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NEWS FROM THE HILL – Ethanol Discussions, RPM Act Continues to Move Ahead
Changes Coming to Ethanol/RFS?
Rumors flew in D.C. this week when Carl Icahn, a Trump administration suggested that an Executive Order changing the Renewable Fuel Standard is on the way. The Renewable Fuel Standard or “RFS” is the law passed several years ago, that dictates how much ethanol should be used in the nation’s fuel supply. Apparently, White House policy staff are actively discussing what to do with the issue. However, activity on a legislative proposal is picking up steam in Congress and now has many wondering if an Executive Order could blow up an attempt at an RFS reform bill. Reps. John Shimkus (R-Ill.), Bill Flores (R-Texas), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) have been hosting conversations on broad changes to the RFS, but a memo from the White House directing EPA to change the program could "torpedo" the process, a legislative aide said. The Congressmen had introduced a similar reform bill last Congress which would have capped the amount of ethanol in the fuel supply. The three lawmakers and their aides plan to keep talking over the next few weeks, and then put the word out to other House members who may be interested in working on the bill. They hope to introduce a bill after the August recess and get passed out of the House with a wide margin by the end of the year.
RPM Act Support Continue to Grow
This week Sen. Bill Nelson (FL) cosponsored S. 203; this bill would ensure that any attempt by the EPA to regulate racecars or racing bikes is thwarted after confusion last year when the EPA suggested they had this authority under the Clean Air Act. As a result of Nelson’s sponsorship, all five Democrat cosponsors from last year have now rejoined the effort. Our immediate focus is on securing three more Senate Democrat cosponsors to demonstrate that the bill is able to garner the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster. Over in the House, The RPM Act broke the “100” cosponsor mark and continues to gain momentum. Below are current cosponsor totals for the House and Senate bills:
- HR 350: Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) & 103 cosponsors (11 Democrats)
- S. 203: Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) & 25 cosponsors (5 Democrats)
To ask your elected official to become a co-sponsor, visit http://mrf.org/federal-legislative-issues/ for a pre-drafted letter asking for their support. All it takes is 2 minutes!
EXECUTIVE & REGULATORY UPDATES – More Toll Roads a Possibility and Materials to Help Fight Distracted Driving
Toll Roads to Pay for Infrastructure Improvements?
Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao this past week raised the prospect that needed infrastructure improvements may be funded to some extent by imposing tolls on more of the nation’s roads and bridges.
It was unclear whether she intends to expand tolling on the U.S. interstate system. The concept of granting massive tax credits to lure private infrastructure investment was the centerpiece of President Trump’s campaign promise to raise $1 trillion for roads and bridges. The MRF is an active member of the Alliance for Toll Free Interstates and is working with the coalition to encourage lawmakers to not turn existing roadways and interstates into toll roads to fund any infrastructure plan. The coalition has met with lawmakers from the Committees of jurisdiction and also sent letters to key Members of Congress urging them to not view tolls as the solution to paying for any infrastructure improvements.
New Materials to Help End Distracted Driving Available
Motorcyclists know firsthand that distracted driving is one of the fastest growing safety issues on the roads today. Distracted drivers aren't just a threat to themselves: they are a danger to everyone else on the road. There is currently a national distracted driving effort initiated by the Department of Transportation which is focused on ways to change the behavior of drivers through legislation, enforcement, public awareness, and education. The Products for Enforcement Action Kit (PEAK) aims to help others join the fight against texting and driving, a growing epidemic that took 3,154 lives in 2013 alone. This toolkit helps to alert the public to prepare for maximum high-visibility texting-ban enforcement. There will also be a paid media advertising campaign on stopping distracted driving which will run nationally April 3-10, 2017.
Click here to get more information including fact sheets on distracted driving as well as news releases and talking points for your own use and your organization’s use. https://www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/get-materials/distracted-driving/u-drive-u-text-u-pay/peak-enforcement-kit
MRF NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Hi Everyone – this is an announcement from me personally. Some of you may have noticed a brief decline in communications from me over the last two or three weeks. I assure you it is for good reason! As many of you were already aware, I was pregnant with my second child who was scheduled to come in mid-April. However, the best-laid plans of mice and men oft go astray as they say! Chase Michael Ekstrom made his debut 2 months early arriving Monday, February 20th at 7:31pm. Because of his early arrival, he’ll spend some weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), but I am happy to report he is doing well and was taken off oxygen support and is now breathing on his own. Now we need to work on getting that feeding tube removed! As of today, he officially broke the 4 pound mark (woo-hoo!) and his dad and older brother and mom are anxious to get him home. As for me, I am still ‘plugged in’ as they say but you may notice a slight delay in my response over the next few weeks and even more so when he does officially get discharged from the NICU and is truly “home”. Rest assured - you can always reach me at megan@mrf.org or if you need a quicker answer, text at 202-725-5471.
Here are some pics of little Chase!
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RIDE FREE -
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Megan Ekstrom
Vice-President of Government Affairs & Public Relations
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation