MRF: Industry Lobbying Against the Barcia Act

At the MRF Convention in Lansing, I asked US Representative Barcia what the Industry Objection was to his bill and he said "they didn't want to bring attention to the issue." Not sure what this means.

Washington, D.C. - If you are a motorcycle rider in America who values your freedom and safety, supports small business and believes your voice should matter, this is your wake-up call.

Industry is lobbying against "The Motorcycle & Motorcycling Small Business Protection Act."

U.S. Rep. James Barcia (D-Mich.) has begun the process of introducing his bill to counter an onerous proposed rulemaking on street bike emissions by the Environmental Protection Agency. SMROs have responded, urging Congressmen to sign on as co-sponsors of the Barcia Act as early as Monday, September 23. As one SMRO leader put it, these lawmakers recognize the need for a wake-up call to the EPA with a bid to put motorcycle regulation in the hands of elected officials who heed the voices of riders and the smallest of businesses.

Last week, representatives of the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) and Harley-Davidson Motor Company visited Congressman Barcia's office to voice objections to the bill. Also, the Motorcycle Industry Council alerted its members to the Barcia Act with the aim of meeting with the Congressman to attempt to persuade him to abandon his own bill.

A key industry objection is relegating motorcycle regulation to an ever-changing Congress. Riders, however, have a similar objection to the current situation: a regulatory process where the voice of consumers and thousands of small businesses carries no weight.

If you want a voice in the future of American motorcycling, you must act NOW. Get YOUR Congressman's name on the Barcia Act. Your Congressman has until close-of business Tuesday, September 24, to become an original co-sponsor of this bill:

As an individual, TELEPHONE your Congressman and urge him/her to sign on as a co-sponsor of the Barcia Act.

As a State Motorcyclists' Rights Organization, call your champions in your state legislature and urge that they, too, TELEPHONE Congressmen and urge them to sign on as co-sponsors of the Barcia Act.

"Because consumers do not figure in the process, this is not a contest between consumers and companies," said Tom Wyld, MRF Vice President for Government Relations. "This is a clash between process and principle. This is a question of the weight of our words. In Congress, our words weigh the most. In the regulatory process - which has 'passed over' even the vital question of the safety of catalyser-equipped motorcycles - our words are weightless. This must change.

"The Barcia Act is about saving American jobs, jobs, jobs. It is also about freedom - a bid to add weight to your words, so you can help shape the future of American motorcycling."

Call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask to speak to your Congressman. MAKE THE CALL NOW!