Press Releases, News & Notes
May, 1998

U.S. SENATE AND HOUSE APPROVE HIGHWAY BILLS

Both the US Senate and House of Representatives have approved their respective versions of the federal highway reauthorization legislation, and both bills will now go to conference committee to reconcile any differences between the two

The Senate passed their version, S.1173 or ISTEA II on March 24, and the six-year $214 billion transportation package includes provisions to include motorcycles in the future development of Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) technology; prohibits lobbying efforts by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on such issues as helmet laws; and provides $131 million for recreational trails development and maintenance.

The House bill, HR 2400 or BESTEA, passed 337-80 in early April and in addition to including the provisions to give motorcycles consideration in future ITS development and to provide funding for recreational trails, HR 2400 also contains language to ensure that motorcycles are guaranteed access to any and all roads built with the use of federal highway funds

Unfortunately, efforts to include the ban on NHTSA lobbying in the House bill were not successful. Likewise, the Senate version does not include the provision to guarantee access to public roads for motorcyclists

These items will be addressed by the conference committee during the upcoming weeks and a compromise bill will result, so all concerned motorcyclists are encouraged to contact their U.S. Senators and Representatives, particularly those on the conference committee, to urge acceptance of all these pro-motorcycle provisions.