[Mrfnews] 08LR08 - MRF Leaders Report - April 2008

[mrfnews at mrf.org]

MRF E-MAIL NEWS Motorcycle Riders Foundation
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For Immediate Release

Contact: Michael "Boz" Kerr, MRF Vice President
Email: boz at mrf.org

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



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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.