Global Fastener News

FQA’s Dingell Returns to Chairmanship; Burns Loses Re-election

John Wolz

Two key congressional players in the U.S. Fastener Quality Act had differing results in the 2006 congressional elections. Rep. John Dingell of Michigan will return to the chairmanship of the House Energy & Commerce Committee with the Democrats winning control of the U.S. House of Representatives. U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns of Montana lost his bid for a fourth six-year term.

Dingell, 80, is referred to as the “dean of the house” as the longest serving representative. He was first elected in 1955 at the age of 29 to succeed his father.

Dingell started the initial congressional investigation leading to the FQA and blocked amendments as committee chair or ranking member of the committee.

The FQA was originally passed by Congress and signed into law by then Pres. George H.W. Bush in 1990. It was amended in 1995, 1998 and implemented on December 6, 1999, after Pres. Bill Clinton signed the third law amending the FQA – P.L 106-34.

Burns lost to Sen. Jon Tester by 2,800 votes out of 388,741 votes cast in Montana.

The Missouri native had founded the 31-radio and television station Northern Ag Network before being elected to the Senate in 1988.

Burns, 71, became interested in the FQA after fastener distributor Bill Hayes walked into his office and talked to staffer Eric Fox. Motorcyclists had met with Fox the week before to complain about the FQA requiring headmarking that altered the cosmetics of their machines.

Hayes had been going from one congressional office to the next looking for someone to take an interest. Burns and his staff “were the only ones that would listen to us.” �2006 FastenerNews.com