Press Releases, News & Notes
September, 1997

MOTORCYCLISTS SUCCESSFUL AGAIN IN CONGRESS!

NCOM, September 22, 1997-- With the federal repeal of helmet mandates and the inclusion of motorcyclists in federal protections against health care discrimination as recent victories, the remaining wish list of motorcycle friendly federal legislation was virtually answered by Congress in early September when the House and Senate introduced their respective versions of BESTEA (the federal highway reauthorization bill).

H.R.2400, the House's version which was introduced September 4 and approved by the House Surface Transportation Subcommittee on Sept 10, addresses motorcyclists concerns with being included in the future development of the Intelligent Transportation System; ensures motorcyclists access to all roads using federal highway funding,' keeps motorcycle safety as a national priority within the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) while shifting the focus of motorcycle safety toward accident prevention instead of injury prevention; and, for off-road riders, strengthens the language of the National Recreational Trails Act to provide more funding for the maintenance and development of oft-highway recreational areas

The Senate version, S.1173, as introduced Sept 12 only included the National Recreational Trails Act language, but was amended Sept 16 to include assurances that motorcycles will be considered during the development of our nation's Intelligent Transportation System.

Neither bill contains any language relating to helmet use.

In a related matter, on Sept 16 the House Science Committee offered a manager's amendment to the Surface Transportation Research and Development Act, H.R.860, to prohibit officers and employees of the US, Department of Transportation from lobbying federal, state and local officials. The amendment, offered by the committee chairman, will be debated on the House floor. If approved, the amendment could prevent NHTSA from lobbying state legislators in favor of helmet laws, including a pro-helmet video that NHTSA intends to circulate to state legislatures when they convene in January 1998.

It is expected that the text of H.R.860 will be amended into the House BESTEA, H.R.2400, when it is debated on the House floor.

Motorcyclists are encouraged to contact your federal Representative and both Senators to ask them to support inclusion of all of the above in the final version of the BESTEA federal highway reauthorization legislation.