House committee wants more info from Volkswagen, EPA

Top Republicans and Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee are asking federal regulators and Volkswagen officials for more information on the car manufacturer’s alleged efforts to circumvent environmental rules. 

The group of lawmakers — Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and Reps. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), Tim Murphy (R-Penn.) and Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) — sent VW and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) letters asking for documents and information related to the emissions scandal.

{mosads}The group said it hopes to get more information about the situation before the committee holds a hearing on VW’s alleged Clean Air Act violations.

{mosads}“It seems Volkswagen had a dirty little secret, and it’s not just consumers who are feeling betrayed,” Upton and Murphy said in a statement. “There are many unanswered questions and we will get the facts and the answers that the American people deserve.”

Pallone and DeGette said, “we must make sure the EPA has the tools necessary to enforce these policies and also detect any fraud that may be occurring.”

The EPA has accused VW of including software in several models of diesel vehicles to get around federal emissions testing requirements. The situation has lead to legal probes, prompted the resignations of high-level VW officials and angered lawmakers on Capitol Hill. 

On Monday, two Senate Democrats pushed the Department of Justice for a thorough federal investigation into the EPA’s accusations. 

The Energy and Commerce Committee said last week that it intends to hold a hearing on VW soon.

“We will continue to investigate this deceptive activity on the part of Volkswagen to ensure that these blatant violations do not happen again and consumers can trust the products that they buy,” Pallone and DeGette said.