The AMA strongly
urges all motorcyclists and ATV riders to contact their U.S. Senators and
Representatives today and demand that they conduct hearings regarding the
Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) lead ban affecting youth-model
off-highway motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).
Last year at this
time, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) ran seriously afoul of the
motorcycle and ATV communities when it included youth-model off-highway
motorcycles and ATVs in the agency's sweeping ban of children's products
containing lead. This action caused a perilous, unintended consequence for
children ages 12 and under, forcing them onto dirtbikes and ATVs too large for
them to operate safely. In addition, the law has resulted in a severe
disruption to families who recreate together, has had a deleterious effect on
youth amateur racing, and has devastated many small businesses that sell
off-highway vehicles (OHVs).
Congress
acknowledged
the problems surrounding the implementation of certain aspects of the CPSIA in
legislation that was passed in December 2009. The AMA appreciates this
admission, and will continue to work with the CPSC and lawmakers to permanently
exclude youth-model motorcycles and ATVs from the lead-content limits of the
CPSIA.
However, because the
language of this legislation does not exclude youth-model motorcycles and ATVs
from the lead-content limits of the CPSIA, motorcyclists and ATV riders must
continue to let Congress know that they are very concerned about the law, and
that they want youth-model OHVs excluded from the law.
The best way to do
this is to support Representative Denny Rehberg's
H.R.
1587, which would exempt youth-sized motorcycles and ATVs from the CPSIA.
At this time, however, not one committee in the Senate or the House of
Representatives has taken up this bill, or any other bill associated with the
CPSIA for consideration.
It is crucial that
the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, chaired by Sen.
Jay Rockefeller, and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, chaired by
Rep. Henry Waxman, hold hearings with multiple witness panels that addresses
application dates, testing and certification, and common-sense ways to protect
our children.
The
quickest way to reach your Senators and Representative is to call them.
You can find contact information for your elected officials by entering your
zip code at AmericanMotorcyclist.com > Rights > Issues & Legislation.
Additionally, a prewritten e-mail is available for you to immediately send to
your lawmakers by following the "Take Action" option and entering your
information.
For more information
and ways you can help exclude youth-model motorcycles and ATVs from the CPSIA,
click
here.
Please write or call
your Senators and Representative today and ask them to hold hearings on the
problems created by implementing the CPSIA, and how this has caused severe,
unintended consequences for millions of children and families that recreate
together, and thousands of small businesses that support these
activities.
