South Carolina Motorcycle Rights Association

RIDING FREE FROM DC:

Your Weekly Biker Bulletin from Inside the Beltway

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.

2020 Outlook
With 2020 now officially underway, Congress has returned to Washington D.C. after a three-week break. The 2nd session of the 116th Congress opened formally on Wednesday, January 7th and will run through the end of 2020. In January 2021, a new Congress will be sworn in and any legislation that was not passed in the previous two years must be reintroduced. Therefore, the MRF D.C. team is committed to a full-court press to pass our legislative priorities this year.  

It goes without saying that D.C. is a town built on politics, and a presidential election year only amplifies that. One of the most obvious ways that an election year and specifically a presidential election year impacts Congress is the calendar. Politicians up for reelection want to spend more time back home shaking hands and kissing babies and less time in Washington D.C. In 2020 the House of Representatives is scheduled to be in session for only 112 days. The Senate is planning on spending slightly more time in D.C. with a scheduled workload of 142 days.

This compressed schedule means that we at the MRF need to make the most of our opportunities to educate lawmakers, advocate for our priorities and most importantly, demonstrate the strength of our movement.

First and foremost, Bikers Inside the Beltway is a fantastic opportunity for MRF members to meet with lawmakers. Nothing gets the halls of Congress buzzing like the sight and sound of hundreds of bikers pulling up to the U.S. Capitol. Make sure to mark your calendar for May 19th and join us for a critical day of lobbying in D.C.

Secondly, over the next few weeks, you will be receiving calls to action on different pieces of legislation Congress will be dealing with this year. Answering a call to action is the easiest way to reach a Congressional office and let them know that you care about motorcycle issues. Please keep your eyes peeled as we roll these out leading up to Bikers Inside the Beltway. Your participation is critical to demonstrating just how many motorcyclists care about these issues.

Finally, since Congress wants to spend their time at home, you should have no problem seeing them at parades, picnics and other civic events throughout the year. Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself, tell them you are a rider and ask them to support our priorities.

This year presents motorcyclists with both challenges and opportunities for our community. We in D.C. are excited to navigate the next 12 months and deliver victories for our membership. We are immensely proud to represent you every day here in Washington and to “Ride with the Leaders.”

Happy New Year, let’s get to work! 

Regulatory News – DOT Releases AV Guidance 4.0
In conjunction with the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas this week, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao released Ensuring American Leadership in Automated Vehicle Technologies: Automated Vehicles 4.0’ (AV 4.0). The current guidance takes the approach of showing the unity of the Administration and other government agencies about looking towards the future of autonomous vehicles.  

The current guidance has not changed the hands-off approach of the DOT on AV regulations, and we at the MRF will continue to engage with Congress on the importance of meaningful AV legislation.  The House and Senate continue to work together on draft legislation and we will let you know when it is introduced.  You can read AV 4.0 in its entirety here: (AV 4.0)

About Motorcycle Riders Foundation
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) provides leadership at the federal level for states’ motorcyclists’ rights organizations as well as motorcycle clubs and individual riders. The MRF is chiefly concerned with issues at the national and international levels that impact the freedom and safety of American street motorcyclists. The MRF is committed to being a national advocate for the advancement of motorcycling and its associated lifestyle and works in conjunction with its partners to help educate elected officials and policymakers in Washington and beyond.

All Information contained in this release is copyrighted. Reproduction permitted with attribution. Motorcycle Riders Foundation. All rights reserved. Ride With The Leaders™ by joining the MRF at <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://motorcycleridersfoundation.wildapricot.org/EmailTracker/LinkTracker.ashx?linkAndRecipientCode%3D9Ywh04Mzd0ZVGUa9wN7h8fZnxWF%252bj4BST8B697tMuLbYojZOO1MGrIVUcXCnPu0gyNdEzT0Fga2NHohSnKhf9qSnL9noWQNzhkS71K9ojNw%253d&source=gmail&ust=1572018110435000&usg=AFQjCNFy9jlVhjUC7xu5h4kWJwadt2whyQ" href="http://motorcycleridersfoundation.wildapricot.org/EmailTracker/LinkTracker.ashx?linkAndRecipientCode=%2fXpko7ymr4i9Pf2DzbX2VGz1Xx6o7duRy3q2z67ufBQBvGambQaxmWMEukVgEgMmJgzO43st98fIPHXdLJu0vWcDYJQnGt7Bq73vMXAgwRI%3d">http://mrf.org or call (202) 546-0983