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Your Motorcycle Riders Foundation team in Washington, D.C. is pleased to provide our members with the latest information and updates on issues that impact the freedom and safety of American street motorcyclists. Count on your MRF to keep you informed about a range of matters that are critical to the advancement of motorcycling and its associated lifestyle. Published weekly when the U.S. Congress is in session.
Congressional Letter Sent to DoT in Support of the MRF & SMRO Participation on New Council
This week, some 20 Members of Congress issued a letter addressed to the Federal Highway Administration calling on them to ensure that the newly reestablished Motorcyclist Advisory Council include participants from the MRF and the State Motorcycle Rights Organizations. The letter, authored by 11 republicans and 10 democrats, will be taken under advisement by the Administration as they develop a charter for the Council.
The congressional sign-on letter is a perfect example of how events like Bikers Inside the Beltway and grassroots activism can make a difference. Concern over who would serve on the Council was raised during the D.C. lobbying meetings last month and it was suggested that a letter be sent to the implementing Agency. Over the last few weeks our partners and allies conducted outreach to their federal congressmen and women to ensure this letter had enough signatures from different states and both political parties to be taken seriously. This would not have happened without your support and outreach. Thank you to all of those who helped with this effort. Onward and upward!
The MRF Joins the RPM Working Group
Another legislative priority of the MRF and its partners has to do with a recent EPA proposal that made an attempt to regulate modifications made to motorcycles under the auspices of the Clean Air Act. Though the proposed rule was modified, troubling language still remains. As a solution, a coalition in Washington has formed and is responsible for drafting, “The Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act of 2016” or RPM Act. The bill would expressly stop this overreach by the EPA. Leading this effort is the Specialty Equipment Market Association or “SEMA” which serves the automobile and motorcycle aftermarket industry. This week, I met with SEMA at their offices in Washington and we were officially invited to serve as a representative to the RPM Working Group. In this role, we’ll work with SEMA and other players in D.C. to push the RPM Act over the finish line. The first meeting of the working group is today so I should have more to report next week...
MRF Welcomes Australian Motorcycle Rights Group to Washington, DC
This week, Tiffany and I were pleased to meet with the Motor Cycle Council of New South Wales, a motorcycle rights’ organization from Australia. The Chairman visited with us for almost 2 hours and we discussed some of the issues facing the group including mounting pressure for mandatory riding apparel as well as recent successes they’ve achieved regarding lane splitting. It was interesting comparing government involvement and priorities between our two countries and I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation. Though we are separated by thousands of miles, our organizations both recognized the need to share information, compare notes and leverage the work we both do. After all, we’re fighting for the same cause!
Megan’s Take: Gun Control Likely to Dominate Congressional Agenda
Regardless of your political views on the right to bear arms, Islamic extremism and gay rights, I think everyone can agree that the loss of innocent lives in the Orlando terrorist attack is a tragedy. And because it does raise political issues like gun control and religious extremism and gay rights, it is very likely that these topics will dominate the congressional agenda over the next few weeks and months and undoubtedly, will be a major theme in the presidential election.
Already, we’ve seen the majority of elected officials scheduled in briefings, committee hearings, roundtables and other meetings to address the Orlando events. Over the next few days the House and Senate will honor the victims of the shooting as well as the emergency personnel who played a role in helping victims. Further, this week Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) lead a 15-hour filibuster on the Senate floor in an attempt to force votes on gun control measures. Republicans are likely to respond with their own method of addressing what happened in Orlando which will result in tying up what’s left of legislative working days until the August recess. This time had originally been allotted to debate spending bills the government must pass to fund a number of agencies.
At this point it’s too early to tell what (if any) legislative outcomes the tragic event in Orlando may bring, but what it is sure to do is dominate an already full and contentious legislative agenda and election season. We’ll keep you posted as we can and in the meantime, stay safe.
Your Friend in Washington,
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Megan Ekstrom
Vice-President of Government Affairs & Public Relations
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation