Dear Senator____________________

    I am writing you to urge you to support the proposed "Motorcycling and Motorcycle Small Business Protection Act."  The Environmental Protection Agency, which knows nothing about motorcycling, has proposed rules that will not only irreparably hurt motorcycling in America but which will cause tens of thousands of Americans to lose their jobs.  I am sending along information on this from the Motorcycle Riders Foundation, which along with the American Motorcyclist Association can inform you of the TRUE facts in this situation.   

    It is outrageous to me that both the EPA and NHTSA have such an antithetical view of motorcycling and continue to try and destroy us. Motorcycling has been a part of America for many decades and hopefully will be in the future.  Motorcycles are used more and more as primary transportation for many of us and cannot be classified as "recreational" as the EPA has done.  I and the motorcycling community need your help to stop these federal agencies from simply destroying an icon of American culture. Thank you and following is the additional information from the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) on this issue. 

     The MRF Condemns EPA Proposed Rule as "Job Killer" On the Chopping Block: Classic, Venerated Engine Families Preferred by Millions of Americans As predicted in December 2000 by the Motorcycle Riders Foundation, the Environmental Protection Agency has introduced a proposed rule that adopts the stringent, future California emissions standards for street motorcycles and imposes them nationwide. Inaccurately classing street motorcycles as "recreational," and all but deaf to legitimate concerns regarding rider safety, the EPA grossly overestimates the degree to which street bikes contribute to the total motor vehicle pollution inventory and grossly underestimates the cost per bike of the new controls and the rule's overall impact on small businesses in America.   

    EPA spokespersons have told the press that American motorcyclists will be free to modify only "the color and chrome" of our motorcycles and urged Americans to "trust us," that this EPA action would not harm small businesses. According to Tom Wyld, MRF's Vice President for Government Relations, "It is the studied opinion of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation that the EPA's proposed rulemaking on highway motorcycles will ban venerated classic engine families and destroy a vast cottage industry of small businesses - from small-volume motorcycle makers to the aftermarket.  EPA has just lifted the axe, and on the chopping block are tens of thousands of jobs in America and a culture embraced by millions of Americans."  

    At the MRF's 17th Annual Meeting of the Minds in Topeka, Kansas last year, the MRF made a solemn pledge to State Motorcyclists' Rights Organizations (SMROs).  We promised that if the EPA's proposed rule was a job killer, if it needlessly restricted our rights and our rides, we would work to introduce what we called at the time "The Motorcycle Protection Act."  The MRF is keeping that promise. For the last several weeks, the MRF has been working hand-in-glove with SMROs in several states who enjoy the full support of Congressmen in committees that oversee EPA issues.  We are sharing with these Congressmen, through the SMROs, a legislative initiative drafted by the MRF within days of the release of the EPA's proposed regulation.  

    Dubbed "The Motorcycle and Motorcycling Small Business Protection Act," this five-part legislative initiative will stay the hand of the EPA in pursuing this proposed rulemaking and instead establish reasonable emissions standards that safeguard the thousands of small businesses threatened.  This Act will also increase motorcycling in America and thereby reduce fuel consumption, road wear, traffic congestion and air pollution. Once the lead sponsors for this crucial legislation initiative step forward and introduce a bill, the MRF will alert SMROs nationwide.  That alert will appeal to SMROs and motorcyclists nationwide to URGE THEIR CONGRESSMEN TO SIGN ON AS CO-SPONSORS OF "THE MOTORCYCLE AND MOTORCYCLING SMALL BUSINESS PROTECTION ACT." "Lead sponsors could introduce this legislation any day now," Wyld said, "so let's gas up and get ready to roll!" You can download the PDF version of the EPA's proposed rule, published on Wednesday, August 14, 2002 in the Federal Register at: www.epa.gov/otaq/regs/nonroad/mcmarine/proposal/a19437.pdf.  

    Senator, you may contact the Motorcycle Riders Foundation at P.O. Box 1808, Washington, D.C. 20013 or call them at (202) 546-0983 Contact the American Motorcyclist Association at Edward Moreland, Vice President, Government Relations, 1225 "I" Street, N.W., Suite 500,Washington, D.C. 20005 or call there at (202) 682-4750.

    Thank you and I hope to hear back from you on this.  We're depending on you to do the right thing and co-sponsor our motorcycling protection legislation.

Respectfully,