Motorcycle Industry Council Endorses New Legislation to Stop the Lead Ban on Youth Off-Highway Vehicles IRVINE, Calif. — The Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) today announced its support for, and urged quick passage of, the “Enhancing CPSC Authority and Discretion Act of 2011″ (ECADA). The discussion draft of the bill, released yesterday [May 10] by Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-CA), would end the ban on youth-sized all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles and snowmobiles caused by the unintended consequences of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. In a May 11, 2011 letter to Rep. Bono Mack, who chairs the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade, Paul Vitrano, MIC general counsel, wrote, “While we continue to believe that the best way to ensure the continued availability of youth off-highway vehicles is to categorically exclude them from the lead content provisions, this proposed legislation, if enacted as drafted, would provide welcome relief and improve safety.” The MIC letter stated that, since its enactment in 2008, CPSIA has effectively banned the sale of age-appropriate youth off-highway vehicles. As a result, the act has actually created unsafe situations for young riders by reducing the availability of appropriate-sized, speed-restricted youth models. “The bill contains a provision, Section 3(a), that codifies the lead content limits set by the Consumer Product Safety Commission when it granted a stay of enforcement that, although designed to provide some temporary relief to our industry, proved to be ineffective,” wrote Vitrano. “The bill also mandates a total lead content limit of .03 percent or less for non-metal parts of outdoor recreational products and all other children’s products not primarily intended for age 6 and younger.” The letter also noted the draft bill contains language (Section 4(a)) that would “eliminate unnecessary, duplicative and costly testing requirements under CPSIA for these vehicles.” “ATVs and motorcycles do not present any lead-related health risk to young riders, and Congress has made it clear that it never intended the lead content restrictions and testing requirements for toys to apply to these vehicles,” Vitrano noted in the letter. The MIC also endorsed the bill’s common sense changes to the Public Database to create a more useful database with accurate and relevant information for consumers. “For more than two years, our industry has worked in a bipartisan manner seeking relief from the unintended consequences of the CPSIA that have needlessly placed youth riders in danger, harmed thousands of dealers, and cost jobs in our industry,” concluded Vitrano. “We are grateful this bill will provide our customers and members with a permanent fix to this problem”¦and strongly urge bipartisan support and quick passage of this important and long-overdue legislation.” The Motorcycle Industry Council exists to preserve, protect and promote motorcycling through government relations, communications and media relations, statistics and research, aftermarket programs, development of data communications standards, and activities surrounding technical and regulatory issues. As a not-for-profit, national industry association, the MIC seeks to support motorcyclists by representing manufacturers and distributors of motorcycles, scooters, motorcycle/ATV/ROV parts and accessories, and members of allied trades such as insurance, finance and investment companies, media companies and consultants. The MIC is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., with a government relations office adjacent to Washington, D.C. First called the MIC in 1970, the organization has been in operation since 1914. Visit the MIC at www.mic.org. More, from another press release issued by Motorcycle Industry Council: Motorcycle Industry Council Applauds Subcommittee Passage of Draft Legislation that Would Stop the Ban on Youth Off-Highway Vehicles IRVINE, Calif., May 12, 2011 – The Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) applauds the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade’s quick action on the “Enhancing CPSC Authority and Discretion Act of 2011″ (ECADA) discussion draft. The Subcommittee passed the draft bill today and referred it to the full Energy and Commerce Committee. MIC also thanks Subcommittee Chair Mary Bono Mack (R-CA) for her leadership on reform of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) and her support for clear, complete and permanent relief for the powersports industry and riders. In a letter yesterday to Rep. Bono Mack, MIC General Counsel Paul Vitrano wrote, “While we continue to believe that the best way to ensure the continued availability of youth off-highway vehicles is to categorically exclude them from the lead content provisions, this proposed legislation, if enacted as drafted, would provide welcome relief and improve safety.” Following today’s Subcommittee mark-up, Vitrano added, “MIC and its members reiterate their strong support for ECADA and urge its quick passage by the Energy and Commerce Committee.” The Motorcycle Industry Council exists to preserve, protect and promote motorcycling through government relations, communications and media relations, statistics and research, aftermarket programs, development of data communications standards, and activities surrounding technical and regulatory issues. As a not-for-profit, national industry association, the MIC seeks to support motorcyclists by representing manufacturers and distributors of motorcycles, scooters, motorcycle/ATV/ROV parts and accessories, and members of allied trades such as insurance, finance and investment companies, media companies and consultants. The MIC is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., with a government relations office adjacent to Washington, D.C. First called the MIC in 1970, the organization has been in operation since 1914. Visit the MIC at www.mic.org. More, from a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing: U.S. House subcommittee approves changes to ‘lead law’ PICKERINGTON, Ohio — A key U.S. House subcommittee has approved legislation to address flaws in the law that effectively bans the sale of kids’ off-highway vehicles (OHVs) at the end of the year, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) reports. On May 12, the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade approved and sent to the full Committee on Energy and Commerce the Enhancing CPSC Authority and Discretion Act (ECADA) of 2011 for further consideration. The ECADA would exempt kids’ dirtbike and all-terrain vehicle (ATV) battery terminals from the lead-content limits of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) of 2008, which is commonly known as the lead law. It may also allow exemptions to the lead-content portion of the law for OHV parts under certain conditions. The CPSIA bans the making, importing, distributing or selling of any product intended for children 12 and under that contains more than a specified amount of lead in any accessible part. “The ECADA is a step in the right direction,” said Ed Moreland, AMA senior vice president for government relations. “We are hopeful that the final legislation will fully address the problem with an outright exemption, like the one in H.R. 412, the Kids Just Want to Ride Act.” Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.), author of H.R. 412, the Kids Just Want to Ride Act, said: “I appreciate the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade’s continued work to undo the consequences of the overreaching regulations created by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. However, this legislation still does not go far enough in exempting youth-sized motorcycles and ATVs. “H.R. 412, the Kids Just Want to Ride Act, provides the necessary exemption for these vehicles and is the most common-sense approach to this issue,” he continued. “Montanans and folks across the country who enjoy these products are waiting for Congress to show leadership and exempt these products once and for all.” The AMA will conduct an AMA Family Capitol Hill Climb on Thursday, May 26, at the nation’s Capitol in Washington, D.C., to help educate lawmakers about the need to change the CPSIA. The event will promote the future of kids’ dirtbike and ATV riding, and scores of young riders and their families are expected to attend. The day will begin with a press event introducing the winner of a video contest to focus attention on the plight of children and families impacted by the CPSIA. Following a screening of the winning “Kids Just Want To Ride!” video, all attendees will have the opportunity to meet with their congressional representatives to urge support for H.R. 412, the Kids Just Want to Ride Act. For more information about the Kids Just Want to Ride Act and the AMA Family Capitol Hill Climb, go to AmericanMotorcyclist.com. About the American Motorcyclist Association Since 1924, the AMA has protected the future of motorcycling and promoted the motorcycle lifestyle. AMA members come from all walks of life, and they navigate many different routes on their journey to the same destination: freedom on two wheels. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights organization, the AMA advocates for motorcyclists’ interests in the halls of local, state and federal government, the committees of international governing organizations, and the court of public opinion. Through member clubs, promoters and partners, the AMA sanctions more motorsports competition and motorcycle recreational events than any other organization in the world. AMA members receive money-saving discounts from dozens of well-known suppliers of motorcycle services, gear and apparel, bike rental, transport, hotel stays and more. Through its support of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, the AMA preserves the heritage of motorcycling for future generations. For more information, please visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com.