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Call To Action: Congressional Joint Resolution

Lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate are again trying to push back on new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules compelling over half of all new vehicles sold to be electric by 2032. The new bills, H.J. Res 136 and S.J. Res 75 would overturn the rules announced in April by the EPA. These bills were introduced with 114 cosponsors in the House of Representatives and 48 in the Senate. Let’s grow the number of cosponsors and let the people in Washington, D.C. know their constituents want to save the internal combustion engine Please Write To BOTH Representative And Senators Click to Write Representative Click to Write Senators Click to Join The MRF * * * *

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Bill to Boost Outdoor Recreation Economy

U.S. House Schedules Vote on Bill to Boost Outdoor Recreation Economy Click here to send a letter to your U.S. House member asking them to support the EXPLORE Act. The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote next week on the SEMA-supported bill H.R. 6492, the “Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act” (EXPLORE Act). The comprehensive public lands bill directs the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to create more motorized opportunities on public lands, addresses special recreation permits and fees that have been expensive and cumbersome for off-road groups to navigate on federal lands, attempts to improve visitor experiences, addresses the lack of affordable housing causing staffing shortages on public lands, and transforms outdoor recreation experiences for active-duty military members, veterans and Gold Star families. Your lawmakers need to hear from you now about why the bipartisan EXPLORE Act matters to you! Ask your U.S. Representative to support the bill.

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Ohio Pushes Back on California Plans

Just before the end of 2023, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed H.B. 201 into law. The focus of the bill is to; “Prohibit a state agency, county, or township from restricting the sale or use of a motor vehicle based on the energy source used to power the motor vehicle; to prohibit a state agency from adopting the California emissions standards for motor vehicles.” As you may remember, the Clean Air Act allows states to seek a waiver to enact emission standards outside of those set by the federal government. In 2022, California received a waiver allowing the state to establish guidelines requiring every new car and truck sold there to have zero emissions by 2035. This requirement has set off a debate in state capitals around the country. Some states seek to align with California, while others, like Ohio, are pushing back against California’s plans. ABATE of Ohio received the support of other groups in support of the bill, including the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and the Ohio Auto Dealers Association. Ed Schetter, Executive Director of ABATE of Ohio, testified in December, backing the bill. In his remarks, he said, “ABATE of Ohio is concerned with the push towards electric power and pressure to eliminate the internal combustion engine from the marketplace. This may leave many motorcyclists without options on how to power the motorcycles we ride. We also feel this may limit the availability of sales, parts, and service to the motorcyclists of Ohio. Many of these businesses are ones we’ve relied on for years.” After the hearing, lawmakers thanked ABATE of Ohio for their participation. Multiple legislators noted that ABATE of Ohio was the only “citizen-led” group involved in the hearing. Comments like that help reinforce the importance of engagement and participation by citizens in the legislative

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U.S. House Committee Passes Bill to Stop California’s ICE Vehicle Ban

U.S. House Committee Passes Bill to Stop California’s ICE Vehicle Ban Encourage support from lawmakers on this proposal: The U.S. House Energy & Commerce Committee passed the SAN-supported Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act” (H.R. 1435). This bill seeks to preserve vehicle choice for consumers and prevent the federal government and the State of California from choosing only one form of technology (such as electric vehicles) over the many others to achieve their emission reduction goals. The “Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act” prohibits the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from issuing a waiver to California for regulations that would ban the sale or use of new motor vehicles with ICE in the state by 2035. The bill is essential to stopping California’s plan to ban of new ICE vehicles. Send a letter to your Congress members asking them to support the bill. H.R. 1435 awaits consideration by the U.S. House of Representatives. Lawmakers Must Hear from You Right Away! Use the following website link for an overview and lawmaker contact. ACT NOW BY CLICKING HERE * * * * * * * * * * * * Stay Free and Subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter from Bikernet.com — click & get one, its Free.

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Ohio Introduces Bill Supporting ICE

DON’T DELAY! Please contact lawmakers immediately to voice your support Ohio Introduces Bill Supporting Internal Combustion Engines Click Here: https://www.semasan.com/legislative-alerts/ohio/ohio-introduces-bill-supporting-internal-combustion-engines Overview: Ohio introduced SAN-supported legislation (H.B. 201/S.R. 155) which would prevent any state or local government unit from restricting the use or sale of motor vehicles based on the energy source used to power the motor vehicle, including internal combustion engines. H.B. 201 awaits consideration from the House Transportation Committee and S.R. 155 was offered in the Senate.

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MRF: Continuing to Bridge the Gap

Almost a decade ago, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) began outreach to motorcycle clubs to find common ground on key legislative items. An MRF board seat, titled Director of Sustaining Member Motorcycle Clubs, was created and that seat is held by Russell Radke. Part of Russell’s mission is to educate the motorcycle club community on what the MRF is working on in D.C. and how our efforts impact all riders. The National Council of Clubs (NCOC) has, for the past several years, invited the MRF to participate in its meetings to foster that dialogue. Last weekend, leaders of the MRF attended the February NCOC meeting in St. Louis, Missouri. The MRF was represented by Kirk “Hardtail” Willard (MRF President), Fred Harrell (Director of Conference & Events), Russell Radke (Director of Sustaining Member Motorcycle Clubs), Seven Cassel (Membership Director) and Rocky Fox (Government Relations). Also in attendance was ABATE of Wisconsin Legislative Director, Steve Panten. Four different presentations involved an MRF or ABATE member sharing their views on motorcycling and legislative action. Hardtail gave a presentation on the “The Future of Motorcycling in America.” Rocky spoke on the MRF’s recent victories on profiling in D.C. Seven discussed how best to unite independents and MCs. Steve gave a case study on a recent summit held in Wisconsin between ABATE and motorcycle clubs in the state. The weekend was filled with lively debate and great questions. The MRF thanks the NCOC and the club community for their hospitality and willingness to work together on issues we all care about. About Motorcycle Riders Foundation: The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) provides leadership at the federal level for states’ motorcyclists’ rights organizations as well as motorcycle clubs and individual riders. Visit website at http://mrf.org * * * * * * * * * * * *

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House Passes Motorcyclist Profiling Resolution

December 23, 2022 House Passes Motorcyclist Profiling Resolution! In one of the final actions before the 117th Congress dissolved the House of Representatives passed, H. Res 366, the motorcyclist profiling resolution. The resolution, which was first introduced in 2016, failed to receive a vote on the House floor until today. In the six years since it was introduced motorcyclists have spent countless hours educating lawmakers and raising awareness on the issue of motorcyclist profiling. The 2016 version of the resolution had just 18 cosponsors, but that number grew to 103 this month. These 103 cosponsors represented a diverse set of political beliefs and geographic interests, but all were committed to supporting bikers. It has been a long journey to this point and many parties are responsible for this victory. Former Representative Reid Ribble of Wisconsin originally introduced the resolution and after his departure from Congress Representative Tim Walberg of Michigan picked up the baton. The Motorcycle Profiling Project provided important data that helped inform lawmakers about the extent of motorcyclist profiling. Motorcycle clubs and independent riders all invested time and resources in the battle on Capitol Hill. State motorcyclist rights organizations leveraged their relationships with home state lawmakers and increased cosponsor numbers dramatically. Most importantly all these groups remained committed and focused despite setbacks and disappointments. With this action, the House joins the Senate, which passed a similar resolution in 2018 standing against motorcyclist profiling and asking for collaboration between law enforcement and bikers to prevent profiling. Additionally, five states, Washington, Maryland, Louisiana, Idaho, and New Hampshire all have state laws against the profiling of bikers. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation hopes that this demonstration of support from the United States Congress will provide other states a foundation to enact legislation. To see a full version of H. Res 366 click

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Arizona Senator Rallies for Passage of the RPM Act

Since being elected to Congress in November 2020, U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) has proven himself to be a strong ally and defender of motorsports. Sen. Kelly is an original cosponsor of S. 2736, the Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act of 2021 (RPM Act), and he has championed the bill both publicly and behind the scenes. Sen. Kelly recently spoke at a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing about the importance of the RPM Act and amateur racing, noting that his wife, former U.S. Representative Gabby Giffords, raced motorcycles on the track. “Racing is important to many Arizonans – and it’s a part of our state’s legacy,” he said. “The RPM Act will help provide certainty to Arizona’s amateur racers and auto mechanics from EPA regulations, which could harm their ability to enjoy the hobby of motorsport.” As a former astronaut (four missions into space) and naval aviator who flew 39 combat missions in Operation Desert Storm, Sen. Kelly understands the passion of racers and the adrenaline associated with speed lovers. He is also amongst the 31 Senate co-sponsors of the RPM Act, fellow federal lawmakers and candidates running for re-election in 2022. The 2022 election season is now in high gear. For information on voting in November’s elections (including absentee and early voting), to find your polling place, identifying your lawmakers and the candidates running in 2022, use the link Click Here. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Click & Follow the Thursday’s Weekly News exclusively on Bikernet.com to stay updated with your freedoms & rights as a motorcyclist !!!

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Fact Vs Fiction: New York Exhaust Noise Legislation

SEMA’s Government Affairs staff have been successful thus far in killing or amending many onerous proposals before they become law In 2021, New York enacted a bill into law–the SLEEP Act–that aims to crack down on excessively loud vehicles. The law goes into effect on April 1, 2022. Unfortunately, vague local news reporting has created confusion amongst enthusiasts about what the law will actually do. The SEMA Action Network (SAN) is here to set the record straight. NOTE: The contents of this article focus on the impact of the new law on light-duty cars and trucks, not motorcycles. Background: Since 2021, over a dozen states, including New York, have introduced bills aiming to curb the amount of noise emitted from a vehicle’s muffler. While no two state’s means of achieving this goal have been identical, they all have one thing in common: they were requested by constituents upset by loud vehicles in their community. Why? For many workers across the country, the pandemic meant an unexpected shift to remote work. As a result, people became far more aware of their surroundings, and the noises that come with them, especially from cars and trucks. Fortunately for enthusiasts, SEMA’s Government Affairs staff have been successful thus far in killing or amending many onerous proposals before they become law. So, what about in New York? Claim: A new bill in New York will ban exhaust modifications Rating: Fiction In January 2021, lawmakers in New York introduced a pair of bills (S. 784 and A. 471) seeking to curb loud cars and trucks. The bills were amended several times prior to passage and were approved by Governor Kathy Hochul in late October. Importantly, the proposal did not change the state’s existing exhaust noise laws, which require every motor vehicle to be equipped with a

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Another Victory in Kansas: Law to Ease Titling Procedures for Antique Vehicles

Another Victory in Kansas as Governor Signs into Law Bill to Ease Titling Procedures for Antique Vehicles—Congratulations! Another win in Kansas! Governor Laura Kelly signed into law SAN-supported legislation (H.B. 2595) to allow vehicles registered as “Antique” which are 60 years old or older the ability to forego a VIN inspection when applying for a title. The new law expands vehicles eligible for certain titling procedures by allowing Antique vehicles that are at least 60 years old needing only a bill of sale as proof of ownership and an application when applying for a title. Prior to the new law, only antique vehicles with a model year of 1950 or earlier could forego the VIN inspection when applying for a title. Additionally, the new law recognizes that the collection and restoration of historic and classic cars is an important part of preserving the technological achievements and cultural heritage of the United States. It will go into effect upon publication in the Kansas Register statute book. Congratulations and thank you to those who supported this effort! Join SEMA – visit Website at: https://www.semasan.com/ To Stay updated on all Motorcycle News and Events … – simply Click & Subscribe to Bikernet’s FREE Weekly Newsletter

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