03-01-2001
RIDE WITH THE LEADERS ™ … TO THE NATION’S CAPITOL
2001 SMRO-MRF Visit to Washington Launched by ABATE of Michigan
February 23, 2001 -- In partnership with the Motorcycle Riders Foundation, ABATE of Michigan was the first State Motorcyclists’ Rights Organization (SMRO) to visit the 107th Congress and brief the office staff of their state’s Congressional delegation on the joint MRF-SMRO agenda for the 107th Congress and their hopes for a new federal direction that favors motorcyclists’ rights and safety under the Bush Administration.
Briefing the offices of both Democrats and Republicans were John Silk, Jim Rhoades, Dave “Butch” Brown, Russ Martin and Mike “Fiz” Przyby of ABATE of Michigan, accompanied by Tom Wyld, MRF Vice President for Government Relations.
The SMRO-MRF team visited the offices of U.S. Representatives Peter Hoekstra, Vern Ehlers, Dave Camp, Mike Rogers, Nick Smith, Joe Knollenberg, David Bonior, Lynn Rivers, John Dingell, Sander Levin, Bart Stupak and Dale Kildee as well as Senator Carl Levin. Highlighting the trip were visits to the offices of two MRF Champions of Motorcyclists’ Rights & Safety: Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado and Michigan’s own, Congressman Jim Barcia.
“Grassroots involvement and commitment are the qualities that make the SMRO-MRF team unstoppable,” observed Tom Wyld, MRF vice president for government relations who accompanied the Michigan ABATE members on Capitol Hill. “The Motorcycle Riders Foundation is thrilled that ABATE of Michigan was the first to Ride with the Leaders ™ and join MRF in our first of a series of visits to Capitol Hill.
Among the many agenda items discussed:
· The need for senior appointees to the Department of Transportation, particularly the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, who are respectful of the rights and safety concerns of riders.
· The need for a national program of Motorist Awareness of Motorcycles and a resource injection to assist states in refining and expediting the delivery of rider training.
· The threat of the EPA Choke-hold and the impact of tougher street bike emissions regulations on small business, the motorcyclists’ culture and motorcyclists’ rights.
· The benefits -- and the challenge -- of fully integrating the motorcycle in national transport policy and ways to meet that challenge.
· The duty of Washington to act now to end discrimination in health care for motorcyclists.
· The problems associated with global harmonization, crash barriers and other issues and ways to solve those problems.
Following Michigan’s overwhelmingly successful visit will be teams from Illinois, Wisconsin, Oregon, Alaska, South Dakota, North Carolina with other SMROs taking steps now to commit to and schedule a Capitol Hill visit.
Concluded Mr. Wyld: “If your State Motorcyclists’ Rights Organization wants to make the best possible difference to your rights and safety on the national and international scene, Ride with the Leaders ™ now -- by calling MRF today (202-546-0983) and mapping out your visit to the nation’s capitol.”
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The first motorcyclists’ rights organization to establish a full-time presence in Washington, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation is the only Washington voice devoted exclusively to the street rider. MRF established MRFPAC in the early 1990s to advocate the election of candidates who would champion the cause of rider safety and rider freedom. MRF proudly claims state motorcyclists’ rights organizations and the very founders of the American rider rights movement among its leading members. Motorcyclists worldwide can thumb-start their search for rider rights and safety on the web at www.mrf.org.
MRF: My Ride is Freedom
For further information contact Tom Wyld at 202-546-0983 or by e-mail at wyld@mrf.org- MRF: My Ride is Freedom -
The first motorcyclists' rights
organization to establish a full-time legislative advocacy presence in Washington. The Motorcycle Riders
Foundation is the only Washington voice devoted exclusively to the street
rider. MRF established MRFPAC in the early 1990s to advocate the election of candidates
who would champion the cause of rider safety and rider freedom. MRF proudly claims state
motorcyclists' rights organizations and the very founders of the American rider rights
movement among its leading members. Motorcyclists worldwide can thumb-start their search
for rider rights and safety on the web at www.mrf.org.
© All information contained in this release is copyrighted. Reproduction
permitted with attribution. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation, incorporated
in 1987, is an independent, membership-based national motorcyclists' rights organization headquartered in Washington D.C. which operates in
co-partnership with State Motorcyclists' Rights Organizations
nationwide. The MRF is involved in federal and state legislation and
regulation, motorcycling safety education, training, licensing and public
awareness. The MRF provides individual and SMRO member-volunteers with guidance, support and information to protect motorcyclists' rights and
advance motorcycling and its associated lifestyle. The MRF sponsors annual regional and national educational seminars for motorcyclists' rights
activists and publishes a bi-monthly newsletter, THE MRF REPORTS.
Voice: 202-546-0983, Fax: 202-546-0986, E-Mail: wyld@mrf.org, website:
http://www.mrf.org
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