERS IN JAPAN. WELL, WE INTERVIEWED THOSE 10:27:47 ENGINEERS AND THEY TOLD US THAT THEIR TESTING IS DONE BEFORE 10:27:52 THERE'S MASS PRODUCTION. BUT ONCE THE DESIGN IS 10:27:56 COMPLETED, THEY DIDN'T DO ANY ADDITIONAL TESTING. 10:28:00 NOW, THE PREMARKET TESTING HAS SIGNIFICANT LIMB TATHS. 10:28:03 THE COMPANY'S DURABILITY TESTING IS DONE ONLY ON PROTOTYPE 10:28:09 VEHICLES AND COMPONENTS. THEY DON'T TEST CARS AND PARTS 10:28:12 THAT ARE ACTUALLY USED BY DRIVERS. 10:28:15 THE SAMPLE SIZES ARE VERY SMALL, IN FACT, ONLY A SINGLE VEHICLE 10:28:19 IS TESTED. INDEPENDENT EXPERTS CONSULTED BY 10:28:24 OUR COMMITTEE HAVE TOLD US THAT TOYOTA WOULD NEED A MUCH LARGER 10:28:27 SAMPLE SIZE TO RULE OUT POTENTIAL CAUSES OF A RARE AND 10:28:32 INTERMITTENT EVENT LIKE SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. 10:28:38 IN ADDITION, TOYOTA ACKNOWLEDGED TO COMMITTEE STAFF THAT IT DOES 10:28:41 NOT CONTROL THE TESTING PERFORMED ON CRITICAL PARTS OF 10:28:44 THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE SYSTEM THAT ARE DONE BY ITS SUPPLIERS. 10:28:49 THEY HAVE NO DOCUMENTATION TO CONFIRM THE RESULTS OF ANY TESTS 10:28:54 THAT THESE SUPPLIERS CHOSE TO PERFORM. 10:28:57 THE PREMARKET TESTING REGIME MAY BE APPROPRIATE FOR TESTING THE 10:29:02 DESIGN OF TOYOTA VEHICLES BEFORE MANUFACTURING STARTS, BUT NO 10:29:07 AMOUNT OF PREMARKETING TESTS CAN BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR A RIGOROUS 10:29:12 EXAMINATION NEEDED TO IDENTIFY A POST-MANUFACTURING DEFECT. 10:29:17 AND THERE'S NO EVIDENCE TOYOTA HAS DONE THIS POST MANUFACTURING 10:29:24 TESTING. WELL, THE RESULTS OF OUR 10:29:26 EXAMINATION RAISE SERIOUS QUESTIONS. 10:29:29 THEY'VE TOTALLY -- TOYOTA HAS REPEATEDLY TOLD THE PUBLIC IT 10:29:34 HAS CONDUCTED EXTENSIVE TESTING OF ITS VEHICLES FOR ELECTRONIC 10:29:39 DEFECTS. WE CAN FIND NO BASIS FOR THESE 10:29:42 ASSERTIONS. TOYOTA'S ASERGS MAY BE GOOD 10:29:44 PUBLIC RELATIONS, BUT THEY DON'T APPEAR TO BE TRUE. 10:29:48 EVEN MORE CON FOUNDING IS WHY TOYOTA HAS DONE -- NOT DONE 10:29:53 MORE. IF THEY'RE SERIOUS ABOUT PUTTING 10:29:55 SAFETY FIRST, HOW CAN THEY JUSTIFY HIRING A LITIGATION 10:29:59 CONSULTING FIRM THAT TAKES NO WRITTEN NOTES, TO ITS 10:30:05 INVESTIGATION INTO DEFECTS. THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO EXPECT 10:30:09 TOYOTA WILL DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO FIND ANY POTENTIAL 10:30:12 ELECTRONIC DEFECT, BUT TOYOTA DIDN'T DO THAT. 10:30:16 INSTEAD, TOYOTA ASKED THIS DEFENSE COUNSEL TO HIRE A FIRM 10:30:19 WHOSE MISSION APPEARS TO BE THE EXACT OPPOSITE, TO OBFUSCATE AND 10:30:25 FIND NO PROBLEMS. I WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT WE 10:30:27 KNOW AND WHAT WE DON'T KNOW. I AM NOT AN ENGINEER AND I'M NOT 10:30:32 A SCIENTIST, BUT I DO KNOW THAT DOZENS OF PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN 10:30:35 ACCIDENTS LINKED TO RUNAWAY TOYOTA VEHICLES. 10:30:38 MANY OF THESE INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED IN VEHICLES THAT DO NOT 10:30:41 HAVE FAULTY FLOOR MATS OR STICKY PEDALS. 10:30:45 TOYOTA'S PRIORITY SHOULD BE TO DO EVERYTHING IT CAN TO FIGURE 10:30:48 OUT WHAT'S CAUSING THESE FRIGHTENING EVENTS, NOT TO 10:30:54 PROTECT ITSELF FROM LAWSUITS AND I DO NOT BELIEVE TOYOTA HAS MET 10:30:56 THIS OBLIGATION. CHAIRMAN STUPAK, I LOOK FORWARD 10:31:00 TO HEARING FROM OUR WITNESSES AND THANK YOU FOR CONVENING THE 10:31:02 HEARING. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. 10:31:05 MR. BARTON, OPENING STATEMENT, PLEASE. 10:31:08 THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. I THINK CHAIRMAN WAXMAN TOOK HIS 10:31:12 TIME AND MY TIME. HE CERTAINLY GAVE AN EXTENSIVE 10:31:17 STATEMENT. I'M JUST GOING TO SUBMIT MY 10:31:19 STATEMENT FOR THE RECORD AND MAKE A FEW EXTEMPORANEOUS 10:31:24 REMARKS. I SHARE CHAIRMAN WAXMAN'S 10:31:27 CONCERN ABOUT FINDING THIS P 10:31:31 PROBLEM. I'M NOT OMNIPOTENT, THOUGH. 10:31:35 LESS COMPLICATED. IT'S EASY TO SIT UP HERE ON THE 10:31:38 PODIUM AND POINT FINGERS AND DEMAND RESULTS AND ACT AS IF WE 10:31:45 KNOW WHAT THE ANSWERS ARE, BUT THAT'S NOT HOW LIFE IS AND 10:31:49 THAT'S NOT HOW ENGINEERING IS. IT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF 10:31:54 NHTSA TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. 10:31:57 IT'S OBVIOUSLY THE BEST INTEREST OF TOYOTA. 10:31:59 AND THE ENTIRE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY. 10:32:02 I AGREE WITH CHAIRMAN WAXMAN THAT I DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS A 10:32:06 STICKY PEDAL FLOOR MAT PROBLEM, BUT HAVING SAID THAT, TRYING TO 10:32:12 FIND A BUG IN MILLIONS OF LINES OF SOFTWARE OR FIND THE GLITCH 10:32:18 IN A HARDWARE SYSTEM FOR THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION AND STEERING 10:32:24 SYSTEM IS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT. I AM HAPPY THAT NHTSA GOT THE 10:32:30 VEHICLE THAT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE OR OBTAINED THE VEHICLE 10:32:33 THAT HAD THE RUNAWAY ACCELERATION PROBLEM THAT THE 10:32:36 SMITHS TALKED ABOUT IN OUR HEARING HERE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO. 10:32:39 IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE NHTSA ENGINEERS HAVE BEEN 10:32:43 TRYING -- HAVE BEEN EVALUATING THAT VEHICLE AND HAVEN'T YET 10:32:46 FOUND THE PROBLEM. I'M ALSO PLEASED THAT NASA IS 10:32:49 INVOLVED. I'M PLEASED THAT TOYOTA HAS 10:32:52 HIRED AN INDEPENDENT FIRM TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. 10:33:00 HOPEFULLY TODAY WE'LL GET SOME ANSWERS FROM OUR NHTSA 10:33:05 ADMINISTRATOR AND THE PRESIDENT OF TOYOTA. 10:33:07 THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO QUESTION 10:33:13 THAT PEOPLE HAVE LESS CONFIDENCE IN THE TOYOTA VEHICLES THAT HAVE 10:33:22 EXPERIENCED MOST OF THE RUNAWAY ACCELERATION PROBLEMS AND THEY 10:33:26 EXPECT THE COMPANY AND THE GOVERNMENT TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM 10:33:30 AS QUICKLY AND EXPEDITIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE. 10:33:33 BUT IT IS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT IN THE REAL WORLD. 10:33:37 WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP GIVING OUR BEST-FAITH EFFORTS, AND UNDER 10:33:41 THE LEADERSHIP OF MR. WAXMAN AND MR. STUPAK AND RANKING MEMBER 10:33:46 BURGESS AND MYSELF, WE WILL USE OUR RESOURCES SO THAT THE 10:33:51 AMERICAN PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THE ISSUES ARE AND IF THERE IS 10:33:54 SOMETHING WE NEED TO DO LEGISLATIVELY, WE WILL CERTAINLY 10:33:57 TRY TO DO THAT. I THANK YOU, MR. STUPAK AND 10:34:01 MR. WAXMAN, FOR CONTINUING THIS INVESTIGATION, AND WE WILL BE 10:34:05 VERY SUPPORTIVE THAT THE FACTS ARE PUT ON THE TABLE SO THE 10:34:08 AMERICAN PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THE FACTS ARE. 10:34:10 WITH THAT I YIELD BACK. THANK YOU, MR. BURTON. 10:34:13 MR. DINGELL, FOR AN OPENING STATEMENT, PLEASE. 10:34:15 THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN AND I COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUING 10:34:18 VIGILANCE IN THE MATTER OF TOYOTA'S RECALLS RELATED TO 10:34:22 SUDDEN, UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. I WOULD -- I'M DELIGHTED TO 10:34:26 WELCOME OUR WITNESSES TODAY, ADMINISTRATOR STRICKLAND AND 10:34:29 MR. LENTZ OF TOYOTA. I COMMEND YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, FOR 10:34:32 YOUR INSISTENCE ON VIGOROUS, YET FAIR OVERSIGHT IN THIS MATTER. 10:34:37 WHEREAS YOU ARE WELL AWARE, THOROUGH OVERSIGHT LEADS TO 10:34:40 EFFECTIVE LEGISLATION AND THIS SUBCOMMITTEE HAS BEEN DOING THAT 10:34:43 FOR A LONG TIME. IN VIEW OF THAT, I NOTE THAT THE 10:34:48 SUBCOMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, TRADE AND CONSUMER PROTECTION WILL 10:34:51 MARK UP THE MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ACT OF 2010 THIS AFTERNOON. 10:34:55 SECTION 101 OF THAT BILL REQUIRES THE SECRETARY OF 10:34:59 TRANSPORTATION TO PROM GAIT A MOTOR SAFETY VEHICLE STANDARD ON 10:35:04 ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS WHICH SHOULD -- WHICH SHOULD ENABLE 10:35:09 HIM TO DETERMINE WHETHER SUCH STANDARD IS REASONABLE, 10:35:13 PRACTICAL AND APPROPRIATE. OUR HEARING TODAY AFFORDS US THE 10:35:16 OPPORTUNITY TO EXAMINE THE STATE OF RESEARCH, BOTH BY GOVERNMENT 10:35:20 AND PRIVATE INDUSTRY. ON THESE SYSTEMS AND TO ASSESS 10:35:24 THE FEASIBILITY OF PROMULGATING AND IMPLEMENTING A FEDERAL MOTOR 10:35:28 VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDIZINGTHEM. 10:35:31 TO THAT END, MR. CHAIRMAN, I INTEND TO ASK CANDID QUESTIONS 10:35:34 OF OUR WITNESSES ABOUT THE PROGRESS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE 10:35:40 O ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAS BEEN MADE 10:35:43 IN DETERMINING WHAT, IF ANY, EFFECT SOUNDING ENVIRONMENTS 10:35:45 HAVE ON ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS IN VEHICLES. 10:35:48 WHILE I BELIEVE THAT SECTION 101 OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ACT 10:35:54 IS WRITTEN WITH SUFFICIENT ADMINISTRATION -- ADMINISTRATIVE 10:35:59 DISCRETION FOR THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION, I WANT TO BE 10:36:02 ABLE TO BE SURE THAT THE DEPARTMENT WILL BE ABLE TO 10:36:07 PERFORM THE RESEARCH NECESSARY TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS 10:36:10 OF THAT SECTION. THAT IS AN IMPORTANT QUESTION TO 10:36:12 BE ADDRESSED. I WOULD ALSO NOTE THAT 10:36:17 SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENTS HAVE IN THE PAST AFFECTED MOTOR VEHICLE 10:36:21 SAFETY AND I WOULD REMIND ELECTRONIC FLUX WAS A SOURCE OF 10:36:26 POTENTIAL DANGER FROM UNINTENDED EXPLOSIONS OF AIR BAGS IN TIMES 10:36:33 PAST, SOMETHING WHICH CAUSED INJURY AND DEATH TO AMERICAN 10:36:37 PEOPLE. FURTHER, I WILL SEEK STRICT 10:36:40 INSURANCE -- ASSURANCES FROM TOYOTA THAT IT IS TAKING 10:36:43 SERIOUSLY CHARGES THAT ELECTRONIC INTERFERENCE MAY HAVE 10:36:47 CAUSED SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN THE VEHICLES 10:36:51 RECALLED LATE AND EARLY THIS YEAR AND THAT TOYOTA 10:36:55 IS WORKING DILIGENTLY TO ASSESS THEM AS WELL AS TO CORRECT THEM 10:36:59 IF NEED BE. AND I WANT TO BE SURE THAT THEY 10:37:02 ARE DOING THE NECESSARY RESEARCH ON THE QUESTION OF SAFETY AS 10:37:07 OPPOSED TO JUST DEFENSIVE MEASURES FOR THE CORPORATION. 10:37:12 I LOOK FORWARD TO PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATION TODAY AND I THANK 10:37:16 YOU FOR YOUR COURTESY, MR. CHAIRMAN. 10:37:18 I OBSERVE AGAIN THAT YOUR WORK HERE IN THIS SUBCOMMITTEE HAS 10:37:22 LED TO BETTER LEGISLATION, GOOD FACT-FINDING AND FAR BETTER 10:37:26 SERVICE OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST. THANK YOU. 10:37:30 THANK YOU, MR. DINGELL. MR. GINGREY FOR OPENING 10:37:34 STATEMENT, THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. 10:37:37 TODAY'S HEARING ON TOYOTA AND NHTSA'S RESPONSE TO THE PROBLEM 10:37:40 OF SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHILE TOPICALLY 10:37:43 IMPORTANT I THINK FROM READING THE PROVIDED TESTIMONY THAT THIS 10:37:46 HEARING WILL LIKELY YIELD MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS, IN FACT, 10:37:49 MANY OF THE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS THAT MEMBERS OF THIS 10:37:53 COMMITTEE AND THAT CONSUMERS HAVE WILL LIKELY REMAIN 10:37:55 UNANSWERED TODAY AS BOTH TOYOTA AND NHTSA DISCUSS THE ONGOING 10:37:59 STATUS OF THEIR REVIEWS, THE POTENTIAL CONNECTION BETWEEN 10:38:03 UNINTENDED RAPID ACCELERATION AND THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE 10:38:06 CONTROL SYSTEM. MR. CHAIRMAN, THE AMERICAN 10:38:08 PEOPLE ARE CERTAINLY OWED ANSWERS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF 10:38:11 THEIR VEHICLES, HOWEVER, WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DO NOT 10:38:15 DESERVE IS ANOTHER HASTY LEGISLATIVE RESPONSE IN THE FORM 10:38:18 OF A BILL THAT FEW HAVE READ, NOBODY UNDERSTANDS AND THAT 10:38:23 BEARS UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES MUCH WORSE THAN THE CONSEQUENCES 10:38:27 OF INACTION. HOWEVER, ONCE NHTSA AND TOYOTA 10:38:31 ACTUALLY COMPLETE THE VARIOUS REVIEWS OF THE POTENTIAL FLAWS 10:38:34 OF AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM, I BELIEVE THAT IT WILL BE VERY 10:38:37 IMPORTANT FOR THIS COMMITTEE TO REVIEW THOSE RESULTS, UNDERSTAND 10:38:41 THOSE RESULTS AND THEN ACT IN A MANNER APPROPRIATE TO THOSE 10:38:46 FINDINGS. CERTAINLY WITH AUTOMATION AND 10:38:48 ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING CONTINUING TO REPLACE THE 10:38:51 TRADITIONAL MECHANISMS, WE MUST ALSO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE THE 10:38:55 PROPER METRICS TO CONDUCT DIAGNOSES AND ASK THE RIGHT 10:39:00 QUESTIONS TO FLUSH OUT THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF THESE 10:39:02 SYSTEMS ON THE SAFETY OF OUR AUTOMOBILES. 10:39:05 WITH THAT, MR. CHAIRMAN, I THANK YOU AND I YIELD BACK. 10:39:07 THANK YOU. M 10:39:14 MS. CHRISTIANSCHRISTIANSEN. THANK YOU. 10:39:20 I AM PLEASED THAT WE'RE HAVING THIS HEARING TODAY TO MONITOR 10:39:23 THE RESPONSE OF TOYOTA TO THE ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS ATTRIBUTED 10:39:27 TO THE SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF THEIR VEHICLES. 10:39:31 I LOOK FORWARD TO THE TESTIMONY OF MR. STRICKLAND AND MR. LENTZ 10:39:34 ON WHAT THE TESTING HAS SHOWN THUS FAR, WHAT RESPONSES AND 10:39:38 REMEDIES ARE BEING EMPLOYED AND ALSO TO HEAR THAT THEY'RE BEING 10:39:42 EMPLOYED IN THE U.S. TERRITORIES WHICH IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED AS 10:39:46 WELL AS IN THE 50 STATES. WITH THAT I'LL YIELD BACK THE 10:39:49 BALANCE OF MY TIME, MR. CHAIRMAN. 10:39:51 THANK YOU. MR. GRIFFITH FOR OPENING 10:39:54 STATEMENT, PLEASE. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. 10:39:57 I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU AND RANKING MEMBER FOR CALLING THIS 10:40:00 IMPORTANT HEARING TODAY. IN ALABAMA, THE MIDDLE OF MY 10:40:05 DISTRICT TOYOTA EMPLOYS 777 PEOPLE, BUILD SIX AND 10:40:11 EIGHT-CYLINDER ENGINES AND ADDED THE FOUR-CYLINDER ENGINE TO THE 10:40:16 PLANT. WE WILL EMPLOY OR TOYOTA WILL 10:40:17 EMPLOY APPROXIMATELY A THOUSAND PEOPLE IN THIS DISTRICT. 10:40:21 TOYOTA HAS DONE MORE THAN JUST BE A GOOD EMPLOYER IN 10:40:24 HUNTSVILLE. THEY'VE GIVEN BACK TO THE 10:40:25 COMMUNITY IN MANY WAYS, IN FACT, DURING THE RECENT SLOWDOWN IN 10:40:28 PRODUCTION AND RESPONSE TO THE RECESSION, TOYOTA DID NOT LAY 10:40:31 OFF ONE PERMANENT WORKER. DURING THIS TIME, THEY SENT SOME 10:40:36 EMPLOYERS OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY WHILE OTHERS STAYED AT THE PLANT 10:40:40 AND WORKED TOGETHER TO STREAMLINE AND IMPROVE THE DAILY 10:40:43 FUNCTIONS IN BOTH QUALITY AND SAFETY. 10:40:46 SINCE THIS SUBCOMMITTEE HAS MET TO DISCUSS TOYOTA, THE NUMBER OF 10:40:49 VEHICLE RECALL REMEDIES IS NEARLY 3.5 MILLION. 10:40:52 THEY'VE ALSO TAKEN STEPS TOSC @% WITH COMMUNICATION PROBLEMS 10:40:55 BETWEEN NORTH AMERICA AND JAPAN AND COMMISSIONED A STUDY TO 10:40:59 INVESTIGATE THE SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ISSUES. 10:41:02 I BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA HAS SHOWN A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO FIX 10:41:06 PROBLEMS AND LEARN FROM THESE EVENTS TO BETTER SERVE CONSUMERS 10:41:09 IN THE FUTURE AND IT SEEMS EVIDENT BY RECENT SALES THAT 10:41:13 CUSTOMERS HAVE FAITH IN TOYOTA'S ABILITY TO CORRECT PAST 10:41:15 PROBLEMS. I MIGHT ADD THAT THE CHAIRMAN OF 10:41:22 THE COMMITTEE SEEMED UPSET THAT THERE WAS NO AGREEMENT FROM 10:41:27 TOYOTA WITH DR. GILBERT'S FINDINGS. 10:41:30 I FIND THAT NOT ONLY ACCEPTABLE BUT WE'VE HAD NO ONE CORROBORATE 10:41:37 DR. GILBERT'S FINDINGS EITHER, SO IF WE'RE GOING TO BASE OUR 10:41:42 DISCUSSION ON A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL'S EXPERIMENT AND NOT 10:41:47 A SCIENTIFIC METHOD, I THINK WE'RE MAYBE ON THE WRONG TRACK 10:41:51 THERE. I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYONE 10:41:53 MORE INTERESTED IN MAKING SURE THAT THEIR VEHICLES ARE SAFE 10:41:57 THAN TOYOTA. I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYONE 10:41:59 MORE INTERESTED IN THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC THAN TOYOTA AS FAR AS 10:42:03 THIS SITUATION IS CONCERNED. SO IT SEEMS THAT THERE'S AN 10:42:09 ATTITUDE THAT SOMEHOW WE'RE NOT HERE IN GOOD FAITH TO DO WHAT'S 10:42:13 BEST FOR THE PUBLIC AND I THINK WE NEED TO EXAMINE OUR ATTITUDE 10:42:18 AND MAYBE TAKE A DIFFERENT APPROACH. 10:42:20 I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME, MR. CHAIRMAN. 10:42:26 MR. BRALY, OPENING STATEMENT? THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. 10:42:29 I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO PUT IN MY STATEMENT AND MAKE BRIEF 10:42:36 EXTEMPORANEOUS REMARKS. ALL RIGHT. 10:42:43 MR. LATTA -- I WAS ASKING FOR UNANIMOUS 10:42:45 CONSENT. GO AHEAD. 10:42:53 DURING OUR LAST HEARING RANKING MEMBER BARTON DREW ON 10:42:56 HIS EXPERIENCE AS AN ENGINEER TO CHALLENGE BOTH TOYOTA AND NHTSA 10:43:00 TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS PROBLEM AND TO DO SO WITH A 10:43:03 SENSE OF CLARITY AND PURPOSE THAT HAD BEEN MISSING IN 10:43:07 TOYOTA'S APPROACH TO THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ELECTRONIC 10:43:12 COMPONENT TO THE PROBLEM OF SUDDEN UNANTICIPATED 10:43:15 ACCELERATION SO WHEN THE RANKING MEMBER STATED AT THE CONCLUSION 10:43:18 OF HIS REMARKS TODAY HE WAS PLEASED THAT TOYOTA HAD HIRED AN 10:43:21 INDEPENDENT FIRM, I THINK IT WAS BASED UPON THE REPRESENTATIONS 10:43:25 THAT TOYOTA MADE AT OUR LAST HEARING THAT, IN FACT, IT HAD 10:43:28 HIRED EXPONENT AND GIVEN IT A MISSION TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF 10:43:32 THIS PROBLEM WITH AN UNLIMITED BUDGET. 10:43:34 THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THAT PERCEPTION IS IT'S CONTRARY TO 10:43:38 THE DOCUMENTS THAT I HAVE BEEN PROVIDED AND THE COMMITTEE HAS 10:43:41 BEEN PROVIDED IN RESPONSE TO REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION I MADE 10:43:45 AT OUR LAST HEARING. BECAUSE THE DOCUMENTS WE'VE BEEN 10:43:48 PROVIDED WITH SHOW THAT TOYOTA'S TRIAL LAWYERS NOT TOYOTA ENGAGED 10:43:54 EXPONENT TO CONDUCT THIS WORK ON DECEMBER 7th OF 2009 AND DID NOT 10:44:00 ENGAGE EXPONENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS 10:44:04 PROBLEM, BUT FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFENDING CLASS ACTION CLAIMS 10:44:07 FILED AGAINST TOYOTA. AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH 10:44:11 TOYOTA'S RESPONSE SINCE OUR LAST HEARING. 10:44:13 IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S BEEN DONE, IT'S BEEN PRIMARILY AN EFFORT TO 10:44:16 TRY TO ATTACK THE CREDIBILITY OF THE SOLE WITNESS WHO TESTIFIED 10:44:22 ON THE CONNECTION, THE POSSIBLE CONNECTION BETWEEN AN ELECTRONIC 10:44:25 OR COMPUTER FAILURE AND THE PROBLEM OF SUDDEN UNANTICIPATED 10:44:30 ACCELERATION IN TOYOTA'S VEHICLES AND THAT'S THE 10:44:33 DISTURBING QUESTION THAT WE NEED ANSWERS TO AT THIS HEARING 10:44:35 TODAY. WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE FINANCIAL 10:44:39 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EXPONENT AND TOYOTA AND TRY TO GET TO THE 10:44:43 BOTTOM OF WHY SO MUCH TIME HAS BEEN SPENT FOCUSING TIME AND 10:44:48 RESOURCES ATTEMPTING TO DISCREDIT THE WORK OF PROFESSOR 10:44:51 DAVID GILBERT INSTEAD OF GETTING TO THE ROOT CAUSE OF THIS 10:44:55 PROBLEM AND DETERMINING ONCE AND FOR ALL WHETHER ELECTRONIC 10:44:59 FAILURE IS A CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. 10:45:01 THAT'S WHY I LOOK FORWARD TO THE TESTIMONY OF OUR WITNESSES AND I 10:45:05 HOPE THAT EVENTUALLY EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THIS INVESTIGATION 10:45:09 GETS TO THAT PROBLEM AND I YIELD BACK. 10:45:12 AND MR. BRALEY, I'M SORRY I DIDN'T HEAR YOU BEFORE WHEN YOU 10:45:16 ASKED YOUR OPENING STATEMENT BE MADE PART OF THE RECORD. 10:45:19 ALL OPENING STATEMENTS OF THE COMMITTEE, THEIR OPENING 10:45:22 STATEMENTS WILL BE PART OF THE RECORD AND MOVE THE CONTENTS OF 10:45:24 OUR DOCUMENT BINDER BE MADE PART OF THE RECORD. 10:45:27 WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO BE IT. MY INTENT IS AS MEMBERS KNOW, WE 10:45:31 HAVE THE PRESIDENT OF MEXICO SPEAKING AROUND 11:00, TRY TO 10:45:34 GET THROUGH ALL OPENING STATEMENTS AND IF WE GO OVER A 10:45:37 LITTLE BIT LET'S TRY TO GET THEM DONE BEFORE WE HAVE TO RECESS 10:45:40 FOR A BIT. NOW MR. LATTA FOR AN OPENING 10:45:43 STATEMENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, 10:45:44 MR. CHAIRMAN. MR. BURGESS, THANKS VERY MUCH 10:45:46 FOR HOLDING THIS HEARING TODAY. FIRST AND FOREMOST I BELIEVE IT 10:45:51 IS IMPORTANT THESE HEARINGS ARE HELD TO GET TO THE FACTS 10:45:53 REGARDING THE SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. 10:45:57 TRAGICALLY ACCORDING TO NHTSA 52 PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN THE PAST 10:46:02 DECADE TWO DUE TO THE INCIDENTS OF THE SUDDEN UNINTENDED 10:46:05 ACCELERATION OF TOYOTA VEHICLES. THIS HAS INITIATED SEVERAL 10:46:11 QUERIES INTO RECALLS AND THE AGENCY LEVELED A $16.4 MILLION 10:46:13 FINE ON THE COMPANY. ADDITIONALLY NASA AND THE 10:46:17 NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCE HAVE BEEN ENLISTED TO ENLISTED BY 10:46:20 NHTSA TO UNDERTAKE A STUDY OF THE ISSUE SPECIFICALLY NASA WILL 10:46:25 EXAMINE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN TOYOTA VEHICLES AND THE 10:46:28 NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES WILL ANALYZE THAT ACCELERATION 10:46:33 AND THE ROLE OF THE ELECTRONIC VEHICLE SYSTEMS ACROSS THE 10:46:36 AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY. IT IS ALSO MY UNDERSTANDING 10:46:40 NEITHER IS COMPLETE AT THIS TIME. 10:46:42 THROUGH ITS RECALL AND DEPLOYMENT OF SWIFT MARKET 10:46:46 ANALYSIS RESPONSE FOR SMART TEAM, THIRD-PARTY ANALYSIS AND 10:46:49 THE ADDITION OF INDUSTRY-LEADING SAFETY FEATURES TO NEW MODELS, 10:46:53 TOYOTA IS WORKING TO PROVIDE QUALITY AND SAFE VEHICLES. 10:46:57 I HOPE THIS TRANSLATES INTO AN INCREASED SAFETY LEVEL AND 10:47:01 ASSURANCE FOR TOYOTA DRIVERS. SAFETY IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT 10:47:05 ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY. 10:47:08 I AM CONCERNED BY ANY PRECEDENT THAT IS SET BY THE GOVERNMENT 10:47:11 THAT THE GOVERNMENT KNOWS BEST WHEN IT COMES TO VEHICLE DESIGN. 10:47:14 LATER TODAY, I WILL PARTICIPATE IN A MARKUP OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE 10:47:17 SAFETY ACT OF 2010, WHICH WILL ATTEMPT TO DICTATE TO AUTO 10:47:22 MANUFACTURERS THE DESIGN OF CERTAIN PARTS. 10:47:23 GOVERNMENT MANDATES HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON THE TRI 10:47:27 AND TURN OF THE ECONOMY. I REPRESENT THE 5th 10:47:30 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF OHIO WHICH IS THE LARGEST 10:47:32 MANUFACTURING DISTRICT IN THE STATE AND HOME TO MANY AUTO 10:47:34 SUPPLIERS. THE TECHNOLOGY INVOLVED IN 10:47:39 AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY -- AND ENGINEERING CERTAINLY HAS 10:47:42 CHANGED AND ADVANCED OVER THE YEARS, AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT 10:47:45 TOYOTA CUSTOMERS AND THE AMERICAN PUBLIC AND POLICYMAKERS 10:47:49 UNDERSTAND THE ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED THROTTLE SYSTEM AND 10:47:52 THE POTENTIAL FOR UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN TOYOTAS AND ALL 10:47:57 OTHER VEHICLES. WHILE AS NOT YET A MEMBER OF THE 10:48:02 ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE FOR THE FEBRUARY HEARING I LOOK 10:48:03 FORWARD TO THE HEARING TODAY AND HEARING FROM THE TESTIMONY FROM 10:48:06 THE WITNESSES ON THE PANEL. MR. CHAIRMAN, I YIELD BACK. 10:48:08 THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. LATTA. 10:48:14 MISS THAT COW SCHAKOWSKY? MANY QUESTIONS REMAIN 10:48:23 UNANSWERED. IN PARTICULAR WE'RE STILL 10:48:25 UNCLEAR ABOUT CASES WHERE STICKY PEDALS AND FLAWED FLOOR MATS 10:48:29 WERE RULED OUT AS POSSIBLE CAUSES. 10:48:31 ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE WHO PROPOSED A POSSIBLE ANSWER HAS 10:48:34 BEEN MENTIONED WAS DAVID GILBERT, AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR 10:48:38 OF AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY AT SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY IN 10:48:41 MY HOME STATE. DR. GILBERT TESTIFIED ABOUT 10:48:44 RESEARCH HE HAD DONE IN WHICH HE WAS ABLE TO REPLICATE A 10:48:46 SITUATION WHERE SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WAS 10:48:49 CAUSED BY ELECTRONIC SIGNALS BUT NOT REPORTED ON THE VEHICLE'S 10:48:53 EVENT DATA RECORDER. AT THE SAME HEARING MR. LENTZ, 10:48:57 WHO WAS ALSO HERE TODAY TESTIFIED ON BEHALF OF TOYOTA 10:49:01 SAYING "IN DECEMBER WE ASKED EXPONENT A WORLD CLASS 10:49:04 ENGINEERING AND SCIENTIFIC CONSULTING FIRM TO CONDUCT A 10:49:07 COMPREHENSIVE INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS FOR ELECTRONIC THROTTLE 10:49:09 SYSTEM CONTROL WITH AN UNLIMITED BUDGET." 10:49:12 BUT WHAT DID EXPONENT COME BACK WITH? 10:49:14 IN MARCH THEY RELEASED A REPORT THAT DID NOT CONDUCT A 10:49:18 COMPREHENSIVE REPORT OF TOYOTA'S ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL 10:49:21 SYSTEM AND POSSIBLE FLAWS, INSTEAD, THEIR REPORT WAS E 10:49:26 ENTIRELY A CRITIQUE OF DR. GILBERT'S EXPERIMENT. 10:49:28 OF COURSE, SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH CAN BE QUESTIONED AND DISPUTED 10:49:31 BUT EXPONENT'S EFFORTS DID NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO FIND OUT WHAT 10:49:34 THE AMERICAN PEOPLE OR THE SUBCOMMITTEE WANT TO KNOW. 10:49:38 OUR CONSTITUENTS WANT ANSWERS, AND THEY WANT AN IN-DEPTH 10:49:42 INVESTIGATION THAT IDENTIFIES THE CAUSES OF POTENTIALLY 10:49:45 FATALLY MALFUNCTIONS IN THEIR VEHICLES. 10:49:47 I AM GLAD THAT NHTSA HAS MOVED FOR AND HAS ASKED BOTH NASA AND 10:49:52 THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SIEPSS TO HELP CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION 10:49:55 THAT ENCOMPASSES NOT JUST TOYOTA BUT ALL VEHICLES WITH 10:50:21 I WILL HAVE TO SAY YOU HAVE HEARD IT FROM MANY OTHERS, I 10:50:24 HAVE CONCERNS OVER THE TIMING, I HAVE CONCERNS OVER THE TONE OF 10:50:26 THIS HEARING AND SEEMS LIKE WE MAYBE LITTLE BIT PREMATURE IN 10:50:31 CONVENING THIS TODAY. FOR THE RECORD, MR. CHAIRMAN, I 10:50:34 WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT A LETTER THAT I SENT TO CHAIRMAN DINGELL 10:50:38 IN OCTOBER 2007, ASKING FOR A HEARING TO LOOK INTO THE SERIOUS 10:50:43 CONCERNS IN TENNESSEE OVER SUDDEN ACCELERATION IN THE 10:50:47 TOYOTA TACOMA THAT LETTER, AGAIN, WAS IN OCTOBER, '07. 10:50:52 PERHAPS IF WE WERE A LITTLE MORE PROACTIVE IN INVESTIGATING THIS 10:50:55 ISSUE THREE YEARS AGO, WE WOULD NOT BE IN THE POSITION THAT WE 10:51:00 ARE NOW. ALL TOO ON THE, CONGRESS IS 10:51:04 REACTIVE. INSTEAD OF TAKING ACTION IN A 10:51:06 TIMELY MANNER WHEN SOMETHING IS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION. 10:51:10 AS A RESULT, WE STILL DON'T HAVE DEFINITIVE ANSWERS AS TO WHAT 10:51:15 PRECISELY CAUSED THE SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND IT 10:51:17 IS NAIVE TO BELIEVE ANY OF THE IMPORTANT ANSWERS ARE GOING TO 10:51:20 COME TO LIGHT IN THIS HEARING TODAY. 10:51:24 I FEAR THAT WHAT WE ARE DOING IS PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THEE 10:51:28 HORSE. MANY OF OUR CONSTITUENTS LOOK AT 10:51:31 THESE HEARINGS AND THEY SEE THIS AS GRANDSTANDING, IN AN ATTEMPT 10:51:36 TO TRY AND VILIFY A CORPORATION. I HAVE HEARD FROM CONSTITUENTS 10:51:40 WHO ARE EMPLOYEES OF SUPPLIERS TO TOYOTAS. 10:51:43 THEY ARE VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY BE SOMETHING, AGAIN, TO 10:51:48 BE DONE TO VILIFY AND SCORE CHEAP POLITICAL POINTS INSTEAD 10:51:51 OF PRODUCTIVELY MOVING FORWARD IN AN EFFORT TO ACTUALLY FIX AND 10:51:56 EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS THE SERIOUS ISSUE THAT WAS FIRST BROUGHT TO 10:51:59 THE ATTENTION OF THIS COMMITTEE IN OCTOBER, 2007. 10:52:03 FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND FROM NHTSA AND EXPONENT, THERE IS NOT 10:52:08 EVEN A VIABLE HYPOTHESIS PUT FORWARD AS TO THIS ISSUE AND A 10:52:13 RESOLUTION. THAT BEING SAID, AGAIN, I WANT 10:52:16 TO WELCOME OUR WITNESS AS WELL AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO 10:52:21 HEARING FROM THEM. AND I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF 10:52:24 MY TIME. THANK YOU. 10:52:25 SHOULD BE NOTED THAT MR. GONZALEZ, A MEMBER OF THE VOTE 10:52:30 COMMITTEE IS HERE, CANNOT GIVEN A OPENING STATEMENT BUT WHEN WE 10:52:33 GO TO QUESTIONS, HE WILL CERTAINLY BE ALLOWED TO ANSWER 10:52:35 QUESTIONS SOME, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, MR. GONZALEZ. 10:52:37 THAT CONCLUDES THE OPENING STATEMENT BY ALL OF OUR 10:52:40 SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERS. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO OUR FIRST 10:52:42 PANEL AND OUR FIRST PANEL, WE HAVE THE HONORABLE DAVID 10:52:45 STRICKLAND, WHO IS THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE NATIONAL 10:52:47 HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. 10:52:50 MR. STRICKLAND, AS YOU KNOW IT IS THE POLICY OF THIS 10:52:52 SUBCOMMITTEE TO TAKE ALL TESTIMONY UNDER OATH. 10:52:54 PLEASE BE ADVISED BY THE -- PLEASE BE ADVISED, YOU HAVE THE 10:52:57 RIGHT UNDER THE RULES OF THE COMMITTEE TO BE ADVISED BY 10:52:59 COUNSEL DURING YOUR TESTIMONY. DO YOU WISH TO BE REPRESENTED BY 10:53:04 COUNSEL? NO I DO NOT. 10:53:05 OKAY. THEN I'M GOING TO ASK YOU, 10:53:07 PLEASE RISE, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND, TAKE THE OATH. 10:53:12 DO YOU SWEAR OR AFFIRM THE TESTIMONY YOU ARE ABOUT TO BE 10:53:14 GIVE TO BE THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH IN 10:53:17 THE MATTER NOW PENDING BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE? 10:53:20 I DO. LET THE RECORD REFLECT THE 10:53:21 WITNESS APPLIED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. 10:53:23 YOU HAVE NOW UNDER OATH. IF WOULD YOU LIKE TO BEGIN WITH 10:53:24 AN OPENING STATEMENT, MR. STRICKLAND, WE WOULD APPRECIATE 10:53:27 IT. THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN STUPAK, 10:53:30 AND BURGESS AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. 10:53:32 WE APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO UPDATE YOU ON THE ACTIVITIES 10:53:35 OF THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION WITH 10:53:38 REGARD TO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION INVOLVING TOYOTA 10:53:42 VEHICLES. NHTSA HAS BEEN VERY ACTIVE ON 10:53:45 THE SUBJECT SINCE SECRETARY LaHOOD TESTIFIED BEFORE THIS 10:53:49 COMMITTEE IN FEBRUARY. LAST WEEK, SECRETARY LaHOOD AND 10:53:52 I TRAVELED TO JAPAN TO MEET WITH OFFICIALS OF THE JAPANESE 10:53:55 GOVERNMENT AND TOYOTA. TOYOTA OFFICIALS INFORMED US OF 10:54:00 CHANGES THEY HAVE RECENTLY MADE IN THEIR MANAGEMENT AND 10:54:03 PROCESSES TO ENSURE THAT TOYOTA OFFICIALS HERE IN THE U.S. HAVE 10:54:07 A DIRECT ROLE IN MAKING VEHICLE RECALL DECISIONS. 10:54:11 THE SECRETARY AND I MADE IT VERY CLEAR TO TOYOTA, INCLUDING R 10:54:18 CHAIRMAN TOYODA HIMSELF, THAT THE VALUE OF THESE 10:54:21 ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE COMPANY'S 10:54:24 FUTURE SAFETY ACTIONS. NHTSA AND THE DEPARTMENT OF 10:54:27 TRANSPORTATION WILL BE WATCHING. AS YOU KNOW, WE INITIATED THREE 10:54:31 SEPARATE ACTIONS IN FEBRUARY. A TIME QUERY RELATED TO THE 10:54:37 TRAFFIC RECALL, A TIMELESS QUERY RELATED TO STICKY PEDAL RECALL 10:54:41 AND AN OVERALL RECALL QUERY LOOKING AT BOTH OF THOSE RECALL 10:54:45 IT IS THEY WERE SUFFICIENT IN SCOPE AND WHETHER THERE WERE 10:54:47 OTHER MATTERS RELATED TO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN 10:54:50 TOYOTA VEHICLES. ON APRIL 19th, TOYOTA AGREED TO 10:54:55 PAY $13.375 MILLION IN CIVIL PENALTIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE 10:55:00 STICKY PEDAL TIMELESS QUEERRY. THIS IS THE MAXIMUM PENALTY THAT 10:55:05 NHTSA CAN ASSESS UNDER CURRENT LAW. 10:55:07 WE BELIEVE THE PENALTY WAS WARRANTED BECAUSE TOYOTA FILLED 10:55:09 TO INFORM US IN A TIMELY WAY ABOUT THAT SAFETY DEFECT. 10:55:14 CONCURRENTLY, WE CONTINUE TO REVIEW THE LARGE NUMBER OF 10:55:18 DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED BY TOYOTA IN RESPONSE TO THE PEDAL ENTRAPMENT 10:55:22 QUEERRY. WE HAVE NOT REACHED A DECISION 10:55:23 YET ON WHETHER THE FACTS OF THAT CASE WARRANT A PENALTY. 10:55:28 NHTSA IS ALSO REVIEWING AN EXTREMELY LARGE VOLUME OF 10:55:32 DOCUMENTS RECEIVED IN RESPONSE TO THE RECALL QUERY. 10:55:35 WE HAVE CONTRACTED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO HELP US 10:55:38 CATEGORIZE AND ANALYZE THOSE DOCUMENTS. 10:55:40 THAT TASK WILL TAKE US SOME TIME, BUT IT IS WELL UNDER WAY. 10:55:45 NHTSA HAS ALSO STARTED TWO RESEARCH EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THE 10:55:48 ISSUE OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. 10:55:50 THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, THE NATION'S MOST 10:55:53 RESPECTED INDEPENDENT BODY OF TOP SCIENTIFIC EXPERTS, WILL 10:55:57 EXAMINE THE BROAD SUBJECT OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND 10:56:01 ELECTRONIC VEHICLE CONTROLS ACROSS THE ENTIRE AUTOMOTIVE 10:56:04 INDUSTRY. THE ACADEMY HAS BEGUN THE 10:56:07 PROCESS OF IDENTIFYING PANEL MEMBERS AND THE PANEL WILL BE 10:56:11 ESTABLISHED BY JULY. THE PANEL THEN EXPECTS TO 10:56:15 COMPLETE ITS WORK WITHIN 15 MONTHS. 10:56:17 THE RESULTS OF THE WORK OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 10:56:20 WILL BE IMPORTANT TO NHTSA, NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF UNINTENDED 10:56:24 ACCELERATION BUT ALSO TO PROVIDE ADVICE ON A RANGE OF ELECTRONICS 10:56:28 ISSUES THAT MIGHT AFFECT MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY AS NEW ELECTRONIC 10:56:31 CRASH AVOIDANCE AND OTHER TECHNOLOGIES ARE RAPIDLY 10:56:36 PROLIFERATING WITHIN THE VEHICLE FLEET. 10:56:38 SEPARATELY, WE HAVE ENLISTED NASA SCIENTISTS WITH EXPERTISE 10:56:42 IN AREAS SUCH AS COMPUTER-CONTROLLED ELECTRONIC 10:56:45 SYSTEMS, ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE AND SOFTWARE 10:56:49 INTEGRITY TO HELP TACKLE THE ISSUE OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION 10:56:52 IN TOYOTA VEHICLES. NASA'S REVIEW WILL BE 10:56:56 COMPREHENSIVE AND IT WILL ASSIST US IN DETERMINING WHETHER TOYOTA 10:57:00 VEHICLES MAY CONTAIN SAFETY DEFECTS THAT WOULD WARRANT A 10:57:04 FORMAL INVESTIGATION. WE BELIEVE THAT THE PRESSURE 10:57:07 APPLIED BY NHTSA HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN BRINGING ABOUT 10:57:10 ALL THE RECALLS TOYOTA HAS UNDERTAKEN TO ADDRESS UNINTENDED 10:57:15 ACCELERATION. WE WILL GO WHEREVER THE EVIDENCE 10:57:18 LEADS US TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF UNINTENDED 10:57:22 ACCELERATION. WE WILL OPEN ADDITIONAL 10:57:23 INVESTIGATIONS AND PUSH FOR RECALLS WHERE WARRANTED. 10:57:28 IT IS OUR HOPE THAT TOYOTA'S RECENTLY REVAMPED APPROACH TO 10:57:31 MORE EFFECTIVELY DEAL WITH SAFETY DEFECTS WILL REVEAL A 10:57:35 TOYOTA THAT IS QUICK TO RESPONSE TO ALL VEHICLE SAFETY ISSUES, 10:57:40 INCLUDING SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. 10:57:43 OF COURSE, NHTSA IS WORKING AND WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THIS 10:57:47 COMMITTEE AND WITH THE SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE ON 10:57:50 LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE UNINTENDED 10:57:53 ACCELERATION ISSUE ACROSS THE INDUSTRY. 10:57:55 IF ENACTED, THIS LEGISLATION WOULD SUGGEST 10:57:59 AND ENHANCE NHTSA'S AUTHORITY AND THE AGENCY'S LEVERAGE IN 10:58:03 DEALING WITH ALL MANUFACTURERS. THIS LEVERAGE WOULD BE 10:58:08 PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT IN CASES WHERE MANUFACTURERS ARE 10:58:12 RELUCTANT TO PERFORM THE NECESSARY SAFETY RECALLS OR WHO 10:58:14 ARE NOT COMPLETELY TRUTHFUL IN COMMITTING INFORMATION TO NHTSA. 10:58:19 THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIRMAN, AND RANKING MEMBER 10:58:21 BURR JERKS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ANSWERING THE COMMITTEE'S 10:58:24 QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, MR. STRICKLAND. 10:58:27 WE ARE GOING TO STAND IN RECESS UNTIL -- FOR ONE HOUR. 10:58:30 THE PRESIDENT OF THEY ARE GATHERING ON THE HOUSE 10:58:33 FLOOR. WE MUST RECESS DURING THIS 10:58:35 PERIOD OF TIME, RECESS FOR ONE HOUR, HAVE YOU COME BACK IN ONE 10:58:38 HOUR. WE WILL GO RIGHT TO QUESTIONINGS 10:58:40 THERE BY MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. 10:58:41 YES, MA'AM. SO THIS SUBCOMMITTEE STANDS 10:58:43 IN RECESS FOR ONE HOUR. RECESS

TOYOTA The House Energy and Commerce Committee, Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing with David Strickland, the administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and James Lentz, the President and CEO of Toyota Sales USA entitled "Update on Toyota and NHTSA's Response to the Problem of Sudden Unintended Acceleration" 10:02:28 REP. BART STUPAK: I WILL BEGIN TODAY'S 10:02:29 HEARING WILL SERVE AS A PROGRESS REPORT ON WHERE TOYOTA 10:02:32 AND THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, NHTSA, 10:02:36 ARE IN TERMS OF DIAGNOSING AND CORRECTING SUDDEN, UNINTENDED 10:02:41 ACCELERATION. WE WILL ALSO EXAMINE WHAT TOYOTA 10:02:43 HAS DONE SINCE OUR FEBRUARY 23rd HEARING. 10:02:46 DURING OUR FEBRUARY 23rd HEARING, WE HEARD FROM TOYOTA 10:02:50 MOTOR SALES PRESIDENT JIM LENTZ. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 10:02:54 SECRETARY, SECRETARY RAY LaHOOD, CONSUMER ADVOCATES SHANE CANE 10:02:58 AND FROM AN EXPERT WITNESS, PROFESSOR DAVID GILBERT OF 10:03:01 SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY. ABOUT SUDDEN UNINTENDED 10:03:07 ACCELERATION, SUA IN TOYOTA VEHICLES. 10:03:09 WE ALSO HEARD FROM RHONDA AND EDDIE SMITH ABOUT THEIR 10:03:12 EXPERIENCE WITH THIS IN THEIR LEXUS. 10:03:14 COMMITTEE MEMBERS ASKED MANY QUESTIONS. 10:03:16 BUT WE WERE LEFT WITH MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS. 10:03:19 TOYOTA ENGAGED IN DAMAGE CONTROL ALMOST IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING OUR 10:03:23 HEARING BY CONTINUING ASSERTING CONFIDENCE THAT THE EXTENSIVE 10:03:27 TESTING PROVES THE SAFETY OF THE ELECTRONICS SYSTEMS AND 10:03:31 ATTACKING THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO DISAGREED WITH THEM. 10:03:33 BUT AS CHAIRMAN WAXMAN NOTED IN HIS OPENING, THE RECORD DOESN'T 10:03:37 SUPPORT TOYOTA'S STATEMENTS THAT IT CONDUCTED EXTENSIVE TESTING. 10:03:40 THE TRUTH IS THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER THE ELECTRONICS PLAYS A 10:03:44 ROLE IN SUDDEN, UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND TOYOTA DOESN'T 10:03:46 KNOW EITHER. WHAT'S DISAPPOINTING TO ME IS 10:03:50 LEARNING THAT TOYOTA SEEMS TO HAVE FOCUSED MORE ON 10:03:54 DISCREDITING ITS CRITICS THAN ON RESOLVING THE PROBLEM. 10:03:57 WHEN DR.8n; GILBERT TESTIFIED BEFORE THIS SUBCOMMITTEE IN 10:04:00 FEBRUARY, HE EXPLAINED THAT HE FOUND A WAY TO INDUCE SUDDEN 10:04:04 UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN A TOYOTA VEHICLE WITHOUT 10:04:07 TRIGGERING AN AIR CODE IN THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER. 10:04:10 COMMITTEE STAFF HAVE SPOKEN WITH SEVERAL ACADEMICS WHO DESCRIBED 10:04:13 DR. GILBERT'S EXPERIMENT AS SENSIBLE AND AS A REASONABLE WAY 10:04:18 UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. 10:04:23 DR. CHRISTIAN GIRDIS, A PROFESSOR AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY 10:04:26 WHO TOYOTA ASKED TO REVIEW DR. GILBERT'S WORK TOLD THE 10:04:29 COMMITTEE THAT DR. GILBERT'S AAPPROPRIATE A LEGITIMATE 10:04:34 STARTING POINT FOR A MORE IN-DEPTH INQUIRY INTO THIS 10:04:38 PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY, TOYOTA APPEARS TO 10:04:41 HAVE BEEN MORE INTERESTED IN MESSAGING THAN SCIENTIFIC 10:04:44 INQUIRY. AFTER THE HEARING TOYOTA HIRED A 10:04:47 PUBLIC RELATIONS FIRM TO ADVISE THE COMPANY ON ITS PUBLIC'S 10:04:52 RESPONSE TO LAWSUITS THAT IT PLAYED A ROLE IN SUDDEN 10:04:57 UNINTENDED INVESTIGATION AND KNOW THAT THE PR FIRM, BSG, 10:05:03 CONDUCTED A POLL TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT TOYOTA COULD DO TO 10:05:06 REPAIR DAMAGE TO THE COMPANY'S IMAGE AMONG EDUCATED CONSUMERS 10:05:10 KNOWN AS OPINION ELITES. A PRESENTATION BY BENAZEN SHOWS 10:05:17 THAT AMONG THE KEY FINDINGS FROM THE POLL TOYOTA LEARNED THE 10:05:20 FOLLOWING, DEBUNKING CANE GILBERT'S TESTIMONY WILL BE 10:05:25 CRITICAL FOR RESTORING CONFIDENCE AMONG ELITES AND 10:05:28 REASSURING AUDIENCES THAT ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL IS, 10:05:31 IN FACT, NOT AN ISSUE. THAT'S A DOCUMENT MARCH 5th. 10:05:37 WE REVIEWED AN UPDATED BSG DOCUMENT SHOWING THAT THE 10:05:41 RESULTS FROM ANOTHER TOYOTA POLL TO TEST SOME AGGRESSIVE MESSAGES 10:05:45 FOR POSSIBLE USE IN FUTURE PUBLIC STATEMENTS OR 10:05:48 ADVERTISING. THIS POLL REFERRED TO DR. 10:05:50 GILBERT'S EXPERIMENTS AS PHONY, SHODDY SCIENCE, A HOAX AND A 10:05:55 PARLOR TRICK THAT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN IN REAL LIFE. 10:05:57 AND WE HAVE A DOCUMENT ON THAT AND BSG SUMMARIZE THE RESULTS 10:06:04 FROM THIS POLL MARCH 8th, 2010 SUGGESTING TOYOTA SHOULD TRY TO 10:06:09 DAMAGE DR. GILBERT'S CREDIBILITY BY ACCUSING HIM OF HAVING 10:06:13 "MONETARY OR SELF-INTERESTED MOTIVES." 10:06:17 TOYOTA TOLD THE COMMITTEE THAT THE COMPANY DID NOT FOLLOW ITS 10:06:21 POSTER'S SUGGESTION TO ATTACK DR. GILBERT BUT THE DOCUMENTS 10:06:24 SUGGEST OTHERWISE. ON MARCH 8th, A MONDAY, TOYOTA 10:06:28 HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE AND RELEASED A REPORT BY EX-POINT 10:06:32 CRITICIZING DR. GILBERT'S WORK. TWO DAYS BEFORE THE PRESS 10:06:35 CONFERENCE, THE VICE PRESIDENT OF TOYOTA'S PUBLIC RELATIONS 10:06:38 FIRM NOTED IN AN E-MAIL TO A COLLEAGUE THE IMPORTANCE OF 10:06:42 FINISHING THE POLL BEFORE THIS EVENT SAYING AND I'M QUOTING NOW 10:06:45 "WE REALLY, REALLY NEED TO GET THIS DONE HE PERSONALLY WITH EE 10:06:52 LEGALITIES. TOYOTA HAS A PRESS CONFERENCE ON 10:06:53 MONDAY AND NEED OUR DATA TO KNOW WHAT TO SAY." 10:06:56 THAT'S THE DOCUMENT WE HAVE RIGHT HERE. 10:06:57 AT THAT PRESS CONFERENCE, BEFORE EXPONENT PRESENTED ITS FINDING 10:07:02 TOYOTA SPOKESMAN MIKE MICHAELS DISPARAGED DR. GILBERT'S WORK 10:07:05 AND SAID IT WAS PAID FOR BY AN ADVOCATE FOR TRIAL LAWYERS, END 10:07:09 OF QUOTE. EX-POEPTS REPORT ON DR. 10:07:12 GILBERT'S RESEARCH WAS A HIT JOB, NOT SOLID SCIENCE. 10:07:16 EXPONENT CONFIRMED A KEY CONCLUSION THAT DR. GILBERT HAD 10:07:19 DRAWN IN HIS REPORT, BUT THEN DISPARAGED DR. GILBERT FOR NOT 10:07:22 TESTING THE LIKELIHOOD OF THE FAULTS HE IDENTIFIED. 10:07:26 EVEN THOUGH EXPONENT NEVER DID THIS ANALYSIS EITHER. 10:07:43 A COUPLE MORE BUZZES THERE. EXPONENT ADDED NEW STEPS. 10:07:50 THEY ADDED NEW STEPS AND MISCHARACTERIZED OTHERS. 10:07:53 ALL IN AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE HIS OUTCOME SEEM UNLIKELY AND TOO 10:07:58 INVENT FLAWS IN HIS ANALYSIS. BUT INDEPENDENT EXPERTS HAVE 10:08:01 DEFENDED DR. GILBERT'S APPROACH INCLUDING A STANFORD UNIVERSITY 10:08:04 PROFESSOR WHO REVEALED THE REPORT AT TOYOTA'S REQUEST AND 10:08:07 DESCRIBED DR. GILBERT'S EXPERIMENT AS PERFECTLY 10:08:10 REASONABLE STARTING POINT. WHEN I LOOK AT TOYOTA'S APPROACH 10:08:14 I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE COMPANY IS ATTACKING DR. GILBERT 10:08:17 FOR TRYING TO FIND A ROOT CAUSE OF SUDDEN UNINTENDED 10:08:22 ACCELERATION. TOYOTA OUGHT TO BE UNDERTAKING A 10:08:24 COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW AND ENCOURAGING AUTOMOTIVE EXPERTS 10:08:27 TO COME FORWARD WITH IDEAS OF WHAT COULD BE CAUSING THE 10:08:30 PROBLEM. BASED ON THE COMMITTEE'S REVIEW 10:08:33 OF EXPONENT'S WORK, WE REMAIN DERNED IT IS NOT OCCURRING. 10:08:41 THE COMMITTEE ASKED TOYOTA TO PRODUCE ALL REPORTS OR 10:08:46 COMMUNICATIONS DESCRIBING THE WORK FOR TOYOTA RELATED TO 10:08:49 UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OR ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL. 10:08:53 WE ALSO ASKED FOR ALL CONTRACTS, AGREEMENTS, MEMORANDUM OR 10:08:56 CORRESPONDENCE CONCERNING THE SCOPE OR EX-PREPONDERANCE O 10:09:09 EMPLOYEES. IT APPEARS THEIR ONLY WORK TO 10:09:11 DATE IS THE INTERIM STUDY AND REPORT ATTACKING DR. GILBERT'S 10:09:14 CREDIBILITY. I FIND THIS EXTREMELY TROUBLING 10:09:18 GIVEN THE FACT THAT TOYOTA AND E 10:09:25 EXPONENT HAVE DONE THIS. TO BE FAIR, TOYOTA HAS MADE 10:09:31 PROGRESS ON PROCESSING THEIR RECALLS. 10:09:33 THEY HAVE COMPLETED 80% OF THE STICKY PEDAL RECALLS. 10:09:36 THEY HAVE COMPLETED 30% OF THEIR FLOOR MAT RECALLS. 10:09:39 THEY HAVE ALSO MADE SOME MANAGEMENT CHANGES THAT WE HOPE 10:09:42 WILL LEAD TO IMPROVED SAFETY CULTURE. 10:09:45 ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS TOYOTA COULD MAKE 10:09:47 WOULD BE TO INSTALL BRAKE OVERRIDE TECHNOLOGY IN ALL OF 10:09:50 THEIR VEHICLES. BRAKE OVERRIDE TECHNOLOGY 10:09:53 ENSURES THAT IF BOTH THE ACCELERATOR AND THE BRAKE ARE 10:09:57 PRESSED AT THE SAME TIME, THE BRAKE WILL OVERRIDE THE 10:10:00 ACCELERATOR. TOYOTA TOLD THE COMMITTEE THAT 10:10:01 BEGINNING IN 2011, ALL VEHICLES WILL HAVE THIS FEATURE. 10:10:05 BUT THE COMPANY IS BEING MORE SELECTIVE ABOUT WHICH OLDER 10:10:10 MODELS WILL RECEIVE THE SOFTWARE UPGRADE. 10:10:12 DESPITE THE FACT THAT INSTALLING BRAKE OVERRIDE TECHNOLOGY ON 10:10:15 OLDER VEHICLES WOULD ONLY COST $50 PER VEHICLE, TOYOTA DOES NOT 10:10:19 PLAN TO OFFER THIS OPTION EVEN AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE TO OWNERS 10:10:24 OF CERTAIN MODELS. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING WHY 10:10:27 TOYOTA WON'T OFFER BRAKE OVERRIDE TO THEIR CUSTOMERS WITH 10:10:30 OLDER VEHICLES EVEN IF THE CUSTOMER PAYS FOR IT. 10:10:34 SINCE OUR FEBRUARY HEARING, NHTSA AND TOYOTA APPEAR TO HAVE 10:10:37 IMPROVED THEIR WORKING RELATIONSHIP. 10:10:39 NHTSA OFFICIALS TELL US THAT TOYOTA HAS SHOWN MORE 10:10:42 WILLINGNESS TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF CONCERN. 10:10:44 NHTSA HAS INFORMED US IT HAS COMMISSIONED TWO STUDIES TO 10:10:48 STUDY THIS IN VEHICLES. 9 FIRST IS A STUDY TO BE 10:10:51 CONDUCTED BY NASA SCIENTISTS WHO EXAMINE TOYOTA'S ELECTRONIC 10:10:56 THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR POSSIBLE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED 10:10:59 WITH HARDWARE OR SOFTWARE. THIS REPORT IS TARGETED TO BE 10:11:03 COMPLETED BY THE END OF AUGUST. THE SECOND STUDY WILL BE 10:11:06 CONDUCTED BY A PANEL OF INDEPENDENT SCIENTISTS SELECTED 10:11:08 BY THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 10:11:10 THE NAS STUDY WILL OFFER AN EXAMINATION OF UNINTENDED 10:11:15 ACCELERATION AND ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEMS ACROSS ALL 10:11:18 AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURERS. THIS STUDY SHOULD BE COMPLETED 10:11:20 BY FALL OF 2011. I'D LIKE TO THANK BOTH 10:11:24 MR. STRICKLAND AND MR. LENTZ FOR THEIR TESTIMONY TODAY AND 10:11:27 ONGOING COOPERATION WITH THE COMMITTEE'S INVESTIGATION. 10:11:30 MR. LENTZ, WE APPRECIATE TOYOTA AND ITS OUTSIDE COUNSEL TED 10:11:34 HESTER FOR THE COMPANY'S RESPONSIVENESS TO OUR SEVERAL 10:11:37 REQUESTS FOR DOCUMENTS AND FOR SUBSTANTIVE BRIEFINGS. 10:11:40 I WISH I COULD SAY WE RECEIVED THE SAME LEVEL OF COOPERATION 10:11:43 FROM TOYOTA'S CONSULTANT, EXPONENT. 10:11:47 UNFORTUNATELY, EXPONENT WITHHELD INFORMATION FROM THE COMMITTEE 10:11:51 AND HAS EVEN MODIFIED RESPONSIVE DOCUMENTS BEFORE PRODUCING THEM 10:11:55 TO US IN DIRECT VIOLATION OF THE COMMITTEE'S INSTRUCTIONS. 10:11:58 IT'S IRONIC THE FIRM TOYOTA HIRED TO CONDUCT AN INDEPENDENT 10:12:02 INVESTIGATION HAS BEHAVED LIKE IT HAS SOMETHING TO HIDE FROM 10:12:04 THIS COMMITTEE. I NEXT TURN TO MR. BURGESS FOR 10:12:07 AN OPENING STATEMENT, PLEASE. THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN STUPAK 10:12:12 AND AS ALWAYS THANK YOU AND CHAIRMAN WAXMAN FOR CONVENING 10:12:17 THIS HEARING AND WELCOME TO OUR WITNESSES HERE TODAY. 10:12:19 OUR FIRST HEARING ON THE TOYOTA PROBLEMS ALMOST THREE MONTHS AGO 10:12:23 TO THE DAY AT THAT TIME WE HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS, BUT NOT A LOT 10:12:27 OF ANSWERS, AS TO WHAT WAS CAUSING THE SUDDEN UNINTENDED 10:12:33 ACCELERATION EVENTS IN TOYOTAS, SO TODAY WE'RE HERE FOR ANSWERS, 10:12:36 BUT IT ALSO APPEARS THAT WE WILL NOT BE GETTING THOSE. 10:12:40 I WAS HOPING THIS HEARING WAS CALLED BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME 10:12:42 NEW INFORMATION THAT WAS COMING TO THE FLOOR, BUT, IN FACT, WE 10:12:46 MAY BE HAVING THIS HEARING BECAUSE WE FOUND OUT THAT TOYOTA 10:12:50 DID A POLL. NOW, MR. CHAIRMAN, IF POLLING IS 10:12:52 FOUND TO BE AT THE LEVEL OF A HIGH CRIME OR MISDEMEANOR, THIS 10:12:58 DAIS WOULD SUDDENLY BE IRREVOCABLY SILENT BECAUSE WE'D 10:13:03 ALL GO AWAY. WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET THOSE 10:13:05 ANSWERS TODAY. I'M CONCERNED THAT WE CONTINUE 10:13:09 TO HAVE HEARINGS WHERE WE LITERALLY GO IN CIRCLES BECAUSE 10:13:12 THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE AND IT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED. 10:13:15 NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED FOR THE SAFETY OF TOYOTA'S CUSTOMERS AND 10:13:18 NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED FOR THE FUTURE OF THE -- OF AUTO SALES 10:13:23 BY THAT MANUFACTURER. THIS HEARING DOES SEEM 10:13:26 PREMATURE. TOYOTA HAS COMMISSIONED 10:13:28 EXPONENT, AN ENGINEERING AND SCIENTIFIC FIRM TO DO A TOP TO 10:13:31 BOTTOM REVIEW OF ITS CARS TO FIGURE OUT THE CAUSE OF THESE 10:13:35 EVENTS. THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC 10:13:37 SAFETY ADMINISTRATION HAS ASKED FOR NASA'S FAILURE ANALYSIS 10:13:42 EXPERTS TO TAKE A LOOK AT TOYOTA'S ELECTRONICS. 10:13:45 AS OF TODAY, BOTH OF THOSE STUDIES ARE ONGOING. 10:13:48 THAT'S A GOOD THING. WE JUST DON'T HAVE ANSWERS YET. 10:13:51 ACCORDING TO EXPONENT THEY HAVEN'T FOUND THE ANSWER TO WHAT 10:13:54 IS CAUSING THESE EVENTS AND NASA'S WORK IS JUST GETTING 10:13:56 STARTED. IN FACT, AT THE HEARING PREVIOUS 10:14:01 RANKING MEMBER BARTON ASKED THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC 10:14:10 ADMINISTRATION TO FIND THE CAR BY THE SMITHS TO FIND IT AND 10:14:14 TEAR IT APART TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. 10:14:16 NOW, NHTSA HAS FOUND THE SMITH'S CAR AND HAS HAD IT FOR ALMOST 10:14:20 THREE MONTHS. ACCORDING TO NHTSA'S E-MAILS 10:14:24 ENGINEERS HAVE RUN TESTS ON THE CAR AND DO PLAN TO DO MORE, BUT 10:14:27 HERE'S WHAT THEY FOUND TO DATE AND LET ME QUOTE SO THERE WILL 10:14:30 BE NO QUESTION ABOUT IT. "NOTHING REMARKABLE." 10:14:36 MR. CHAIRMAN, I WOULD ASK THAT THESE E-MAILS FROM NHTSA AND THE 10:14:41 MINORITY STAFF BE INCLUDED IN THE RECORD. 10:14:43 APPARENTLY THE SMITHS' CAR WAS DELIVERED ON FEBRUARY 26th AND 10:14:47 THAT'S THE TIME THAT IT'S BEEN UNDER STUDY. 10:14:49 THREE MONTHS LATER WE DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER TO WHAT WENT WRONG 10:14:52 WITH THE SMITHS' CAR. NEVER MIND ANSWERS TO ALL OF THE 10:14:55 OTHER TOYOTAS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED EVENTS THAT ARE SO 10:14:59 FAR INEXPLICABLE AND THAT'S NOT REALLY SURPRISING BECAUSE THESE 10:15:03 ARE AFTER ALL VERY COMPLICATED PROBLEMS THAT POTENTIALLY 10:15:06 INVOLVE ELECTRONICS, SOFTWARE AND MECHANICAL ISSUES. 10:15:10 FINDING THE RIGHT ANSWER WILL TAKE TIME BUT THE IMPORTANT PART 10:15:13 IS FINDING THE RIGHT ANSWER AND NOT RUSHING TO AN ANSWER BECAUSE 10:15:17 OTHERWISE IT'LL BE IMPOSSIBLE TO IDENTIFY THE RIGHT SOLUTION IF 10:15:20 WE DON'T FIND THE RIGHT SOLUTION, THE CARS ARE NOT 10:15:23 SAFER, THE PUBLIC IS NOT PROTECTED AND TOYOTA'S 10:15:25 REPUTATION CONTINUES TO SUFFER. AS THIS SUBCOMMITTEE IS AN 10:15:28 INVESTIGATIVE BODY WE SHOULD BE CAREFUL NOT TO DRAW CONCLUSIONS 10:15:31 ABOUT THE NATURE OF THE COMPREHENSIVENESS OF THESE 10:15:34 INVESTIGATIONS WHILE THEY'RE ONGOING. 10:15:36 BOTH NASA AND EXPONENT HAVE LAID OUT A NUMBER OF AREAS TO EXAMINE 10:15:40 INCLUDING SOFTWARE, HARDWARE, SYSTEMS INTERACTION AND MAGNETIC 10:15:44 INTERFEIGNS. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT NASA 10:15:47 AND EXPONENT ARE LOOKING AT MANY OF THE SAME ISSUES. 10:15:50 MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT'S CALLED INDEPENDENT VERIFICATION. 10:15:52 THAT IS ACTUALLY PART OF THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD AND IT'S A 10:15:55 GOOD THING. I DO WANT TO IMPRESS UPON THE 10:15:59 NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC ADMINISTRATION AND EXPONENT THAT 10:16:02 OUR PATIENCE AT THIS COMMITTEE IS NOT ENDLESS WHEN IT COMES TO 10:16:05 GETTING ANSWERS. THEY HAVE RECENTLY PROVIDED THE 10:16:07 COMMITTEE WITH A WORKING DRAFT OF THEIR WORK. 10:16:09 I WILL ACCEPT THAT THIS DRAFT IS INCOMPLETE, THAT THE INFORMATION 10:16:13 IN IT HAS NOT BEEN THOROUGHLY TESTED AND THEY HAVE NOT 10:16:16 IDENTIFIED THE CAUSES OF THESE EVENTS. 10:16:18 THAT'S FINE. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE SCOPE 10:16:21 OF EXPONENT'S WORK WE HAVE SEEN TEST RESULTS AND RAW DATE THAT 10:16:26 BUT NO PAPER THAT SETS UP THEIR PLANS FOR TESTING TOYOTAS. 10:16:30 ESSENTIALLY WE'VE BEEN TOLD TO TAKE THEIR WORD FOR IT AS TO 10:16:33 WHAT EXACTLY THEY'RE DOING. EXPONENT IS NOT HERE TODAY TO 10:16:39 SPEAK FOR ITSELF. SINCE OUR LAST MEETING WE MET 10:16:42 WITH ONE OF THE EXPONENT ENGINEERS WORKING ON THE TOYOTA 10:16:45 CASE. PERHAPS WE STILL DON'T HAVE A 10:16:46 FULL PICTURE OF THEIR WORK. MR. LENTZ, I HOPE TO HEAR FROM 10:16:51 YOU -- WHAT I HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU TODAY IS WHAT TOYOTA'S 10:16:54 STRATEGY IS GOING FORWARD FOR SOLVING THIS PROBLEM AND THAT 10:16:57 TOYOTA IS COMMITTED TO WORKING AND SHARING WITH 10:17:01 AND THE PUBLIC WHATEVER EXPONENT FINDS WHEN IT FINDS IT. 10:17:05 I'D ALSO LIKE TO WELCOME ADMINISTRATOR STRICKLAND FROM 10:17:11 NHTSA. NHTSA HAS OPENED A NUMBER OF 10:17:13 DIFFERENT INQUIRIES INTO THEIR RESPONSIVENESS WHEN IT COMES TO 10:17:16 RECALLS AND SAFETY CONCERNS KNIT HAS ALSO PENALIZED TOYOTA OVER 10:17:22 $16 MILLION WITH RESPECT TO THE TIMELINESS OF TOYOTA'S RECALL, 10:17:26 WHICH TOYOTA PAID YESTERDAY WITHOUT ADMITTING FAULT TO THE 10:17:30 UNDERLYING CHARGES. MR. STRICKLAND, I KNOW YOU 10:17:32 RECENTLY TRAVELED TO JAPAN WITH SECRETARY LAHOOD TO MEET WITH 10:17:36 TOYOTA. BEFORE THAT MEETING, SECRETARY 10:17:38 LaHOOD SAID TOYOTA WAS SAFETY DEAF. 10:17:41 AFTER THAT MEETING SECRETARY LaHOOD SAID TOYOTA IS NOW 10:17:45 LISTENING AND PAYING ATTENTION TO NHTSA'S WARNINGS AND THAT IS 10:17:49 QUITE A TURNAROUND IN ONE MEETING'S TIME AND 10:17:52 MR. STRICKLAND, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU AGREE WITH THE 10:17:55 SECRETARY'S ASSESSMENT AND WHY YOU ARE CONFIDENT THAT NOW TODAY 10:18:00 TOYOTA HAS GOTTEN THE MESSAGE THAT BEFORE SEEMED TO HAVE SOME 10:18:03 DIFFICULTY GETTING THROUGH. I'D ALSO LIKE TO LEARN FROM 10:18:07 ADMINISTRATOR STRICKLAND HOW TOYOTA'S WORKING RELATIONSHIP 10:18:10 WITH NHTSA HAS IMPROVED SINCE OUR LAST HEARING BASED ON 10:18:13 SECRETARY LaHOOD'S TESTIMONY AT OUR LAST HEARING AND ON YOUR 10:18:15 TESTIMONY BEFORE THE COMMERCE, TRADE AND CONSUMER PROTECTION 10:18:19 SUBCOMMITTEE IN MARCH I BELIEVE IT IS NHTSA'S VIEW THAT IT HAD 10:18:22 THE NECESSARY AUTHORITIES AND DATA TO DO THE PROPER OVERSIGHT 10:18:24 OF TOYOTA. IF THAT IS TRUE, WAS THE ONLY 10:18:29 PROBLEM TOYOTA? ARE YOU STILL CONFIDENT TODAY 10:18:31 THAT NHTSA'S INVESTIGATIONS WERE AS THOROUGH AS THEY SHOULD HAVE 10:18:34 BEEN AND THAT NHTSA HAD THE NECESSARY SKILLS AND EXPERTISE 10:18:38 TO PERFORM SAME. IS NHTSA DOING A SYSTEMIC REVIEW 10:18:43 OF OTHERS TO MAKE SURE THE MANUFACTURERS -- OTHER 10:18:46 MANUFACTURERS ARE BEING RESPONSIVE? 10:18:48 ON THAT NOTE, MR. LENTZ, I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT RECENT 10:18:52 IMPROVEMENTS THAT TOYOTA HAS ANNOUNCED LIKE SMART TEAM 10:18:55 INSPECTIONS OF CARS AND QUALITY PANELS ARE NOT A MATTER OF FORM 10:18:59 OVER SUBSTANCE. I HOPE YOU CAN OFFER US SOME 10:19:01 SPECIFICS ABOUT HOW THIS HAS IMPROVED TOYOTA'S RESPONSIVENESS 10:19:05 TO ITS DRIVERS, TO OUR CONSTITUENTS AND NHTSA. 10:19:09 MR. CHAIRMAN, YOU'VE BEEN INDULGENT, I WOULD YIELD BACK 10:19:12 THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. CHAIRMAN WAXMAN FOR AN 10:19:16 OPENING STATEMENT. CHAIRMAN STUPAK, I WANT TO 10:19:18 THANK YOU FOR HOLDING TODAY'S HEARING ON SUDDEN UNINTENDED 10:19:22 ACCELERATION IN TOYOTA MADE CARS AND TRUCKS. 10:19:24 THIS IS OUR SECOND HEARING ON THIS SUBJECT. 10:19:29 SINCE TOYOTA HAS ALREADY RECALLED MILLIONS OF VEHICLES 10:19:31 DUE TO CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ABOUT SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION 10:19:35 HAD THEIR VEHICLES. A KEY QUESTION THAT WAS RAISED 10:19:39 AT OUR FIRST HEARING WAS WHETHER THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS OF THESE 10:19:43 VEHICLES WERE REPORTED BY CONSUMERS FOR SUDDEN 10:19:48 ACCELERATION COULD BE LINKED TO ELECTRONIC DEFECTS IN THE 10:19:51 VEHICLES AND THAT'S STILL THE SUBJECT OF OUR HEARING TODAY. 10:19:55 IN FEBRUARY, WE HAD OUR HEARING ON THIS AND I ASKED TOYOTA MOTOR 10:20:02 SALES MANAGER JAMES LEPTS WHETHER HE WAS CERTAIN THAT THE 10:20:05 RECALLS TOYOTA HAD ORDERED WHICH INVOLVED REPLACING FLOOR MATS 10:20:08 AND STICKY ACCELERATOR PEDALS WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF 10:20:14 TOYOTA -- CARS RACING OUT OF CONTROL. 10:20:16 HE REPLIED "NOT TOTALLY." THIS APPEARS TO BE -- HAVE BEEN 10:20:22 A RARE MOMENT OF CORPORATE CANDOR BECAUSE THE VERY NEXT 10:20:26 DAY, TOYOTA MOTOR SALES ISSUED A PRESS RELEASE ENTITLED 10:20:31 "CLARIFICATION OF TESTIMONY REGARDING EFFECTIVENESS OF 10:20:34 RECALLS" IN WHICH THE COMPANY REITERATED THAT EXTENSIVE 10:20:39 TESTING MADE IT CONFIDENT THAT NO PROBLEMS EXIST WITH 10:20:44 ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEMS IN ITS VEHICLES. 10:20:47 THE SAME DAY BEFORE A DIFFERENT HOUSE COMMITTEE, THE PRESIDENT 10:20:52 OF TOYOTA MOTOR COMPANY AKIO TOYODA TESTIFIED HE'S ABSOLUTELY 10:20:59 CONFIDENT THERE'S NO PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN OF TOYOTA'S 10:21:03 ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM BECAUSE VERY RIGOROUS 10:21:07 TESTING IDENTIFIED NO PROBLEM OR MALFUNCTION. 10:21:11 A FEW DAYS LATER TOYOTA RAN A FULL PAGE ADVERTISEMENT IN OTHER 10:21:16 PAPERS -- AMONG OTHERS IN "THE WASHINGTON POST" DECLARING THAT 10:21:20 FLOOR MAT AND STICKY PEDAL RECALL SOLUTIONS ARE EFFECTIVE 10:21:24 AND DURABLE AND THAT TOYOTA HAD CONFIDENT THAT NO PROBLEMS EXIST 10:21:29 WITH THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM. 10:21:33 WELL, THESE ASSURANCES ARE BAFFLING. 10:21:36 IN PREPARATION FOR OUR LAST HEARING WE HAD RECEIVED OVER 10:21:40 100,000 PAGES OF DOCUMENTS FROM TOYOTA AND THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY 10:21:44 TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. WHAT WAS MOST NOTABLE ABOUT 10:21:48 THOSE DOCUMENTS WAS WHAT WAS MISSING, THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE 10:21:54 THAT TOYOTA OR NHTSA TOOK A SERIOUS LOOK AT THE POSSIBILITY 10:21:59 THAT ELECTRONIC DEFECTS COULD BE CAUSING THE PROBLEM. 10:22:04 IN THE MONTH SINCE THAT HEARING, THE COMMITTEE HAS INVESTIGATED 10:22:07 THE BASIS FOR TOYOTA'S REPEATED ASSERTION. 10:22:12 WE ASKED TOYOTA TO BRING FROM JAPAN THE ENGINEERS MOST 10:22:15 FAMILIAR WITH THE TESTING OF THE THROTTLE SYSTEM AND WE DID AE 10:22:21 LENGTHYG U( R!ED INTERVIEW WITH THESE OFFICIALS. 10:22:24 WE TOOK A TRANSCRIBED INTERVIEW WITH THE PERSON MOST 10:22:27 KNOWLEDGEABLE OF THE TESTING TOYOTA IS DOING IN THE UNITED 10:22:31 STATES AND THIS IS THROUGH A FIRM CALLED EXPONENT AND WE 10:22:35 REVIEWED MANY MORE DOCUMENTS. WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED IS DEEPLY 10:22:40 TROUBLING. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT TOYOTA 10:22:43 HAS CONDUCTED EXTENSIVE OR RIGOROUS TESTING OF ITS VEHICLES 10:22:48 FOR POTENTIAL ELECTRONIC DEFECTS THAT COULD CAUSE SUDDEN 10:22:53 UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. OUR COLLEAGUE, MR. BURGESS, SAID 10:22:58 THERE'S A TOP TO BOTTOM REVIEW. WE SHOULDN'T JUMP TO 10:23:01 CONCLUSIONS. WELL, NHTSA -- BUT TOYOTA HAS 10:23:04 ALREADY JUMPED TO THE CONCLUSION AND MADE IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN 10:23:08 THAT THEY'VE RULED OUT ANY PROBLEM WITH THEGa4 ELECTRONICS. 10:23:14 WE ASKED TOYOTA FOR THE BASIS OF ITS ASSERTION THAT VEHICLES DO 10:23:18 NOT HAVE ELECTRONIC DEFECTS, AND THEY POINTED TO TWO PRIMARY5 10:23:23 JUSTIFICATIONS. ONE IS TH"PQNG THAT'S DONE 10:23:26 IN RECENT MONTHS BY THIS CONSULTING FIRM EXPONENT. 10:23:30 THAT'S BEING DONE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. 10:23:31 THE OTHER IS THE PREMARKET TESTING DONE OVER THE YEARS BY 10:23:36 ITS ENGINEERS IN JAPAN. SO WE FOCUSED OUR ATTENTION ON 10:23:40 THESE TWO AREAS. WE LOOKED AT EXPONENT'S WORK 10:23:47 WHICH CLAIMING TO BE COMPREHENSIVE AND INDEPENDENT 10:23:48 BUT THE DOCUMENTS REVIEWED BY THE COMMITTEE DON'T SUPPORT 10:23:50 THESE ASSERTIONS. ON THE SCREEN, I HOPE WE'LL SEE, 10:23:57 RECORD THAT EITHER -- NEITHER TOYOTA OR EXPONENT PRODUCED TO 10:24:01 THE COMMITTEE THAT EXPLAINED THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE 10:24:04 COMMITTEE'S CONSULTING WORK OR THE SCOPE OF EXPONENT'S WORK. 10:24:10 IT'S A CONTRACT AND IT'S A CONTRACT BY TOYOTA AND THEIR 10:24:16 CONSULTING FIRM FOR ENGINEERING CONSULTING SERVICES RELATED TO 10:24:20 CLASS ACTIONS FILED AGAINST TOYOTA. 10:24:25 NOWHERE IN THIS DOCUMENT DO THEY -- LAWYERS ASK EXPONENT TO 10:24:30 CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION OF SUDDEN UNINTENDED 10:24:34 ACCELERATION, IN FACT, THE WORDS SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION 10:24:38 DO NOT EVEN APPEAR. SO OUR COMMITTEE INTERVIEWED DR. 10:24:46 SHOOKRI p WORK DIANA WHAT WE LEARNED FROM 10:24:50 HIM WAS ASTONISHING. EXPONENT HAS NO WRITTEN WORK FOR 10:24:53 THE PLAN FOR THIS PROJECT, NO WRITTEN TIME LINE, NO WRITTEN 10:24:57 SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE EXPERIMENTS IT HAS RUN OR PLANS 10:25:01 TO RUN. THEY HAVE NO WRITTEN LIST OF THE 10:25:03 POTENTIAL CAUSES OF SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION THAT IT 10:25:07 PLANNED TO STUDY. AND THOUGH HE'S PERSONALLY 10:25:11 RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HARDWARE, SOFTWARE, ELECTRONIC 10:25:14 INTERFERENCE, TESTING THAT EXPONENT HAS DONE OR WILL DO FOR 10:25:18 TOYOTA, DR. SURI HAS NO WRITTEN NOTES ON EXPONENT'S WORK. 10:25:21 WE ASKED HIM TO EXPLAIN THIS. HOW CAN THERE BE THIS REMARKABLE 10:25:26 LACK OF DOCUMENTATION? AND HE EXPLAINED THAT WRITING 10:25:29 DOWN WHAT EXPONENT DOES WOULD LIMIT THE CREATIVITY OF THE 10:25:35 ENGINEERS WORKING ON THE PROJECT. 10:25:37 WELL, THAT'S PREPOSTEROUS. A FORMER EXPONENT ENGINEER TOLD 10:25:42 OUR COMMITTEE STAFF THAT THE REASON THEY DIDN'T WRITE 10:25:46 ANYTHING DOWN IS TO AVOID CREATING DOCUMENTS THAT MIGHT 10:25:49 HAVE TO BE PRODUCED AT A LAWSUIT. 10:25:53 WELL, TOYOTA'S LAWYERS APPEAR TO BE INVOLVED IN EVERY ASPECT OF 10:25:58 EXPONENT'S WORK. THE LAWYERS HAVE THE RIGHT TO 10:26:00 APPROVE THE PUBLICATION OF EXPONENT'S WORK. 10:26:05 DR. SURI REPORTED TO COMMITTEE STAFF THAT ALL COMMUNICATIONS 10:26:10 WITH TOYOTA HAVE COUNSEL PRESENT AND THE TWO REPORTS EXPONENT HAS 10:26:15 ISSUED BOTH STATE THAT THEY WERE PREPARED FOR MOMENT & BROOK, THE 10:26:23 LAW FIRM DEFENDING TOYOTA IN LITIGATION. 10:26:25 EXPONENT HAS ISSUED REPORTS TO DATE, AND THEY'RE NOT 10:26:29 A COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION OF SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. 10:26:33 THE FIRST WAS AN INTERIM REPORT. IT WAS REQUESTED BY THE LAWYERS 10:26:38 FOR USE AT OUR FEBRUARY HEARING, AND DR. SURI TOLD OUR TAFF THAT 10:26:42 THIS REPORT WAS UNUSUAL BECAUSE EXPONENT HAD NOT COMPLETED ITS 10:26:50 WORK. OUTSIDE EXPERTS CRITICIZED THIS 10:26:52 REPORT BECAUSE THEY HAVE AN UNCLEAR METHODOLOGY AND OVERLY 10:26:55 NARROW FOCUS. THEY HAVE A SECOND REPORT. 10:26:59 THIS WAS EVEN NARROWER DESIGNED ONLY TO REBUT THE TESTIMONY 10:27:02 PROVIDED BY OUR EXPERT WITNESS AT THE COMMITTEE'S FIRST 10:27:07 HEARING. IT DID NOT OFFER ANY DISCUSSION 10:27:10 OF EXPONENT'S INVESTIGATION OF SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION 10:27:15 OTHER THAN ITS REPLICATION OF A LABORATORY EXPERIMENT CONDUCTED 10:27:20 BY THE COMMITTEE'S WITNESS. WELL, THESE REPORTS DO NOT EVEN 10:27:24 COME CLOSE TO SUPPORTING TOYOTA'S CONTENTION THAT 10:27:28 EXPONENT HAS THOROUGHLY EXAMINED TOYOTA'S ELECTRONIC THROTTLE 10:27:33 CONTROL SYSTEMS. NOW, THE OTHER BASIS FOR THEIR 10:27:36 ASSERTION IS THAT THEY DID PREMARKET TESTING OF -- BY THEIR 10:27:40 OWN ENGINEERS IN JAPAN. WELL, WE INTERVIEWED THOSE 10:27:47 ENGINEERS AND THEY TOLD US THAT THEIR TESTING IS DONE BEFORE 10:27:52 THERE'S MASS PRODUCTION. BUT ONCE THE DESIGN IS 10:27:56 COMPLETED, THEY DIDN'T DO ANY ADDITIONAL TESTING. 10:28:00 NOW, THE PREMARKET TESTING HAS SIGNIFICANT LIMB TATHS. 10:28:03 THE COMPANY'S DURABILITY TESTING IS DONE ONLY ON PROTOTYPE 10:28:09 VEHICLES AND COMPONENTS. THEY DON'T TEST CARS AND PARTS 10:28:12 THAT ARE ACTUALLY USED BY DRIVERS. 10:28:15 THE SAMPLE SIZES ARE VERY SMALL, IN FACT, ONLY A SINGLE VEHICLE 10:28:19 IS TESTED. INDEPENDENT EXPERTS CONSULTED BY 10:28:24 OUR COMMITTEE HAVE TOLD US THAT TOYOTA WOULD NEED A MUCH LARGER 10:28:27 SAMPLE SIZE TO RULE OUT POTENTIAL CAUSES OF A RARE AND 10:28:32 INTERMITTENT EVENT LIKE SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. 10:28:38 IN ADDITION, TOYOTA ACKNOWLEDGED TO COMMITTEE STAFF THAT IT DOES 10:28:41 NOT CONTROL THE TESTING PERFORMED ON CRITICAL PARTS OF 10:28:44 THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE SYSTEM THAT ARE DONE BY ITS SUPPLIERS. 10:28:49 THEY HAVE NO DOCUMENTATION TO CONFIRM THE RESULTS OF ANY TESTS 10:28:54 THAT THESE SUPPLIERS CHOSE TO PERFORM. 10:28:57 THE PREMARKET TESTING REGIME MAY BE APPROPRIATE FOR TESTING THE 10:29:02 DESIGN OF TOYOTA VEHICLES BEFORE MANUFACTURING STARTS, BUT NO 10:29:07 AMOUNT OF PREMARKETING TESTS CAN BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR A RIGOROUS 10:29:12 EXAMINATION NEEDED TO IDENTIFY A POST-MANUFACTURING DEFECT. 10:29:17 AND THERE'S NO EVIDENCE TOYOTA HAS DONE THIS POST MANUFACTURING 10:29:24 TESTING. WELL, THE RESULTS OF OUR 10:29:26 EXAMINATION RAISE SERIOUS QUESTIONS. 10:29:29 THEY'VE TOTALLY -- TOYOTA HAS REPEATEDLY TOLD THE PUBLIC IT 10:29:34 HAS CONDUCTED EXTENSIVE TESTING OF ITS VEHICLES FOR ELECTRONIC 10:29:39 DEFECTS. WE CAN FIND NO BASIS FOR THESE 10:29:42 ASSERTIONS. TOYOTA'S ASERGS MAY BE GOOD 10:29:44 PUBLIC RELATIONS, BUT THEY DON'T APPEAR TO BE TRUE. 10:29:48 EVEN MORE CON FOUNDING IS WHY TOYOTA HAS DONE -- NOT DONE 10:29:53 MORE. IF THEY'RE SERIOUS ABOUT PUTTING 10:29:55 SAFETY FIRST, HOW CAN THEY JUSTIFY HIRING A LITIGATION 10:29:59 CONSULTING FIRM THAT TAKES NO WRITTEN NOTES, TO ITS 10:30:05 INVESTIGATION INTO DEFECTS. THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO EXPECT 10:30:09 TOYOTA WILL DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO FIND ANY POTENTIAL 10:30:12 ELECTRONIC DEFECT, BUT TOYOTA DIDN'T DO THAT. 10:30:16 INSTEAD, TOYOTA ASKED THIS DEFENSE COUNSEL TO HIRE A FIRM 10:30:19 WHOSE MISSION APPEARS TO BE THE EXACT OPPOSITE, TO OBFUSCATE AND 10:30:25 FIND NO PROBLEMS. I WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT WE 10:30:27 KNOW AND WHAT WE DON'T KNOW. I AM NOT AN ENGINEER AND I'M NOT 10:30:32 A SCIENTIST, BUT I DO KNOW THAT DOZENS OF PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN 10:30:35 ACCIDENTS LINKED TO RUNAWAY TOYOTA VEHICLES. 10:30:38 MANY OF THESE INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED IN VEHICLES THAT DO NOT 10:30:41 HAVE FAULTY FLOOR MATS OR STICKY PEDALS. 10:30:45 TOYOTA'S PRIORITY SHOULD BE TO DO EVERYTHING IT CAN TO FIGURE 10:30:48 OUT WHAT'S CAUSING THESE FRIGHTENING EVENTS, NOT TO 10:30:54 PROTECT ITSELF FROM LAWSUITS AND I DO NOT BELIEVE TOYOTA HAS MET 10:30:56 THIS OBLIGATION. CHAIRMAN STUPAK, I LOOK FORWARD 10:31:00 TO HEARING FROM OUR WITNESSES AND THANK YOU FOR CONVENING THE 10:31:02 HEARING. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. 10:31:05 MR. BARTON, OPENING STATEMENT, PLEASE. 10:31:08 THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. I THINK CHAIRMAN WAXMAN TOOK HIS 10:31:12 TIME AND MY TIME. HE CERTAINLY GAVE AN EXTENSIVE 10:31:17 STATEMENT. I'M JUST GOING TO SUBMIT MY 10:31:19 STATEMENT FOR THE RECORD AND MAKE A FEW EXTEMPORANEOUS 10:31:24 REMARKS. I SHARE CHAIRMAN WAXMAN'S 10:31:27 CONCERN ABOUT FINDING THIS P 10:31:31 PROBLEM. I'M NOT OMNIPOTENT, THOUGH. 10:31:35 LESS COMPLICATED. IT'S EASY TO SIT UP HERE ON THE 10:31:38 PODIUM AND POINT FINGERS AND DEMAND RESULTS AND ACT AS IF WE 10:31:45 KNOW WHAT THE ANSWERS ARE, BUT THAT'S NOT HOW LIFE IS AND 10:31:49 THAT'S NOT HOW ENGINEERING IS. IT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF 10:31:54 NHTSA TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. 10:31:57 IT'S OBVIOUSLY THE BEST INTEREST OF TOYOTA. 10:31:59 AND THE ENTIRE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY. 10:32:02 I AGREE WITH CHAIRMAN WAXMAN THAT I DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS A 10:32:06 STICKY PEDAL FLOOR MAT PROBLEM, BUT HAVING SAID THAT, TRYING TO 10:32:12 FIND A BUG IN MILLIONS OF LINES OF SOFTWARE OR FIND THE GLITCH 10:32:18 IN A HARDWARE SYSTEM FOR THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION AND STEERING 10:32:24 SYSTEM IS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT. I AM HAPPY THAT NHTSA GOT THE 10:32:30 VEHICLE THAT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE OR OBTAINED THE VEHICLE 10:32:33 THAT HAD THE RUNAWAY ACCELERATION PROBLEM THAT THE 10:32:36 SMITHS TALKED ABOUT IN OUR HEARING HERE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO. 10:32:39 IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE NHTSA ENGINEERS HAVE BEEN 10:32:43 TRYING -- HAVE BEEN EVALUATING THAT VEHICLE AND HAVEN'T YET 10:32:46 FOUND THE PROBLEM. I'M ALSO PLEASED THAT NASA IS 10:32:49 INVOLVED. I'M PLEASED THAT TOYOTA HAS 10:32:52 HIRED AN INDEPENDENT FIRM TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. 10:33:00 HOPEFULLY TODAY WE'LL GET SOME ANSWERS FROM OUR NHTSA 10:33:05 ADMINISTRATOR AND THE PRESIDENT OF TOYOTA. 10:33:07 THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO QUESTION 10:33:13 THAT PEOPLE HAVE LESS CONFIDENCE IN THE TOYOTA VEHICLES THAT HAVE 10:33:22 EXPERIENCED MOST OF THE RUNAWAY ACCELERATION PROBLEMS AND THEY 10:33:26 EXPECT THE COMPANY AND THE GOVERNMENT TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM 10:33:30 AS QUICKLY AND EXPEDITIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE. 10:33:33 BUT IT IS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT IN THE REAL WORLD. 10:33:37 WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP GIVING OUR BEST-FAITH EFFORTS, AND UNDER 10:33:41 THE LEADERSHIP OF MR. WAXMAN AND MR. STUPAK AND RANKING MEMBER 10:33:46 BURGESS AND MYSELF, WE WILL USE OUR RESOURCES SO THAT THE 10:33:51 AMERICAN PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THE ISSUES ARE AND IF THERE IS 10:33:54 SOMETHING WE NEED TO DO LEGISLATIVELY, WE WILL CERTAINLY 10:33:57 TRY TO DO THAT. I THANK YOU, MR. STUPAK AND 10:34:01 MR. WAXMAN, FOR CONTINUING THIS INVESTIGATION, AND WE WILL BE 10:34:05 VERY SUPPORTIVE THAT THE FACTS ARE PUT ON THE TABLE SO THE 10:34:08 AMERICAN PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THE FACTS ARE. 10:34:10 WITH THAT I YIELD BACK. THANK YOU, MR. BURTON. 10:34:13 MR. DINGELL, FOR AN OPENING STATEMENT, PLEASE. 10:34:15 THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN AND I COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUING 10:34:18 VIGILANCE IN THE MATTER OF TOYOTA'S RECALLS RELATED TO 10:34:22 SUDDEN, UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. I WOULD -- I'M DELIGHTED TO 10:34:26 WELCOME OUR WITNESSES TODAY, ADMINISTRATOR STRICKLAND AND 10:34:29 MR. LENTZ OF TOYOTA. I COMMEND YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, FOR 10:34:32 YOUR INSISTENCE ON VIGOROUS, YET FAIR OVERSIGHT IN THIS MATTER. 10:34:37 WHEREAS YOU ARE WELL AWARE, THOROUGH OVERSIGHT LEADS TO 10:34:40 EFFECTIVE LEGISLATION AND THIS SUBCOMMITTEE HAS BEEN DOING THAT 10:34:43 FOR A LONG TIME. IN VIEW OF THAT, I NOTE THAT THE 10:34:48 SUBCOMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, TRADE AND CONSUMER PROTECTION WILL 10:34:51 MARK UP THE MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ACT OF 2010 THIS AFTERNOON. 10:34:55 SECTION 101 OF THAT BILL REQUIRES THE SECRETARY OF 10:34:59 TRANSPORTATION TO PROM GAIT A MOTOR SAFETY VEHICLE STANDARD ON 10:35:04 ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS WHICH SHOULD -- WHICH SHOULD ENABLE 10:35:09 HIM TO DETERMINE WHETHER SUCH STANDARD IS REASONABLE, 10:35:13 PRACTICAL AND APPROPRIATE. OUR HEARING TODAY AFFORDS US THE 10:35:16 OPPORTUNITY TO EXAMINE THE STATE OF RESEARCH, BOTH BY GOVERNMENT 10:35:20 AND PRIVATE INDUSTRY. ON THESE SYSTEMS AND TO ASSESS 10:35:24 THE FEASIBILITY OF PROMULGATING AND IMPLEMENTING A FEDERAL MOTOR 10:35:28 VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDIZINGTHEM. 10:35:31 TO THAT END, MR. CHAIRMAN, I INTEND TO ASK CANDID QUESTIONS 10:35:34 OF OUR WITNESSES ABOUT THE PROGRESS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE 10:35:40 O ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAS BEEN MADE 10:35:43 IN DETERMINING WHAT, IF ANY, EFFECT SOUNDING ENVIRONMENTS 10:35:45 HAVE ON ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS IN VEHICLES. 10:35:48 WHILE I BELIEVE THAT SECTION 101 OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ACT 10:35:54 IS WRITTEN WITH SUFFICIENT ADMINISTRATION -- ADMINISTRATIVE 10:35:59 DISCRETION FOR THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION, I WANT TO BE 10:36:02 ABLE TO BE SURE THAT THE DEPARTMENT WILL BE ABLE TO 10:36:07 PERFORM THE RESEARCH NECESSARY TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS 10:36:10 OF THAT SECTION. THAT IS AN IMPORTANT QUESTION TO 10:36:12 BE ADDRESSED. I WOULD ALSO NOTE THAT 10:36:17 SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENTS HAVE IN THE PAST AFFECTED MOTOR VEHICLE 10:36:21 SAFETY AND I WOULD REMIND ELECTRONIC FLUX WAS A SOURCE OF 10:36:26 POTENTIAL DANGER FROM UNINTENDED EXPLOSIONS OF AIR BAGS IN TIMES 10:36:33 PAST, SOMETHING WHICH CAUSED INJURY AND DEATH TO AMERICAN 10:36:37 PEOPLE. FURTHER, I WILL SEEK STRICT 10:36:40 INSURANCE -- ASSURANCES FROM TOYOTA THAT IT IS TAKING 10:36:43 SERIOUSLY CHARGES THAT ELECTRONIC INTERFERENCE MAY HAVE 10:36:47 CAUSED SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN THE VEHICLES 10:36:51 RECALLED LATE AND EARLY THIS YEAR AND THAT TOYOTA 10:36:55 IS WORKING DILIGENTLY TO ASSESS THEM AS WELL AS TO CORRECT THEM 10:36:59 IF NEED BE. AND I WANT TO BE SURE THAT THEY 10:37:02 ARE DOING THE NECESSARY RESEARCH ON THE QUESTION OF SAFETY AS 10:37:07 OPPOSED TO JUST DEFENSIVE MEASURES FOR THE CORPORATION. 10:37:12 I LOOK FORWARD TO PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATION TODAY AND I THANK 10:37:16 YOU FOR YOUR COURTESY, MR. CHAIRMAN. 10:37:18 I OBSERVE AGAIN THAT YOUR WORK HERE IN THIS SUBCOMMITTEE HAS 10:37:22 LED TO BETTER LEGISLATION, GOOD FACT-FINDING AND FAR BETTER 10:37:26 SERVICE OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST. THANK YOU. 10:37:30 THANK YOU, MR. DINGELL. MR. GINGREY FOR OPENING 10:37:34 STATEMENT, THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. 10:37:37 TODAY'S HEARING ON TOYOTA AND NHTSA'S RESPONSE TO THE PROBLEM 10:37:40 OF SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHILE TOPICALLY 10:37:43 IMPORTANT I THINK FROM READING THE PROVIDED TESTIMONY THAT THIS 10:37:46 HEARING WILL LIKELY YIELD MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS, IN FACT, 10:37:49 MANY OF THE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS THAT MEMBERS OF THIS 10:37:53 COMMITTEE AND THAT CONSUMERS HAVE WILL LIKELY REMAIN 10:37:55 UNANSWERED TODAY AS BOTH TOYOTA AND NHTSA DISCUSS THE ONGOING 10:37:59 STATUS OF THEIR REVIEWS, THE POTENTIAL CONNECTION BETWEEN 10:38:03 UNINTENDED RAPID ACCELERATION AND THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE 10:38:06 CONTROL SYSTEM. MR. CHAIRMAN, THE AMERICAN 10:38:08 PEOPLE ARE CERTAINLY OWED ANSWERS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF 10:38:11 THEIR VEHICLES, HOWEVER, WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DO NOT 10:38:15 DESERVE IS ANOTHER HASTY LEGISLATIVE RESPONSE IN THE FORM 10:38:18 OF A BILL THAT FEW HAVE READ, NOBODY UNDERSTANDS AND THAT 10:38:23 BEARS UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES MUCH WORSE THAN THE CONSEQUENCES 10:38:27 OF INACTION. HOWEVER, ONCE NHTSA AND TOYOTA 10:38:31 ACTUALLY COMPLETE THE VARIOUS REVIEWS OF THE POTENTIAL FLAWS 10:38:34 OF AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM, I BELIEVE THAT IT WILL BE VERY 10:38:37 IMPORTANT FOR THIS COMMITTEE TO REVIEW THOSE RESULTS, UNDERSTAND 10:38:41 THOSE RESULTS AND THEN ACT IN A MANNER APPROPRIATE TO THOSE 10:38:46 FINDINGS. CERTAINLY WITH AUTOMATION AND 10:38:48 ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING CONTINUING TO REPLACE THE 10:38:51 TRADITIONAL MECHANISMS, WE MUST ALSO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE THE 10:38:55 PROPER METRICS TO CONDUCT DIAGNOSES AND ASK THE RIGHT 10:39:00 QUESTIONS TO FLUSH OUT THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF THESE 10:39:02 SYSTEMS ON THE SAFETY OF OUR AUTOMOBILES. 10:39:05 WITH THAT, MR. CHAIRMAN, I THANK YOU AND I YIELD BACK. 10:39:07 THANK YOU. M 10:39:14 MS. CHRISTIANSCHRISTIANSEN. THANK YOU. 10:39:20 I AM PLEASED THAT WE'RE HAVING THIS HEARING TODAY TO MONITOR 10:39:23 THE RESPONSE OF TOYOTA TO THE ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS ATTRIBUTED 10:39:27 TO THE SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF THEIR VEHICLES. 10:39:31 I LOOK FORWARD TO THE TESTIMONY OF MR. STRICKLAND AND MR. LENTZ 10:39:34 ON WHAT THE TESTING HAS SHOWN THUS FAR, WHAT RESPONSES AND 10:39:38 REMEDIES ARE BEING EMPLOYED AND ALSO TO HEAR THAT THEY'RE BEING 10:39:42 EMPLOYED IN THE U.S. TERRITORIES WHICH IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED AS 10:39:46 WELL AS IN THE 50 STATES. WITH THAT I'LL YIELD BACK THE 10:39:49 BALANCE OF MY TIME, MR. CHAIRMAN. 10:39:51 THANK YOU. MR. GRIFFITH FOR OPENING 10:39:54 STATEMENT, PLEASE. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. 10:39:57 I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU AND RANKING MEMBER FOR CALLING THIS 10:40:00 IMPORTANT HEARING TODAY. IN ALABAMA, THE MIDDLE OF MY 10:40:05 DISTRICT TOYOTA EMPLOYS 777 PEOPLE, BUILD SIX AND 10:40:11 EIGHT-CYLINDER ENGINES AND ADDED THE FOUR-CYLINDER ENGINE TO THE 10:40:16 PLANT. WE WILL EMPLOY OR TOYOTA WILL 10:40:17 EMPLOY APPROXIMATELY A THOUSAND PEOPLE IN THIS DISTRICT. 10:40:21 TOYOTA HAS DONE MORE THAN JUST BE A GOOD EMPLOYER IN 10:40:24 HUNTSVILLE. THEY'VE GIVEN BACK TO THE 10:40:25 COMMUNITY IN MANY WAYS, IN FACT, DURING THE RECENT SLOWDOWN IN 10:40:28 PRODUCTION AND RESPONSE TO THE RECESSION, TOYOTA DID NOT LAY 10:40:31 OFF ONE PERMANENT WORKER. DURING THIS TIME, THEY SENT SOME 10:40:36 EMPLOYERS OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY WHILE OTHERS STAYED AT THE PLANT 10:40:40 AND WORKED TOGETHER TO STREAMLINE AND IMPROVE THE DAILY 10:40:43 FUNCTIONS IN BOTH QUALITY AND SAFETY. 10:40:46 SINCE THIS SUBCOMMITTEE HAS MET TO DISCUSS TOYOTA, THE NUMBER OF 10:40:49 VEHICLE RECALL REMEDIES IS NEARLY 3.5 MILLION. 10:40:52 THEY'VE ALSO TAKEN STEPS TOSC @% WITH COMMUNICATION PROBLEMS 10:40:55 BETWEEN NORTH AMERICA AND JAPAN AND COMMISSIONED A STUDY TO 10:40:59 INVESTIGATE THE SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ISSUES. 10:41:02 I BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA HAS SHOWN A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO FIX 10:41:06 PROBLEMS AND LEARN FROM THESE EVENTS TO BETTER SERVE CONSUMERS 10:41:09 IN THE FUTURE AND IT SEEMS EVIDENT BY RECENT SALES THAT 10:41:13 CUSTOMERS HAVE FAITH IN TOYOTA'S ABILITY TO CORRECT PAST 10:41:15 PROBLEMS. I MIGHT ADD THAT THE CHAIRMAN OF 10:41:22 THE COMMITTEE SEEMED UPSET THAT THERE WAS NO AGREEMENT FROM 10:41:27 TOYOTA WITH DR. GILBERT'S FINDINGS. 10:41:30 I FIND THAT NOT ONLY ACCEPTABLE BUT WE'VE HAD NO ONE CORROBORATE 10:41:37 DR. GILBERT'S FINDINGS EITHER, SO IF WE'RE GOING TO BASE OUR 10:41:42 DISCUSSION ON A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL'S EXPERIMENT AND NOT 10:41:47 A SCIENTIFIC METHOD, I THINK WE'RE MAYBE ON THE WRONG TRACK 10:41:51 THERE. I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYONE 10:41:53 MORE INTERESTED IN MAKING SURE THAT THEIR VEHICLES ARE SAFE 10:41:57 THAN TOYOTA. I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYONE 10:41:59 MORE INTERESTED IN THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC THAN TOYOTA AS FAR AS 10:42:03 THIS SITUATION IS CONCERNED. SO IT SEEMS THAT THERE'S AN 10:42:09 ATTITUDE THAT SOMEHOW WE'RE NOT HERE IN GOOD FAITH TO DO WHAT'S 10:42:13 BEST FOR THE PUBLIC AND I THINK WE NEED TO EXAMINE OUR ATTITUDE 10:42:18 AND MAYBE TAKE A DIFFERENT APPROACH. 10:42:20 I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME, MR. CHAIRMAN. 10:42:26 MR. BRALY, OPENING STATEMENT? THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. 10:42:29 I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO PUT IN MY STATEMENT AND MAKE BRIEF 10:42:36 EXTEMPORANEOUS REMARKS. ALL RIGHT. 10:42:43 MR. LATTA -- I WAS ASKING FOR UNANIMOUS 10:42:45 CONSENT. GO AHEAD. 10:42:53 DURING OUR LAST HEARING RANKING MEMBER BARTON DREW ON 10:42:56 HIS EXPERIENCE AS AN ENGINEER TO CHALLENGE BOTH TOYOTA AND NHTSA 10:43:00 TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS PROBLEM AND TO DO SO WITH A 10:43:03 SENSE OF CLARITY AND PURPOSE THAT HAD BEEN MISSING IN 10:43:07 TOYOTA'S APPROACH TO THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ELECTRONIC 10:43:12 COMPONENT TO THE PROBLEM OF SUDDEN UNANTICIPATED 10:43:15 ACCELERATION SO WHEN THE RANKING MEMBER STATED AT THE CONCLUSION 10:43:18 OF HIS REMARKS TODAY HE WAS PLEASED THAT TOYOTA HAD HIRED AN 10:43:21 INDEPENDENT FIRM, I THINK IT WAS BASED UPON THE REPRESENTATIONS 10:43:25 THAT TOYOTA MADE AT OUR LAST HEARING THAT, IN FACT, IT HAD 10:43:28 HIRED EXPONENT AND GIVEN IT A MISSION TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF 10:43:32 THIS PROBLEM WITH AN UNLIMITED BUDGET. 10:43:34 THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THAT PERCEPTION IS IT'S CONTRARY TO 10:43:38 THE DOCUMENTS THAT I HAVE BEEN PROVIDED AND THE COMMITTEE HAS 10:43:41 BEEN PROVIDED IN RESPONSE TO REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION I MADE 10:43:45 AT OUR LAST HEARING. BECAUSE THE DOCUMENTS WE'VE BEEN 10:43:48 PROVIDED WITH SHOW THAT TOYOTA'S TRIAL LAWYERS NOT TOYOTA ENGAGED 10:43:54 EXPONENT TO CONDUCT THIS WORK ON DECEMBER 7th OF 2009 AND DID NOT 10:44:00 ENGAGE EXPONENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS 10:44:04 PROBLEM, BUT FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFENDING CLASS ACTION CLAIMS 10:44:07 FILED AGAINST TOYOTA. AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH 10:44:11 TOYOTA'S RESPONSE SINCE OUR LAST HEARING. 10:44:13 IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S BEEN DONE, IT'S BEEN PRIMARILY AN EFFORT TO 10:44:16 TRY TO ATTACK THE CREDIBILITY OF THE SOLE WITNESS WHO TESTIFIED 10:44:22 ON THE CONNECTION, THE POSSIBLE CONNECTION BETWEEN AN ELECTRONIC 10:44:25 OR COMPUTER FAILURE AND THE PROBLEM OF SUDDEN UNANTICIPATED 10:44:30 ACCELERATION IN TOYOTA'S VEHICLES AND THAT'S THE 10:44:33 DISTURBING QUESTION THAT WE NEED ANSWERS TO AT THIS HEARING 10:44:35 TODAY. WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE FINANCIAL 10:44:39 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EXPONENT AND TOYOTA AND TRY TO GET TO THE 10:44:43 BOTTOM OF WHY SO MUCH TIME HAS BEEN SPENT FOCUSING TIME AND 10:44:48 RESOURCES ATTEMPTING TO DISCREDIT THE WORK OF PROFESSOR 10:44:51 DAVID GILBERT INSTEAD OF GETTING TO THE ROOT CAUSE OF THIS 10:44:55 PROBLEM AND DETERMINING ONCE AND FOR ALL WHETHER ELECTRONIC 10:44:59 FAILURE IS A CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. 10:45:01 THAT'S WHY I LOOK FORWARD TO THE TESTIMONY OF OUR WITNESSES AND I 10:45:05 HOPE THAT EVENTUALLY EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THIS INVESTIGATION 10:45:09 GETS TO THAT PROBLEM AND I YIELD BACK. 10:45:12 AND MR. BRALEY, I'M SORRY I DIDN'T HEAR YOU BEFORE WHEN YOU 10:45:16 ASKED YOUR OPENING STATEMENT BE MADE PART OF THE RECORD. 10:45:19 ALL OPENING STATEMENTS OF THE COMMITTEE, THEIR OPENING 10:45:22 STATEMENTS WILL BE PART OF THE RECORD AND MOVE THE CONTENTS OF 10:45:24 OUR DOCUMENT BINDER BE MADE PART OF THE RECORD. 10:45:27 WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO BE IT. MY INTENT IS AS MEMBERS KNOW, WE 10:45:31 HAVE THE PRESIDENT OF MEXICO SPEAKING AROUND 11:00, TRY TO 10:45:34 GET THROUGH ALL OPENING STATEMENTS AND IF WE GO OVER A 10:45:37 LITTLE BIT LET'S TRY TO GET THEM DONE BEFORE WE HAVE TO RECESS 10:45:40 FOR A BIT. NOW MR. LATTA FOR AN OPENING 10:45:43 STATEMENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, 10:45:44 MR. CHAIRMAN. MR. BURGESS, THANKS VERY MUCH 10:45:46 FOR HOLDING THIS HEARING TODAY. FIRST AND FOREMOST I BELIEVE IT 10:45:51 IS IMPORTANT THESE HEARINGS ARE HELD TO GET TO THE FACTS 10:45:53 REGARDING THE SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. 10:45:57 TRAGICALLY ACCORDING TO NHTSA 52 PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN THE PAST 10:46:02 DECADE TWO DUE TO THE INCIDENTS OF THE SUDDEN UNINTENDED 10:46:05 ACCELERATION OF TOYOTA VEHICLES. THIS HAS INITIATED SEVERAL 10:46:11 QUERIES INTO RECALLS AND THE AGENCY LEVELED A $16.4 MILLION 10:46:13 FINE ON THE COMPANY. ADDITIONALLY NASA AND THE 10:46:17 NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCE HAVE BEEN ENLISTED TO ENLISTED BY 10:46:20 NHTSA TO UNDERTAKE A STUDY OF THE ISSUE SPECIFICALLY NASA WILL 10:46:25 EXAMINE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN TOYOTA VEHICLES AND THE 10:46:28 NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES WILL ANALYZE THAT ACCELERATION 10:46:33 AND THE ROLE OF THE ELECTRONIC VEHICLE SYSTEMS ACROSS THE 10:46:36 AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY. IT IS ALSO MY UNDERSTANDING 10:46:40 NEITHER IS COMPLETE AT THIS TIME. 10:46:42 THROUGH ITS RECALL AND DEPLOYMENT OF SWIFT MARKET 10:46:46 ANALYSIS RESPONSE FOR SMART TEAM, THIRD-PARTY ANALYSIS AND 10:46:49 THE ADDITION OF INDUSTRY-LEADING SAFETY FEATURES TO NEW MODELS, 10:46:53 TOYOTA IS WORKING TO PROVIDE QUALITY AND SAFE VEHICLES. 10:46:57 I HOPE THIS TRANSLATES INTO AN INCREASED SAFETY LEVEL AND 10:47:01 ASSURANCE FOR TOYOTA DRIVERS. SAFETY IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT 10:47:05 ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY. 10:47:08 I AM CONCERNED BY ANY PRECEDENT THAT IS SET BY THE GOVERNMENT 10:47:11 THAT THE GOVERNMENT KNOWS BEST WHEN IT COMES TO VEHICLE DESIGN. 10:47:14 LATER TODAY, I WILL PARTICIPATE IN A MARKUP OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE 10:47:17 SAFETY ACT OF 2010, WHICH WILL ATTEMPT TO DICTATE TO AUTO 10:47:22 MANUFACTURERS THE DESIGN OF CERTAIN PARTS. 10:47:23 GOVERNMENT MANDATES HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON THE TRI 10:47:27 AND TURN OF THE ECONOMY. I REPRESENT THE 5th 10:47:30 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF OHIO WHICH IS THE LARGEST 10:47:32 MANUFACTURING DISTRICT IN THE STATE AND HOME TO MANY AUTO 10:47:34 SUPPLIERS. THE TECHNOLOGY INVOLVED IN 10:47:39 AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY -- AND ENGINEERING CERTAINLY HAS 10:47:42 CHANGED AND ADVANCED OVER THE YEARS, AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT 10:47:45 TOYOTA CUSTOMERS AND THE AMERICAN PUBLIC AND POLICYMAKERS 10:47:49 UNDERSTAND THE ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED THROTTLE SYSTEM AND 10:47:52 THE POTENTIAL FOR UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN TOYOTAS AND ALL 10:47:57 OTHER VEHICLES. WHILE AS NOT YET A MEMBER OF THE 10:48:02 ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE FOR THE FEBRUARY HEARING I LOOK 10:48:03 FORWARD TO THE HEARING TODAY AND HEARING FROM THE TESTIMONY FROM 10:48:06 THE WITNESSES ON THE PANEL. MR. CHAIRMAN, I YIELD BACK. 10:48:08 THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. LATTA. 10:48:14 MISS THAT COW SCHAKOWSKY? MANY QUESTIONS REMAIN 10:48:23 UNANSWERED. IN PARTICULAR WE'RE STILL 10:48:25 UNCLEAR ABOUT CASES WHERE STICKY PEDALS AND FLAWED FLOOR MATS 10:48:29 WERE RULED OUT AS POSSIBLE CAUSES. 10:48:31 ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE WHO PROPOSED A POSSIBLE ANSWER HAS 10:48:34 BEEN MENTIONED WAS DAVID GILBERT, AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR 10:48:38 OF AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY AT SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY IN 10:48:41 MY HOME STATE. DR. GILBERT TESTIFIED ABOUT 10:48:44 RESEARCH HE HAD DONE IN WHICH HE WAS ABLE TO REPLICATE A 10:48:46 SITUATION WHERE SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WAS 10:48:49 CAUSED BY ELECTRONIC SIGNALS BUT NOT REPORTED ON THE VEHICLE'S 10:48:53 EVENT DATA RECORDER. AT THE SAME HEARING MR. LENTZ, 10:48:57 WHO WAS ALSO HERE TODAY TESTIFIED ON BEHALF OF TOYOTA 10:49:01 SAYING "IN DECEMBER WE ASKED EXPONENT A WORLD CLASS 10:49:04 ENGINEERING AND SCIENTIFIC CONSULTING FIRM TO CONDUCT A 10:49:07 COMPREHENSIVE INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS FOR ELECTRONIC THROTTLE 10:49:09 SYSTEM CONTROL WITH AN UNLIMITED BUDGET." 10:49:12 BUT WHAT DID EXPONENT COME BACK WITH? 10:49:14 IN MARCH THEY RELEASED A REPORT THAT DID NOT CONDUCT A 10:49:18 COMPREHENSIVE REPORT OF TOYOTA'S ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL 10:49:21 SYSTEM AND POSSIBLE FLAWS, INSTEAD, THEIR REPORT WAS E 10:49:26 ENTIRELY A CRITIQUE OF DR. GILBERT'S EXPERIMENT. 10:49:28 OF COURSE, SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH CAN BE QUESTIONED AND DISPUTED 10:49:31 BUT EXPONENT'S EFFORTS DID NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO FIND OUT WHAT 10:49:34 THE AMERICAN PEOPLE OR THE SUBCOMMITTEE WANT TO KNOW. 10:49:38 OUR CONSTITUENTS WANT ANSWERS, AND THEY WANT AN IN-DEPTH 10:49:42 INVESTIGATION THAT IDENTIFIES THE CAUSES OF POTENTIALLY 10:49:45 FATALLY MALFUNCTIONS IN THEIR VEHICLES. 10:49:47 I AM GLAD THAT NHTSA HAS MOVED FOR AND HAS ASKED BOTH NASA AND 10:49:52 THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SIEPSS TO HELP CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION 10:49:55 THAT ENCOMPASSES NOT JUST TOYOTA BUT ALL VEHICLES WITH 10:50:21 I WILL HAVE TO SAY YOU HAVE HEARD IT FROM MANY OTHERS, I 10:50:24 HAVE CONCERNS OVER THE TIMING, I HAVE CONCERNS OVER THE TONE OF 10:50:26 THIS HEARING AND SEEMS LIKE WE MAYBE LITTLE BIT PREMATURE IN 10:50:31 CONVENING THIS TODAY. FOR THE RECORD, MR. CHAIRMAN, I 10:50:34 WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT A LETTER THAT I SENT TO CHAIRMAN DINGELL 10:50:38 IN OCTOBER 2007, ASKING FOR A HEARING TO LOOK INTO THE SERIOUS 10:50:43 CONCERNS IN TENNESSEE OVER SUDDEN ACCELERATION IN THE 10:50:47 TOYOTA TACOMA THAT LETTER, AGAIN, WAS IN OCTOBER, '07. 10:50:52 PERHAPS IF WE WERE A LITTLE MORE PROACTIVE IN INVESTIGATING THIS 10:50:55 ISSUE THREE YEARS AGO, WE WOULD NOT BE IN THE POSITION THAT WE 10:51:00 ARE NOW. ALL TOO ON THE, CONGRESS IS 10:51:04 REACTIVE. INSTEAD OF TAKING ACTION IN A 10:51:06 TIMELY MANNER WHEN SOMETHING IS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION. 10:51:10 AS A RESULT, WE STILL DON'T HAVE DEFINITIVE ANSWERS AS TO WHAT 10:51:15 PRECISELY CAUSED THE SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND IT 10:51:17 IS NAIVE TO BELIEVE ANY OF THE IMPORTANT ANSWERS ARE GOING TO 10:51:20 COME TO LIGHT IN THIS HEARING TODAY. 10:51:24 I FEAR THAT WHAT WE ARE DOING IS PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THEE 10:51:28 HORSE. MANY OF OUR CONSTITUENTS LOOK AT 10:51:31 THESE HEARINGS AND THEY SEE THIS AS GRANDSTANDING, IN AN ATTEMPT 10:51:36 TO TRY AND VILIFY A CORPORATION. I HAVE HEARD FROM CONSTITUENTS 10:51:40 WHO ARE EMPLOYEES OF SUPPLIERS TO TOYOTAS. 10:51:43 THEY ARE VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY BE SOMETHING, AGAIN, TO 10:51:48 BE DONE TO VILIFY AND SCORE CHEAP POLITICAL POINTS INSTEAD 10:51:51 OF PRODUCTIVELY MOVING FORWARD IN AN EFFORT TO ACTUALLY FIX AND 10:51:56 EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS THE SERIOUS ISSUE THAT WAS FIRST BROUGHT TO 10:51:59 THE ATTENTION OF THIS COMMITTEE IN OCTOBER, 2007. 10:52:03 FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND FROM NHTSA AND EXPONENT, THERE IS NOT 10:52:08 EVEN A VIABLE HYPOTHESIS PUT FORWARD AS TO THIS ISSUE AND A 10:52:13 RESOLUTION. THAT BEING SAID, AGAIN, I WANT 10:52:16 TO WELCOME OUR WITNESS AS WELL AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO 10:52:21 HEARING FROM THEM. AND I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF 10:52:24 MY TIME. THANK YOU. 10:52:25 SHOULD BE NOTED THAT MR. GONZALEZ, A MEMBER OF THE VOTE 10:52:30 COMMITTEE IS HERE, CANNOT GIVEN A OPENING STATEMENT BUT WHEN WE 10:52:33 GO TO QUESTIONS, HE WILL CERTAINLY BE ALLOWED TO ANSWER 10:52:35 QUESTIONS SOME, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, MR. GONZALEZ. 10:52:37 THAT CONCLUDES THE OPENING STATEMENT BY ALL OF OUR 10:52:40 SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERS. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO OUR FIRST 10:52:42 PANEL AND OUR FIRST PANEL, WE HAVE THE HONORABLE DAVID 10:52:45 STRICKLAND, WHO IS THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE NATIONAL 10:52:47 HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. 10:52:50 MR. STRICKLAND, AS YOU KNOW IT IS THE POLICY OF THIS 10:52:52 SUBCOMMITTEE TO TAKE ALL TESTIMONY UNDER OATH. 10:52:54 PLEASE BE ADVISED BY THE -- PLEASE BE ADVISED, YOU HAVE THE 10:52:57 RIGHT UNDER THE RULES OF THE COMMITTEE TO BE ADVISED BY 10:52:59 COUNSEL DURING YOUR TESTIMONY. DO YOU WISH TO BE REPRESENTED BY 10:53:04 COUNSEL? NO I DO NOT. 10:53:05 OKAY. THEN I'M GOING TO ASK YOU, 10:53:07 PLEASE RISE, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND, TAKE THE OATH. 10:53:12 DO YOU SWEAR OR AFFIRM THE TESTIMONY YOU ARE ABOUT TO BE 10:53:14 GIVE TO BE THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH IN 10:53:17 THE MATTER NOW PENDING BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE? 10:53:20 I DO. LET THE RECORD REFLECT THE 10:53:21 WITNESS APPLIED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. 10:53:23 YOU HAVE NOW UNDER OATH. IF WOULD YOU LIKE TO BEGIN WITH 10:53:24 AN OPENING STATEMENT, MR. STRICKLAND, WE WOULD APPRECIATE 10:53:27 IT. THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN STUPAK, 10:53:30 AND BURGESS AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. 10:53:32 WE APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO UPDATE YOU ON THE ACTIVITIES 10:53:35 OF THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION WITH 10:53:38 REGARD TO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION INVOLVING TOYOTA 10:53:42 VEHICLES. NHTSA HAS BEEN VERY ACTIVE ON 10:53:45 THE SUBJECT SINCE SECRETARY LaHOOD TESTIFIED BEFORE THIS 10:53:49 COMMITTEE IN FEBRUARY. LAST WEEK, SECRETARY LaHOOD AND 10:53:52 I TRAVELED TO JAPAN TO MEET WITH OFFICIALS OF THE JAPANESE 10:53:55 GOVERNMENT AND TOYOTA. TOYOTA OFFICIALS INFORMED US OF 10:54:00 CHANGES THEY HAVE RECENTLY MADE IN THEIR MANAGEMENT AND 10:54:03 PROCESSES TO ENSURE THAT TOYOTA OFFICIALS HERE IN THE U.S. HAVE 10:54:07 A DIRECT ROLE IN MAKING VEHICLE RECALL DECISIONS. 10:54:11 THE SECRETARY AND I MADE IT VERY CLEAR TO TOYOTA, INCLUDING R 10:54:18 CHAIRMAN TOYODA HIMSELF, THAT THE VALUE OF THESE 10:54:21 ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE COMPANY'S 10:54:24 FUTURE SAFETY ACTIONS. NHTSA AND THE DEPARTMENT OF 10:54:27 TRANSPORTATION WILL BE WATCHING. AS YOU KNOW, WE INITIATED THREE 10:54:31 SEPARATE ACTIONS IN FEBRUARY. A TIME QUERY RELATED TO THE 10:54:37 TRAFFIC RECALL, A TIMELESS QUERY RELATED TO STICKY PEDAL RECALL 10:54:41 AND AN OVERALL RECALL QUERY LOOKING AT BOTH OF THOSE RECALL 10:54:45 IT IS THEY WERE SUFFICIENT IN SCOPE AND WHETHER THERE WERE 10:54:47 OTHER MATTERS RELATED TO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN 10:54:50 TOYOTA VEHICLES. ON APRIL 19th, TOYOTA AGREED TO 10:54:55 PAY $13.375 MILLION IN CIVIL PENALTIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE 10:55:00 STICKY PEDAL TIMELESS QUEERRY. THIS IS THE MAXIMUM PENALTY THAT 10:55:05 NHTSA CAN ASSESS UNDER CURRENT LAW. 10:55:07 WE BELIEVE THE PENALTY WAS WARRANTED BECAUSE TOYOTA FILLED 10:55:09 TO INFORM US IN A TIMELY WAY ABOUT THAT SAFETY DEFECT. 10:55:14 CONCURRENTLY, WE CONTINUE TO REVIEW THE LARGE NUMBER OF 10:55:18 DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED BY TOYOTA IN RESPONSE TO THE PEDAL ENTRAPMENT 10:55:22 QUEERRY. WE HAVE NOT REACHED A DECISION 10:55:23 YET ON WHETHER THE FACTS OF THAT CASE WARRANT A PENALTY. 10:55:28 NHTSA IS ALSO REVIEWING AN EXTREMELY LARGE VOLUME OF 10:55:32 DOCUMENTS RECEIVED IN RESPONSE TO THE RECALL QUERY. 10:55:35 WE HAVE CONTRACTED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO HELP US 10:55:38 CATEGORIZE AND ANALYZE THOSE DOCUMENTS. 10:55:40 THAT TASK WILL TAKE US SOME TIME, BUT IT IS WELL UNDER WAY. 10:55:45 NHTSA HAS ALSO STARTED TWO RESEARCH EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THE 10:55:48 ISSUE OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. 10:55:50 THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, THE NATION'S MOST 10:55:53 RESPECTED INDEPENDENT BODY OF TOP SCIENTIFIC EXPERTS, WILL 10:55:57 EXAMINE THE BROAD SUBJECT OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND 10:56:01 ELECTRONIC VEHICLE CONTROLS ACROSS THE ENTIRE AUTOMOTIVE 10:56:04 INDUSTRY. THE ACADEMY HAS BEGUN THE 10:56:07 PROCESS OF IDENTIFYING PANEL MEMBERS AND THE PANEL WILL BE 10:56:11 ESTABLISHED BY JULY. THE PANEL THEN EXPECTS TO 10:56:15 COMPLETE ITS WORK WITHIN 15 MONTHS. 10:56:17 THE RESULTS OF THE WORK OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 10:56:20 WILL BE IMPORTANT TO NHTSA, NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF UNINTENDED 10:56:24 ACCELERATION BUT ALSO TO PROVIDE ADVICE ON A RANGE OF ELECTRONICS 10:56:28 ISSUES THAT MIGHT AFFECT MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY AS NEW ELECTRONIC 10:56:31 CRASH AVOIDANCE AND OTHER TECHNOLOGIES ARE RAPIDLY 10:56:36 PROLIFERATING WITHIN THE VEHICLE FLEET. 10:56:38 SEPARATELY, WE HAVE ENLISTED NASA SCIENTISTS WITH EXPERTISE 10:56:42 IN AREAS SUCH AS COMPUTER-CONTROLLED ELECTRONIC 10:56:45 SYSTEMS, ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE AND SOFTWARE 10:56:49 INTEGRITY TO HELP TACKLE THE ISSUE OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION 10:56:52 IN TOYOTA VEHICLES. NASA'S REVIEW WILL BE 10:56:56 COMPREHENSIVE AND IT WILL ASSIST US IN DETERMINING WHETHER TOYOTA 10:57:00 VEHICLES MAY CONTAIN SAFETY DEFECTS THAT WOULD WARRANT A 10:57:04 FORMAL INVESTIGATION. WE BELIEVE THAT THE PRESSURE 10:57:07 APPLIED BY NHTSA HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN BRINGING ABOUT 10:57:10 ALL THE RECALLS TOYOTA HAS UNDERTAKEN TO ADDRESS UNINTENDED 10:57:15 ACCELERATION. WE WILL GO WHEREVER THE EVIDENCE 10:57:18 LEADS US TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF UNINTENDED 10:57:22 ACCELERATION. WE WILL OPEN ADDITIONAL 10:57:23 INVESTIGATIONS AND PUSH FOR RECALLS WHERE WARRANTED. 10:57:28 IT IS OUR HOPE THAT TOYOTA'S RECENTLY REVAMPED APPROACH TO 10:57:31 MORE EFFECTIVELY DEAL WITH SAFETY DEFECTS WILL REVEAL A 10:57:35 TOYOTA THAT IS QUICK TO RESPONSE TO ALL VEHICLE SAFETY ISSUES, 10:57:40 INCLUDING SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. 10:57:43 OF COURSE, NHTSA IS WORKING AND WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THIS 10:57:47 COMMITTEE AND WITH THE SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE ON 10:57:50 LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE UNINTENDED 10:57:53 ACCELERATION ISSUE ACROSS THE INDUSTRY. 10:57:55 IF ENACTED, THIS LEGISLATION WOULD SUGGEST 10:57:59 AND ENHANCE NHTSA'S AUTHORITY AND THE AGENCY'S LEVERAGE IN 10:58:03 DEALING WITH ALL MANUFACTURERS. THIS LEVERAGE WOULD BE 10:58:08 PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT IN CASES WHERE MANUFACTURERS ARE 10:58:12 RELUCTANT TO PERFORM THE NECESSARY SAFETY RECALLS OR WHO 10:58:14 ARE NOT COMPLETELY TRUTHFUL IN COMMITTING INFORMATION TO NHTSA. 10:58:19 THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIRMAN, AND RANKING MEMBER 10:58:21 BURR JERKS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ANSWERING THE COMMITTEE'S 10:58:24 QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, MR. STRICKLAND. 10:58:27 WE ARE GOING TO STAND IN RECESS UNTIL -- FOR ONE HOUR. 10:58:30 THE PRESIDENT OF THEY ARE GATHERING ON THE HOUSE 10:58:33 FLOOR. WE MUST RECESS DURING THIS 10:58:35 PERIOD OF TIME, RECESS FOR ONE HOUR, HAVE YOU COME BACK IN ONE 10:58:38 HOUR. WE WILL GO RIGHT TO QUESTIONINGS 10:58:40 THERE BY MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. 10:58:41 YES, MA'AM. SO THIS SUBCOMMITTEE STANDS 10:58:43 IN RECESS FOR ONE HOUR. RECESS