National Call to Action: Federal Helmet Mandates

[karen]

11NR34 - MRF News Release - National Call to Action: Federal Helmet Mandates
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
13 December 2011
Contact:Jeff Hennie, Vice President of Government Ralations and Public Affairs

National Call to Action: Federal Helmet Mandates
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation reports that the US Senate Committee on Commerce Science and Transportation will be marking up The Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 2011 (S. 1449). This bill governs the National Highway Transportation Safety Administrations activities. This bill has the potential to greatly affect motorcyclists nationwide.

There are three provisions that specifically target motorcyclists.
Call your Senators and ask them to:

1. Oppose Lautenberg amendment #1. This amendment would alter the motorcycle safety grant program by forcing states to pass mandatory universal helmet laws and drive federal tax dollars to be used to promote the use of helmets. This provision would make it easier for helmet law states to obtain 2010 grant money. This amendment would provide no money for awareness or training.

2. Support DeMint amendments #1 and #18. These amendments protect the NHTSA lobby ban. Under the proposed legislation are provisions to lift this lobby ban.

3. Support DeMint amendment #2. The bill, (S 1449) would change the definition of "motor vehicle equipment" to include motorcycle helmets. This would allow States to spend federal money dedicated to "motor vehicle equipment" on motorcycle helmets. The DeMint amendment would keep helmets out of that definition.

Call Now. Time is of the essence. Call you Senators via the capitol switch board at 202 224 3121.
Of key importance are the Senators on the committee you can contact them directly:
Senator Rockefeller-WV 202 224 6472
Senator Kerry-MA 202 224 2742
Senator Lautenberg-NJ 202 224 3224
Senator McCaskill-MO 202 224 6154
Senator Udall-NM 202 224 5941
Senator Begich-AK 202 224 3004
Senator Inouye-HI 202 224 3934
Senator Boxer-CA 202 224 3553
Senator Cantwell-WA 202 224 3441
Senator Pryor-AR 202 224 2353
Senator Klobucher-MN 202 224 3244
Senator Hutchinson-TX 202 224 5922
Senator DeMint-SC 202 224 6121
Senator Wicker-MS 202 224 6253
Senator Blunt-MO 202 224 5721
Senator Toomey-PA 202 224 4254
Senator Ayotte-NH 202 224 3324
Senator Snowe-ME 202 224 5344
Senator Thune- SD 202 224 2321
Senator Isakson-GA 202 224 3643
Senator Boozman-AR 202 224 4843
Senator Marco Rubio-FL 202 224 3041
Senator Heller-NV 202 224 6244
This is of extreme importance. Please call today, Tuesday, December 13th, 2011.
Do not hesitate to contact the MRF should you have any questions. 202 546 0983

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AMA National Call to Action:

Protect Motorcycle Safety Grants and Fight Helmet Mandates with One Call
Call Your Senator on the Committee Immediately

On Wednesday, December 14, the Senate Commerce, Science, &Transportation Committee will mark-up the “Motor Vehicle and Highway Safety Improvement Act of 2011,” (S. 1449). The measure covers the safety aspects of the next national transportation program, including the acceptable activities of the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). S. 1449 contains three areas of critical concern to motorcyclists.

The first is Lautenberg Amendment #1 filed on the morning of Monday, December 12. Senator Frank Lautenberg’s (D-NJ) amendment would drastically alter the motorcyclist safety grant program, indirectly force states to pass mandatory universal helmet laws, and direct the use of federal tax dollars to only promote the use of helmets.

More specifically, the amendment alters the current motorcyclist safety grant program (a.k.a. Section 2010 funds) by loosening the requirements to receive funds for states with mandatory universal helmet laws in place. A mandatory universal helmet law requires any rider and passenger on a motorcycle to be wearing a helmet at all times, regardless of age. The AMA believes that adults should have the right to voluntarily decide when to wear a helmet.
States that currently do not have universal helmet laws would see their qualification criteria become stricter in order to receive safety grants.

Additionally, states without mandatory universal helmet laws would be required to spend 50% of their grant funds on the promotion of helmet use. The remaining 50% could be spent on rider training, helmet promotion, enforcement programs to reduce impaired riding, linking motorcycle data together electronically in states, implementation of graduating licensing systems for riders, and speeding and reckless riding enforcement programs.

The revised use of funds is contradictory to the spirit in which motorcyclists fought for the safety grant program during the last federal transportation initiative. In 2005, the motorcycling community came together to create the motorcyclist safety grant program to encourage states to fund motorcycle safety awareness, education, and training programs. The allowable uses of funds included public service announcements, motorist awareness campaigns, and the improved delivery of rider training.

Lautenberg Amendment #1 would provide zero funding for awareness and education programs.

The second threat to motorcyclists is a clause that would lift the ban on NHTSA being able to use federal tax dollars to lobby states to pass mandatory helmet laws. The provision was included in the national transportation program beginning in 1998 and was re-affirmed in 2005. The AMA believes that the decision on helmet laws is the right of each individual states and the federal government should not be allowed to apply unfair pressure to influence a state’s choice on that issue.

Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) has introduced one amendment to strike the clause lifting the ban on NHTSA lobbying efforts. Additionally, DeMint has offered an amendment that would further address lobbying efforts by the federal government. Both DeMint Amendments #1 and #18 should pass in order to bar the federal government from using individual tax-payer dollars to control the state law-making process.

Thirdly, S. 1449 seeks to alter the definition of “motor vehicle equipment” to specifically call-out motorcycle helmets. This is a tactic used to quietly suggest states spend federal funding related to any type of motor vehicle equipment on motorcycle helmets. Senator DeMint has also offered DeMint Amendment #2 to strike the reference to motorcycle helmets in this definition.
If one of your Senators is on the Commerce, Science, & Transportation Committee, then that Senator can help address these issues immediately. Due to the short amount of time available, the best way to contact your Senator is to call. Click on the “Call Now” option, enter your zip code and receive all the information you need, including pre-written talking points to deliver to your Senator on the Committee.

Call your Senator on the Committee now and tell them to: 1) Vote “No” on Lautenberg Amendment #1 to S. 1449 that would change the motorcyclist safety grant program; 2) Support the DeMint Amendments #1 & #18 to S. 1449 that would address lobbying by the federal government; 3) Strike “motorcycle helmet” from the definition of “motor vehicle equipment.”
Call now; there is no time to waste

[karen]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
14 December 2011
Contact:Jeff Hennie, Vice President of Government Ralations and Public Affairs

Senate Committee Passes Highway Safety Bill
Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Today, the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation passed a sweeping safety bill known as the Motor Vehicle and Highway Safety Improvement Act (S. 1449). The bill passed by voice vote.

Earlier this week, Senator Lautenberg (D-NJ) filed an amendment that would have gutted the popular federal motorcycle education and awareness grants, known as the 2010 funds. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation is pleased to report that Lautenberg did not call that amendment for a vote. Due to an overwhelming response from the motorcycle community, the 2010 grants are safe for now.

Also under attack was the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) lobby ban. This law prohibits NHTSA from using federal money to lobby State legislatures, uninvited. The way S. 1449 was drafted, it removed this lobby ban. Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) introduced a number of amendments to maintain the ban and the necessary amendments were agreed to, by unanimous consent of the full committee.

The one sticking point that remains is at least, the least troublesome. That being said, it is still something that will keep the attention of the MRF lobby efforts. The trouble lies in a provision in S. 1449 that calls out motorcycle helmets in the list of definitions as "motor vehicle equipment". Previously, the list simply stated: "any device or an article or apparel... that is not a system, part, or component of a motor vehicle".

The MRF would like to thank all the State motorcycle rights organizations and everyone else who helped with this legislation.

The bill passed today will likely move on to be a part of the larger Highway Bill which could happen in early 2012. The MRF will keep you informed on this issue.

[EscaladeSteve]

Thank you for keeping us informed Karen...damn politicians...