06-15-2003

03LR07 - June 15, 2003

MRF LEADERS' REPORT
Motorcycle Riders Foundation
P.O. Box 1808
Washington, DC 20013-1808
202-546-0983 (voice)
202-546-0986 (fax)
wyld@mrf.org (e-mail)
http://www.mrf.org (website)

#03LR07 - THE LEADERS' REPORT - Ride With The LeadersTM - June 15, 2003

TO: The Leaders of the American Motorcyclists' Rights Movement

FROM: Tom Wyld, VP-Government Relations, Motorcycle Riders Foundation

DEADLINE FOR SHIMKUS-STRICKLAND EXTENDED TO FRIDAY JUNE 20.....Your calls and e-mails are working! You are building interest in the unanswered small business and safety questions surrounding the EPA proposed rulemaking on highway motorcycle emissions! U.S. Reps. John Shimkus (R-Illinois) and Ted Strickland (D-Ohio) are getting more calls from your Members of Congress, and they have decided to extend again the deadline for signatures for their letter to the Agency. IF SMROs HAVE NOT TELEPHONED OR FAXED A REQUEST TO THE STATE'S U.S. REPRESENTATIVES URGING THEM TO BECOME CO-SIGNERS TO SHIMKUS-STRICKLAND, PLEASE DO SO AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!

CALIFORNIA DESCENDS ON DC.....At center stage this week was the visit to DC by ABATE of California in response to our alert for support of the Shimkus-Strickland letter to the EPA. ABATE dispatched lobbyist Jim Lombardo to represent both ABATE and the California Motorcycle Dealers Association. Jim's excellent ties with many federal lawmakers dates back to the days when these Congressmen were members of California's state legislature. With only a few days of prep time, we visited the offices of the majority of California's influential 53 Congressmen, visiting personally with over 15 Members. We also attended an evening event for Democratic Congressman Mike Thompson and met U.S. Reps. Baron Hill (D-Indiana), Bart Stupak (D-Michigan) and others. The next day, Mr. Stupak signed up as a Shimkus-Strickland co-signer.

AMA HELPS OUT.....Also this week, the American Motorcyclist Association spoke favorably regarding the EPA letter to the offices of Tim Johnson (R-Illinois), Mark Green (R-Wisconsin) and Steve King (R-Iowa), and the MRF appreciates their good words.

CHECK OUT THE LIST.....So far, confirmed signers to Shimkus-Strickland include: Marcia Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Lennie Boswell (D-Iowa), Dave Camp (R-Michigan), Mark Green (R-Wisconsin), Tim Johnson (R-Illinois), Steve King (R-Iowa), John Kline (R-Minnesota), Tom Latham (R-Illinois), Jim Leach (R-Iowa), Don Manzullo (R-Illinois), Jim Nussle (R-Iowa), Tom Petri (R-Wisconsin), Jim Ramstad (R-Minnesota) and Bart Stupak (R-Michigan). Again, many Congressmen have called the Shimkus and Strickland offices and are still considering whether to sign on. If your Congressman appears on this list, call them and express your thanks! If not, make another call or send another e-mail today!

HEALTH CARE CO-SPONSORS NOW NUMBER EIGHTY.....AMA, MRF and the SMROs have prompted some 80 Members of Congress to sign on as co-sponsors of H.R. 1749, the rider health care measure in the House. You may recall that this legislation is intended to prohibit the denial of benefits to injured street motorcyclists, as well as those involved in off-road riding and other activities. Congressmen who've signed on in the past few days include Peter Deutsch (D-Florida), Lane Evans (D-Illinois), Ray LaHood (R-Illinois) and Nick Rahall (D-West Virginia).

FOLLOW THE MONEY.....When it comes to the reauthorization of TEA-21, money is the issue. At present, the Administration and the Congress differ on the price tag if not the fixin's of TEA-21's reauthorization. Until the money question is settled, we must stay vigilant and keep beating the drum for rider education and motorist awareness. I am staying in contact with key SMROs whose Congressmen are in key positions on House and Senate transportation committees to ensure that our flag is still visible as these larger issues are sorted out.

MRF SEEKS WEBMASTER.....The MRF is currently seeking candidates for the volunteer position of Webmaster. Interested parties must be proficient with HTML, and we would prefer someone with a background in PHP and MYSQL based websites hosted on Linux servers. Please contact MRF Director of Communications Teri Stobbs (teri@mrf.org) if you have some free time and would like to serve the MRF as its new Webmaster.

AND DON'T FORGET! You have until Friday, June 20, to encourage your U.S. Representative to add his or her name to the Shimkus-Strickland letter. Call them or email them today!

Yours for the right to ride, and your friend,

Tom

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(c)All Information contained in this report is copyrighted. Reproduction permitted with attribution. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation, incorporated in 1987, is a membership-based, national motorcyclists' rights organization headquartered in Washington, DC. The first motorcyclists' rights organization to establish a full-time presence in Washington, DC, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation is the only Washington voice devoted exclusively to the street rider. The MRF established MRFPAC in the early 1990s to advocate the election of candidates who would champion the cause of rider safety and rider freedom.

The MRF proudly claims state motorcyclists' rights organizations and the very founders of the American riders' rights movement among its leading members. The MRF is involved in federal and state legislation and regulations, motorcycling safety education, training, and public awareness. The MRF provides members and state motorcyclists' rights organizations with direction and information, and sponsors annual regional and national educational seminars for motorcyclists' rights activists, as well as publishing a bi-monthly newsletter, THE MRF REPORTS.


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