[Mrfnews] 07LR14 - MRF Leaders Report - October

[mrfnews at mrf.org]

MRF E-MAIL NEWS Motorcycle Riders Foundation
236 Massachusetts Ave. NE
Suite 510
Washington, DC 20002-4980
202-546-0983 (voice)
202-546-0986 (fax)
http://www.mrf.org (website)


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jeff Hennie, MRF Vice-President of Government Relations
jeff at mrf.org (e-mail)

U.S. House of Representatives Forms Motorcycle Safety Caucus

The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) has learned that the U.S. House of
Representatives recently formed the first official motorcycle safety
caucus.  The group is open to all sitting U.S. Representatives and will
focus only on motorcycle safety, and more specifically what Congress can
do to support motorcycle safety.

The caucus does not have any funding from the government, nor does it have
office space, official staff or anything else designated for official
committees of Congress.  In other words, this group was created simply
because the co-chairs thought it was time to address this important issue
and dedicate precious staff time toward the cause.  The caucus is
co-chaired by Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) and Michael Burgess (R-TX).  Mrs.
Giffords is a freshman member of Congress and an avid motorcyclist
herself.  Mr. Burgess is a longtime supporter of motorcyclists, most
notably as one of the lead sponsors on the legislation to close the
discriminatory HIPAA loophole (HR 1076).

Congressman Burgess had this to say about his role with the group, "As
co-chair of this first of its kind caucus, I look forward to working with
motorcyclists across the country as we address important motorcycle
safety, education and awareness issues."

"We are pleased that Congress is searching for ways to assist the
organizations like the MRF and motorcyclists nationwide in continuing to
improve motorcycle safety and awareness," said Jeff Hennie, MRF Vice
President of Government Relations.  "All of the motorcyclists of this
country owe the co-chairs of this important new caucus a debt of gratitude
for drawing attention to these important issues, and the MRF looks forward
to working with them."

This isn't the first time Congress has addressed motorcycle safety.  The
most recent highway bill, SAFE-TEA-LU (PL 109-59), contained a generous
4-year / $25 million grant program, as well as funding for a comprehensive
motorcycle crash causation study. The grant program, initially authored by
the MRF and state motorcyclists' rights organizations across the country,
is the first of its kind in history.  The crash study is a follow up to
the Hurt report, a 27-year-old study named for its author.

Congresswoman Giffords went on the record as a serious motorcyclist
saying, "I have enjoyed riding motorcycles for many years.  One day, I
hope to fulfill my dream of going by motorcycle to Argentina.  Those of us
who ride know that it is an incredibly enjoyable way to travel."  She
continued, "We know from national studies that in almost two-thirds of
fatal car/motorcycle crashes, the fault was with the driver of the car. 
We can do more to address this critical problem, and public education is a
key to bringing about awareness and a reduction in such accidents."

Please connect with your U.S. Representative and ask him/her to join the
motorcycle safety caucus today.  They can officially join by contacting
either of the co-chairs' Washington DC offices.


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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.