Bikers Rights Issues

MRF LEADERS' REPORT

#05LR01 - MRF LEADERS' REPORT - Ride With The LeadersTM - January 27, 2005

TO:  The Leaders of the American Motorcyclists' Rights Movement

FROM:  Jeff Hennie, MRF Vice President - Government Relations

SUBJECT: The 109th Congress is now in session

The 109th Congress is now in session. Over 450 bills have been introduced in the House of Representatives, most of which are bills that do little, if any legislative lifting. The last session of congress adjourned with a grand total of 2400 measures introduced in the House with a scant 177 making it to public law.  January in Washington is a time of optimistic enthusiasm. The newly elected and returning officials seem to view the fresh congress as an artist sees a blank canvas, one with endless opportunities. The Congress is in the process of handing out committee assignments, orienting freshman, and approving the rules under which the chambers will conduct business. Most of the legislation that the MRF is  concerned with is yet to be introduced which means there are no bill numbers yet.  The MRF has been working with the congress to further our agenda.

The Highway Bill

The Transportation Equity Authorization (TEA) bill that authorizes
spending for highway and mass transit projects is one of the major pieces of legislation that has been labeled by leadership as a "must do".  The previous bill died on the table in a lengthy and combative House and Senate Conference Committee in the previous congress. The bill was mired in problems since day one of the conference. The lawmakers close to the bill refused to let the bill's funding level drop to the White House veto proof number of $256 billion. With no agreement in sight the 108th congress adjourned with out passing a highway bill.

The bill will need to be reintroduced in the 109th Congress.
The MRF is working with key Members of Congress and staff to insure the inclusion of the MRF motorcycle safety language in both the House and Senate versions of the bill. There Have been some committee leadership changes in the Senate which should help move our agenda. The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, which has jurisdiction over a portion of the Highway bill, is now chaired by a good friend of the Motorcycling community Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK). The MRF has learned that subcommittee assignments have not been given out, delaying any formal work on the legislation.

Most lawmakers and lobbyists agree that the perfect bill no longer exists. Congress is expected to take up other spending bills, which could impact action on the highway bill.  The mantra may be changing from "get it done" to "get it over with" the thinking is now to get a bill with the highest realistic funding level we can.  Also the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released data that showed the Highway Trust Fund, which is bankrolled by the federal gas tax, does not have as a large a balance as was expected. The CBO projected Tuesday that the government will collect $201 billion from fiscal 2005 through fiscal 2009 and $245 billion from fiscal 2005 through fiscal 2010 for the Highway Trust Fund. Those numbers are slightly lower than expected they are already casting more doubts on the likelihood that we will see completion on the bill before the May 31st expiration date.

It is anticipated that the Highway Bill will be introduced in late feb or early march The MRF will provide relevant bill numbers as they become available.

HIPAA

The loophole that currently exists that allows health insurance providers to exclude coverage of an injury based on the source of that injury was almost closed last session. The Senate passed the bill unanimously. Unfortunately, the adjournment of Congress did not allow enough time for the bill to navigate the three committee process that parity bills, such as this bill, must complete before floor consideration.

The legislation is yet to be reintroduced in the 109th session of congress. The main House Republican sponsor, Scott McInnis (R-CO) has retired to spend time with his family. The search has begun for a new sponsorship.  The AMA and the MRF will make available the bill numbers as soon as they are issued.

House Names Transportation Committee Members

The following Members of Congress will serve on the House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee: Connie Mack (R-FL), Lynn A. Westmoreland (R-GA), Michael E. Sodrel (R-IN), Charles W. Boustany (R-LA), Tom Osborne (R-NE), Randy Kuhl (R-NY), Charlie Dent (R-PA), Luis Fortuna (R-PR), Kenny Marchant (R-TX), Ted Poe (R-TX), Dave Reichert (R-WA), John Salazar (D-CO), Russ Carnahan (D-MO), Brian Higgins (D-NY), and Allyson Schwartz (D-PA).

Members who remain in the House for the 109th Congress but are leaving the T&I Committee include: Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Denny Rehberg (R-MT), Chris Chocola (R-IN), Bob Beauprez (R-CO), Michael Burgess (R-TX), Alexander (R-LA), Mike Thompson (D-CA).

T&I Members from the 108th Congress who no longer serve in the House are: Jim DeMint (R-SC), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Max Burns (R-GA), Bill Lipinski (D-IL), Nick Lampson (D-TX), Brad Carson (D-OK), and Joseph M. Hoeffel (D-PA).

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Ride With The LeadersTM by joining the MRF at http://www.mrf.org/join.php or call 1-202-546-0983.

Sign up today for the MRF roadside assistance program by visiting http://www.mrf.org/join.php.  The roadside assistance program is available to MRF members and non-MRF members!

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.