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For Immediate Release
Contact: Tiffany Latimer, Public Relations Assistant
E-mail: pr@mrf.org
May 5, 2008
MOTORCYCLE AWARENESS MONTH EXTENDS TO OUR ARMED FORCES
Washington, D.C.—Motorcycle safety issues have aroused the armed forces to take a proactive approach in educating their men and women in uniform. In honor of motorcycle awareness month, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation attended the second annual National Capital Region Joint Service Motorcycle Safety Event this past Friday at the Pentagon.
The two-day educational event is a measure by the D.O.D. to address the number of fatalities that have occurred in the past year. All branches of the military are facing a challenge with the increase of motorcyclists gearing up and hitting the roads. MG James Nutall, Deputy Director of the Army National Guard, stated that the military is facing an issue that they are working to contain to help keep riders safe stating they are dealing with men and women returning from combat some of whom have come home with an invincibility complex. The armed forces require all active military personnel to take a rider education course and wear more personal protective equipment then most state laws require yet they are still experiencing an increasing trend of fatalities. Some of which is accounted for by the sharp increase of readership.
Ceremonies were kicked off with hundreds of military and civilian motorcyclists gathered to increase rider education and awareness.
Transportation Secretary, Mary Peters was on hand to speak at the event.
Though legislation did not go unmentioned in her speech (see 08LR09-Leaders Report-May), we commend the Secretary for addressing the military's motorcycle fatality increase. We hope she can put some substantial resources into the countries servicemen and women by working with the D.O.D. to reverse this trend.
After opening remarks were concluded by the speakers, the event moved onto a ribbon cutting ceremony on the Army's new mobile motorcycle simulator trailer that will be used to visit military bases across the country as an additional resource to the motorcycle training program. The Pentagon parking lots was stocked with vendors set up displaying different types of safety equipment as well as different organizations promoting rider educations courses.
The highlight of the days activities were the opportunity for riders to participate in a motorcycle rodeo as well as a skills demonstration by the Pentagon Motorcycle Police. The two day event was wrapped on Saturday with a few morning activities as well as a rally ride. Overall, the Joint services presented a variety of outlets and activities to help celebrate with the men and women of the armed forces the different aspects of motorcycle safety.
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(c)All Information contained in this release is copyrighted. Reproduction permitted with attribution. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation, incorporated in 1987, is a membership-based, national motorcyclists' rights organization headquartered in Washington, DC. The first motorcyclists'
rights organization to establish a full-time presence in Washington, DC, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation is the only Washington voice devoted exclusively to the street rider. The MRF established MRFPAC in the early 1990s to advocate the election of candidates who would champion the cause of rider safety and rider freedom.
The MRF proudly claims state motorcyclists' rights organizations and the very founders of the American riders' rights movement among its leading members. The MRF is involved in federal and state legislation and regulations, motorcycling safety education, training, and public awareness. The MRF provides members and state motorcyclists' rights organizations with direction and information, and sponsors annual regional and national educational seminars for motorcyclists rights activists, as well as publishing a bi-monthly newsletter, THE MRF REPORTS.
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THIS MESSAGE EDITED FOR SPACE.
April 15, 2008
HIPAA Bills Picking Up Co-Sponsors
The physical distance between the states of Washington and South Carolina is about 2700 miles (Seattle to Colombia). The ideological distance between two of the senators from those states - Lindsey Graham and Patty Murray - is probably greater than that. Yet, those two political opposites have found common ground on a bill that would benefit motorcyclists in their states and have signed on as co-sponsors to S. 616 "a bill to promote health care coverage parity for individuals participating in legal recreational activities or legal transportation activities." Who said bi-partisanship is dead in Washington?
The past several weeks have shown a marked increase in members of congress signing on as co-sponsors to both the house (H.R. 1076) and senate version of the HIPAA Recreational Injury Technical Correction Act.
Of particular note is the outstanding effort by ABATE of Minnesota in getting both of their senators – Norm Coleman and Amy Klobuchar to sign-on to S. 616. Senator Coleman co-sponsored on April 7th with Senator Klobuchar following on April 10. They are the only state to have both senators co-sponsoring that bill. Congratulations, on a job well done.
Trips to Washington in the past month by members of state motorcyclist rights organizations have netted positive results. ABATE of Ohio was in town and not long afterward Congressmen Steve LaTourette and Charles Wilson became HIPAA co-sponsors. ABATE of Illinois' visit was followed by Congressman Ray La Hood adding his name to the growing list.
Bikers efforts in the Southern states have been bearing fruit as we have seen Congressmen Hank Johnson and Sanford Bishop from Georgia, Congressmen John Culberson and Ralph Hall from Texas, Congressman Mike Ross from Arkansas, Congressman Robert Wexler from Florida, Congressman Mike McIntyre from North Carolina and Congresswoman Thelma Drake from Virginia all sign on to H.R. 1076 this year.
In addition to the aforementioned members of congress signing on to H.R.
1076 this year, we have Congresswoman Anna Eshoo of California, Congressmen Mike Rogers of Michigan, Sam Graves of Missouri and John McHugh of New York joining their colleagues to become co-sponsors and working to advance this effort.
Currently there are 111 co-sponsors to H.R. 1076 and 8 co-sponsors to S. 616.
Listed below are the members of the US House of Representatives who have signed-on as co-sponsors to H.R. 1076 this year:
Rep. Mike Rogers [MI-8] - 1/15/2008
Rep. Mike Ross [AR-4] - 1/16/2008
Rep. Robert Wexler [FL-19] - 1/28/2008
Rep. Anna Eshoo [CA-14] - 1/28/2008
Rep. Mike McIntyre [NC-7] - 2/7/2008
Rep. Ralph Hall [TX-4] - 2/13/2008
Rep. John McHugh [NY-23] - 2/26/2008
Rep. Thelma Drake [VA-2] - 2/28/2008
Rep. Sam Graves [MO-6] - 2/28/2008
Rep. Charles Wilson [OH-6] - 3/31/2008
Rep. Sanford Bishop Jr. [GA-2] - 3/31/2008 Rep. Steven LaTourette [OH-14] - 4/8/2008 Rep. John Abney Culberson [TX-7] - 4/8/2008 Rep. Henry C. Johnson Jr. [GA-4] - 4/8/2008 Rep. Ray LaHood [IL-18] - 4/8/2008
Listed below are the United States Senators who have signed-on as co-sponsors to S. 616 this year:
Senator Patty Murray [WA] - 4/7/2008
Senator Norm Coleman [MN] - 4/7/2008
Senator Amy Klobuchar [MN] - 4/10/2008
Let’s keep the faith and continue to pursue this noble effort. The following quote may be a cliché but it’s true enough - "Winners never quit, quitters never win." Come to Washington this year and raise your voice on this and our other issues, the MRF is here to help. We will win this one in the end.
Michael Kerr
MRF Vice President
