OFF THE WIRE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 29 April 2010
10NR10 - MRF News Release - Consumer Product Safety Commission Update – CALL TO ACTION BELOW
Contact: Jeff Hennie, Government Relations & Public Affairs
Consumer Product Safety Commission Update – CALL TO ACTION BELOW
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) has learned that last Friday, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted on the issue of banning sales of youth ATVs and motorcycles because of lead levels. The CPSC voted to keep the ban in place; however, they did issue a two-year stay of enforcement of the ban. The stay will allow manufacturers and retailers of youth ATVs and motorcycles to continue building and selling the items for the next two years. It also gives the industry two years to comply with the new law; and if, for some reason, it’s technologically infeasible to manufacture a certain part with less lead than allowed by law, the industry will have a chance to make another argument to the CSPC.
The decision was made unanimously by the two-member CPSC Board. Both Acting Chairman Nancy Nord and Commissioner Thomas Moore voted to deny the petition from industry to completely overturn the ban, citing safety as their reason for issuing the two-year stay instead. Nord and Moore both claim, “A bigger safety concern than lead exposure is that the elimination of youth ATV sales will likely increase the number of adult ATVs purchased to be used by younger children; therefore increasing risk of injury and death.” Industry members have 45 days to apply for the stay.
Read the decision letter of the CPSC here: http://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/ballot/ballot09/atvexclusion.pdf
CALL TO ACTION: Legislation does exist that would force the CPSC to exempt all youth ATVs and motorcycles from the ban. Denny Rehberg (R-MT) has introduced HR 1587 and the bill has 35 co-sponsors to date. The MRF encourages you to ask your Member of the US House to co-sponsor this important legislation.
Public Service Announcements
The MRF is collecting any public service announcements your group has put together or uses. The goal is to establish a clearinghouse of the most effective messages being used today. Please send all forms of media, stickers, billboard images, radio, video, virtual or otherwise. Please email mrfoffice@mrf.org with your contributions. Call the MRF DC office if you have questions.
MRF E-MAIL NEWS Motorcycle Riders Foundation 236 Massachusetts Ave. NE | Suite 510 | Washington, DC 20002-4980 202-546-0983 (voice) | 202-546-0986 (fax) | http://www.mrf.org
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MRF E-MAIL NEWS Motorcycle Riders Foundation 236 Massachusetts Ave. NE | Suite 510 | Washington, DC 20002-4980 202-546-0983 (voice) | 202-546-0986 (fax) | http://www.mrf.org
10NR11 - MRF News Release - Washington Update
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 29 April 2010
Contact: Jeff Hennie, Government Relations & Public Affairs
The MRF wishes to apologize for the earlier release today. It was the result of a technical glitch. It has been corrected and we hope to avoid such occurences in the future.
Washington Update
Youth Motorcycle Ban and NHTSA Administrator Strickland
Thursday in Washington, the United States House Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection held a hearing on the Consumer Product Safety Enhancement Act. This bill, which has yet to receive a number, aims to tighten up some of the problems with the initial consumer product safety act (CPSIA) such as the all-out ban of youth motorcycles and ATVs.
In the opening statements by the Members of the Committee, many of the problems with the current law were listed all the way from lack of exemption authority of the Consumer Product Safety Commission to job loss. One of the best examples of the consequences of the CPSIA was the forced removal of brass musical instruments and microscopes from schools because they contain too much lead.
The Motorcycle Industry Council’s (MIC) attorney gave testimony on why removing age appropriate models would be directly linked to greater injuries and that they need specific exemptions for youth motorcycles.
Several Members of the Committee agreed with the MIC that the ban on youth products with too much lead should not include the smaller motorcycles and ATVs.
The current law is flawed for many reasons but perhaps the best way to express it was said by George Radanovich (R-CA). He stated that "the FDA allows 1 microgram of lead per gram of candy, A toy maker wanted an exemption to the law but was denied. The toy he was seeking exemption for had less than 1 microgram of lead in a brass axle but it still exceed the consumer product safety levels."
Much work remains on this issue, but the hearing was a positive step in putting this issue to rest.
NHTSA’s New Chief
The MRF also met with the new National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's new Administrator, David Strickland. ABATE of IL was in DC lobbying, so they put some pressure on former IL Member of Congress Ray LaHood to push a meeting request with the Administrator. LaHood, being a former MRF Champ winner, made it happen. The AMA also joined in on the productive meeting.
Recently at a US House hearing, Strickland commented that motorcycle helmet use should be the “core” of motorcycle safety programs so this meeting was especially important. During the meeting Strickland behaved as any government safety official would, he defended helmet law, saying he is a "data guy" and that he has to "follow the numbers". He also agreed that there are other aspects to motorcycle safety - one of the most important is education. The MRF congratulates Mr. Strickland on his post and we look forward to working with him. Who knows, we may even see him on a motorcycle at some point as he expressed interest in learning to ride a motorcycle. We say "Go for it Administrator!"
Bikers Inside the Beltway
Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the National Motorcycle Safety Month event in Washington, D.C. The date is set for May 20th, 2010 and will begin the day around 9 on the national mall. This will be a day of educating the Congress on the importance of motorcycle awareness and motorcycle safety. Contact the MRF office if you plan on attending or want more information.
