Most of the House Committee Investigators of Toyota have connections with the Automaker. Due to financial connections with Toyota, a California congress woman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee is stepping aside from a House investigation of Toyota while Harman International the company of Jane Harman's husband supplies Toyota. It has held a stock in the automaker, including at least $115,000 worth in 2008.

Many other members of panel have links with Toyota in their districts or garages. A few other subcommittee members do not have Toyota offices or plants in their districts but do have them in their states.

Tuesday's daylong House hearing on Toyota's safety recalls was just the opening round of three hearings planned over the next week. Before Tuesday’s hearing around 200 dealers and others held a press conference and rallied on Capitol Hill.