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Motorcycle Riders Foundation
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For Immediate Release
Contact: Michael "Boz"
Kerr, MRF Vice President
Email: boz@mrf.org
April 15, 2008
HIPAA Bills Picking Up Co-Sponsors
The physical distance between the states of Washington and South Carolina is about 2700 miles (Seattle to Colombia). The ideological distance between two of the senators from those states - Lindsey Graham and Patty Murray - is probably greater than that. Yet, those two political opposites have found common ground on a bill that would benefit motorcyclists in their states and have signed on as co-sponsors to S. 616 "a bill to promote health care coverage parity for individuals participating in legal recreational activities or legal transportation activities." Who said bi-partisanship is dead in Washington?
The past several weeks have shown a marked increase in members of congress signing on as co-sponsors to both the house (H.R. 1076) and senate version of the HIPAA Recreational Injury Technical Correction Act.
Of particular note is the outstanding effort by ABATE of Minnesota in getting both of their senators – Norm Coleman and Amy Klobuchar to sign-on to S. 616. Senator Coleman co-sponsored on April 7th with Senator Klobuchar following on April 10. They are the only state to have both senators co-sponsoring that bill. Congratulations, on a job well done.
Trips to Washington in the past month by members of state motorcyclist rights organizations have netted positive results. ABATE of Ohio was in town and not long afterward Congressmen Steve LaTourette and Charles Wilson became HIPAA co-sponsors. ABATE of Illinois' visit was followed by Congressman Ray La Hood adding his name to the growing list.
Bikers efforts in the Southern states have been bearing fruit as we have seen Congressmen Hank Johnson and Sanford Bishop from Georgia, Congressmen John Culberson and Ralph Hall from Texas, Congressman Mike Ross from Arkansas, Congressman Robert Wexler from Florida, Congressman Mike McIntyre from North Carolina and Congresswoman Thelma Drake from Virginia all sign on to H.R. 1076 this year.
In addition to the aforementioned members of congress signing on to H.R. 1076 this year, we have Congresswoman Anna Eshoo of California, Congressmen Mike Rogers of Michigan, Sam Graves of Missouri and John McHugh of New York joining their colleagues to become co-sponsors and working to advance this effort.
Currently there are 111 co-sponsors to H.R. 1076 and 8 co-sponsors to S. 616.
Listed below are the members of the US House of Representatives who have signed-on as co-sponsors to H.R. 1076 this year:
Rep. Mike Rogers [MI-8]
- 1/15/2008
Rep. Mike Ross [AR-4] - 1/16/2008
Rep. Robert Wexler [FL-19] - 1/28/2008
Rep. Anna Eshoo [CA-14] - 1/28/2008
Rep. Mike McIntyre [NC-7] - 2/7/2008
Rep. Ralph Hall [TX-4] - 2/13/2008
Rep. John McHugh [NY-23] - 2/26/2008
Rep. Thelma Drake [VA-2] - 2/28/2008
Rep. Sam Graves [MO-6] - 2/28/2008
Rep. Charles Wilson [OH-6] - 3/31/2008
Rep. Sanford Bishop Jr. [GA-2] - 3/31/2008
Rep. Steven LaTourette [OH-14] - 4/8/2008
Rep. John Abney Culberson [TX-7] - 4/8/2008
Rep. Henry C. Johnson Jr. [GA-4] - 4/8/2008
Rep. Ray LaHood [IL-18] - 4/8/2008
Listed below are the United States Senators who have signed-on as co-sponsors to S. 616 this year:
Senator Patty Murray [WA]
- 4/7/2008
Senator Norm Coleman [MN] - 4/7/2008
Senator Amy Klobuchar [MN] - 4/10/2008
Let’s keep the faith and continue to pursue this noble effort. The following quote may be a cliché but it’s true enough - "Winners never quit, quitters never win." Come to Washington this year and raise your voice on this and our other issues, the MRF is here to help. We will win this one in the end.
Michael Kerr
MRF Vice President
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(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.