WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today issued the following statement on the Department of Transportation’s decision to fine Takata on a daily basis for failure to fully cooperate with a safety investigation involving deaths and injuries related to defective air bags.
 
“We are extremely troubled by the Department of Transportation’s report that Takata is not fully cooperating with such a serious safety investigation.  A large number of vehicles with dangerous safety issues from defective Takata air bags have been recalled. We cannot tolerate delays or limited cooperation when people’s lives are at stake. Takata must immediately do everything possible to aid federal safety regulators and automakers in determining what is wrong and what needs to be done to expeditiously replace air bags that could cause serious injury or the loss of life. In addition, we look forward to advancing our Motor Vehicle Safety Whistleblower Act through Committee next week, which will help protect American drivers by creating incentives to bring important safety information to light as soon as possible.”
 
Additional information on S. 304, the Motor Vehicle Safety Whistleblower Act, advancing through the Senate Commerce Committee next week may be found here.