06-24-2004

04LR05 - June 24, 2004

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

#04LR05 - MRF LEADERS' REPORT - Ride With The LeadersTM - June 24, 2004

TO: The Leaders of the American Motorcyclists' Rights Movement

FROM: Jeff Hennie, MRF Vice President - Government Relations

TEA CONFERENCE COMMITTEE: The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) has learned of several noteworthy items concerning the Transportation Equity Act (TEA) legislation pending in the U.S. Congress. As you know, the TEA conference committee has been named and the conferees have begun the early phases of ironing out the differences between the House and Senate versions. You can view and print the complete list of TEA conference committee members by visiting the MRF website at http://www.mrf.org/pp_tea_conferees.php.

The first TEA conference committee business meeting was June 9, the second was June 23, and the third is scheduled for July 7. These early discussions usually result in the staff agreeing upon the "low hanging fruit," or provisions that are so similar they are easy to compromise. The second meeting, which I attended on behalf of the MRF, began with the Senate offering a motion to the House that the overall spending level of the bill be no less than 318 billon dollars. Chairman Inhofe (R-OK), who is leading the TEA conference committee, said, "This step started the process and I feel comfortable about that." The Senate gave the House until the July 7 meeting to decide how they would vote on the motion, and the House agreed. House members indicated that they would be more supportive of a higher number, closer to the 375 billion dollar measure originally proposed by the House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee.

Ranking member from the House T&I Committee James Oberstar (D-MN) observed, "the Senate has made an attractive, illuminating offer, but perhaps not sufficient from the standpoint of our committee." House T&I Committee Chairman Don Young (R-AK) repeatedly mouthed the words "375 billion" to the amused staff and observers facing the panel each time a Senator reiterated that the 318 billion dollar level was adequate. It is this deep divide that must be closed before any substantive work can be completed. The 73-member panel eventually agreed upon 42 minor provisions of the 800-page bill.

TEA EXTENSION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY: With the TEA bill set to expire June 30, the House introduced and passed (by a vote of 418-0) HR 4635, a bill to extend the authority for current surface transportation programs at the current funding levels that were passed in 1998. The Senate is expected to follow suit sometime this week. HR 4635 extends the funding through July 31. While 30 days seems like a sufficient amount of time to finish the conference, the reality is that the first and last weeks of July are recess periods for the U.S. Congress. The July 31 deadline actually only allows for just under three additional weeks of work. Chairmen Young and Inhofe are convinced the conference can come to a final, bi-partisan agreement before the July 23 break. Things will have to pick up a faster pace if that's going to be the case.

INDEPENDENCE DAY RECESS PERIOD: At the end of this week, Congress will adjourn until July 6 for the Independence Day recess period. During these recess periods, members of Congress hold town hall meetings and open discussion forums back home in their districts. The MRF urges you to make the most of these opportunities. These forums allow you to interact face-to-face with your federal elected officials.

If your Representative or Senators are holding any forums, please share the dates, times, and locations with the MRF and your State Motorcyclists' Rights Organization (SMRO). You can find contact information for your U.S. Representative and your two U.S. Senators by visiting the following websites: Representative information at http://www.house.gov/writerep/ and Senate information at http://www.senate.gov.

If you do plan to attend a district meeting with your Congressman, be sure to prepare some specific questions ahead of time. At this point the MRF is focused on three specific pieces of legislation:

1. The reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act (TEA), which is currently being held up over funding and political disputes. Express your support for HR 3550, the House-passed version of the bill that contains the MRF's motorcycle safety initiatives.

2. HR 1749, the Health Care Parity for Legal Transportation and Recreational Activities Act, which will reverse the discrimination against motorcyclists contained in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). Visit http://thomas.loc.gov/ and type "H.R. 1749" in the "Bill Number" box and then click on "Search" to see if your U.S. Representative is a co-sponsor of this bill. If he/she is listed, be sure to thank him/her for supporting this important piece of legislation. If he/she is not listed, ask him/her to consider signing on as a co-sponsor.

3. H. Res. 614, a bill introduced by Representative Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO) supporting the goals of the national motorcycle safety and awareness bill sponsored by Senator Ben "Nighthorse" Campbell (R-CO) and passed by the Senate on April 28, 2004. Be sure to thank your Senators for passing Senator Campbell's bill unanimously. Ask your U.S. Representative to co-sponsor H. Res. 614. To view the text of H. Res. 614, go to http://thomas.loc.gov/ and type "H. Res. 614" in the "Bill Number" box and then click on "Search."

If you are able to attend a town hall meeting, be sure to follow up with a letter to your Congressman expressing your appreciation for holding the meeting. Include your questions in the letter, even if you didn't get a chance to ask them in the meeting. This letter will make certain that your legislators will take you and your views seriously.

You can find more information regarding all of the issues listed above by visiting the MRF website at http://www.mrf.org. If you need assistance or guidance before contacting your Congressmen, please contact Jeff Hennie, MRF Vice President of Government Relations, by e-mailing jeff@mrf.org or calling the MRF office at 202-546-0983.

<<30>>

If you wish to be removed from this mailing list, reply and put "REMOVE" in subject line.

Ride With The LeadersTM by joining the MRF at http://www.mrf.org/join.php or call 1-800-MRF-JOIN.

Don't forget to register for the MRF's 20th Annual Meeting of the Minds conference! Visit our website at www.mrf.org/events.php for further details and registration information.

Sign up today for the MRF's new roadside assistance program and stored value VISA card by visiting www.mrf.org/join.php! Both programs are available to MRF members and non-MRF members!

For an attached file of this news release, reply to MRF-Releases@mrf.org and request by file name:

04LR05.txt (text file)
04LR05.rtf (rich text format)
04LR05.doc (msword)

(c)All Information contained in this release 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.


The MRF Reports is an official publication of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation. All rights reserved. The print version is published six times per year and distributed nationwide.

Articles from the MRF Reports which are posted here may be reprinted, with attribution to the author and to the Motorcycle Riders Foundation, for non-profit uses.

Opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect those of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation or its officers.
Top of Page