IV 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 713 
Recognizing the significant contributions of United States automobile dealer-
ships, and expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that 
in the interest of equity, automobile dealers whose franchises have been 
terminated through no fault of their own be given an opportunity of 
first consideration once the auto market rebounds and stabilizes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 31, 2009 
Mr. AL GREEN of Texas (for himself and Mr. HENSARLING) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce 
RESOLUTION 
Recognizing the significant contributions of United States 
automobile dealerships, and expressing the sense of the 
House of Representatives that in the interest of equity, 
automobile dealers whose franchises have been termi-
nated through no fault of their own be given an oppor-
tunity of first consideration once the auto market re-
bounds and stabilizes. 
Whereas auto dealers have deep roots in local communities 
and have helped manufacturers with long-term customer 
relationships that create brand loyalty and maintain cus-
tomer convenience; 
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Whereas dealerships across the country provide jobs, give di-
rect investments to local economies, and supply tax rev-
enue to State and local governments; 
Whereas virtually all new cars and light trucks bought in the 
United States are sold through franchised dealers; 
Whereas dealers are independently owned, and combined, rep-
resent the largest retail business in the United States, 
with approximately $693,000,000,000 in revenues in 
2007; 
Whereas auto dealers are significant employers in local com-
munities across the country; 
Whereas franchised dealers employ over 1,100,000 people, 
comprise nearly 20 percent of all retail sales in the 
United States, and, in total, pay billions annually in state 
and local taxes; 
Whereas the Nation’s 20,700 independent franchised new car 
dealerships comprise an industry that is largely privately 
held, with private ownership accounting for 92 percent of 
the market; 
Whereas the franchised dealership system in the United 
States is the independent link between the manufactur-
er’s assembly line and the consumer and its functions in-
clude, but are not limited, to the following— 
(1) selling the product and providing information for 
consumers; 
(2) holding vehicle and parts inventory for a push 
oriented manufacturing system; 
(3) performing service and providing parts to fulfill 
manufacturer warranty obligations; 
(4) handling product safety recalls; 
(5) facilitating the exchange of used vehicles; and 
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(6) arranging financing for consumers; 
Whereas some restructuring of dealer networks was necessary 
to increase domestic competitiveness, certain United 
States auto manufacturers’ decisions to close a combined 
1,900 automobile dealerships, many of which were suc-
cessful, put thousands of jobs at risk; and 
Whereas auto dealers will play a key role in any effort to re-
vive the United States auto industry: Now, therefore, be 
it 
Resolved, That— 
(1) the House of Representatives recognizes the 
significant contributions of United States automobile 
dealerships; and 
(2) it is the sense of the House of Representa-
tives that a quantifiable number of automobile deal-
erships which have been successful and are being 
closed not of their own doing, but instead as a func-
tion of the auto market as a whole, should be given 
an opportunity to obtain a dealership franchise when 
auto manufacturers seek new partners to open fu-
ture dealerships in their respective geographic areas. 
Æ 
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