REPAIR Act advances to full committee consideration
The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade voted to advance the REPAIR Act (H.R. 1566) to the full committee. The bipartisan legislation, introduced by Representative Neal Dunn (R-Fla.), seeks to ensure vehicle owners and independent repair facilities have access to the same vehicle-generated data, repair information, and tools available to manufacturers and authorized dealers.
"This bipartisan effort is an important step toward empowering consumers and supporting the thousands of independent repair shops across the country," said Bill Hanvey, president and CEO of the Auto Care Association.
ADAS Find joins SCRS as corporate member
SCRS announced that ADAS Find, a platform that helps collision repairers identify ADAS requirements and access OEM documentation, has joined as a corporate member.
"Being involved allows ADAS Find to stay aligned with OEM repair standards, real-world shop challenges, and the conversations that we believe shape safer, more proper repairs," said Owen VanEck, co-founder and CEO of ADAS Find.
CREF celebrates 35 years
The Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) is marking its 35th anniversary in 2026. Founded in 1991 as the I-CAR Education Foundation, the organization has awarded nearly 1,200 School Benchmark Awards totaling almost $6 million, distributed over $3 million in student scholarships to more than 1,500 recipients, and facilitated over $130 million in in-kind donations benefiting more than 800 programs. CREF's 2026 Golf Tournament is scheduled for July 21 at Seven Bridges Golf Club in Woodridge, IL.
ASE Education Foundation accepting Instructor of the Year nominations
The ASE Education Foundation is accepting nominations for its 2026 Instructor of the Year Award, honoring educators from ASE-accredited automotive, diesel/truck, and collision repair programs. Administrators can submit nominations by March 2, 2026. The recipient receives a $1,000 award and expenses-paid trips to the ASE Instructor Training Conference (July 20–23, Frisco, TX) and the fall recognition banquet (November 17, Nashville, TN).
AutoZone's Adam Christopher joins CAWA board
Adam Christopher, Director of Government Relations and Customer Satisfaction at AutoZone, has been appointed to the CAWA Board of Directors, bringing more than 15 years of experience in advocacy and public affairs.
CIF announces 2026 board of trustees
The Collision Industry Foundation announced its 2026 officers: President Paul Hill (I-CAR), Vice President Cindy Reeves (Enterprise Mobility), Treasurer Don Smith (Elitek/LKQ), Secretary Kurt Lammon (Polyvance), and Immediate Past President Casey Steffen (Norton/Saint-Gobain).
Newly elected trustees include Amber Alley (Barsotti's Body and Fender), Barry Barbee, Tom Julius (Car-Part.com), Chuck Olsen (AirPro Diagnostics), and Roger Wright (Vector Squared).
NABC Recycled Rides gifts vehicle to Arkansas National Guardsman
The NABC Recycled Rides program, GEICO, and CARSTAR Autocraft Paint & Body Works in Brookland, AR, presented a refurbished 2020 Nissan Murano S to Michael Whatley, a sergeant in the Arkansas Army National Guard.
Whatley is a decorated combat veteran with two Afghanistan deployments, a single father of two, and currently works three jobs. Additional partners included LKQ, O'Reilly's Auto Parts, Enterprise, Copart, ADAS USA, and several others.
