[Mrfnews] 08LR03 - MRF Leaders Report- February 2008

Thu Feb 21 18:11:40 EST 2008

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)

21 February 2008

HIPAA HIT THE TRIPLES

With the help of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) and State
Motorcyclists' Rights Organizations (SMROs) nationwide, the legislation to
close the loophole that allows employer-provided healthcare insurance
plans to refuse coverage of an injury based on the source of the injury is
picking up speed, hitting triple digit co-sponsors in the US House of
Representatives. As of press time, the MRF has learned that HR 1076 has
102 cosponsors. Although no committee consideration has occurred in either
body of Congress, cosponsors continue to lend their name in support of the
legislation.

"HR 1076 and its identical Senate counterpart are fair, bipartisan bills
that deserve immediate attention," said Jeff Hennie, MRF Vice President of
Government Relations.  He added, "While passing stand-alone legislation
through Congress can be likened to moving mountains, if anyone can do it,
it's the concerned motorcyclists of America."

This non-controversial legislation has passed the US Senate in the 108th
Congress with unanimous consent of the entire US Senate.  That's why our
work is now primarily with the House of Representatives.  While 102
cosponsors are impressive, at this point it's the beginning of the end for
the 110th Congress and we have to see major action this spring.  The fact
is that in an election year that is also at the end of a Congress,
legislation can move either very quickly or not at all.  It is a known
fact that Congress acts at two speeds: knee-jerk and standstill.  Let's
push this legislation into law.  Contact your member of the House of
Representatives by any means possible and ask them to support this
important legislation.

A quick glance of the list reveals something very interesting. The bulk of
the cosponsors are from states that have sent a team to Washington DC to
lobby in support of this bill. If you haven't considered sending a group
to Washington from your SMRO, you should because it works.  This issue
will dominate the MRF legislative agenda this busy spring lobby season, so
start planning your trip to DC.

Congress is set to return to Washington next week, please take a careful
look at the list below and check for your U.S. Representative.  Should you
not see him/her on the list, contact him/her via phone fax or email to ask
for support of HR 1076.  If you do see him/her listed, send a note of
thanks.

The Senate bill, S 616, has just 5 cosponsors to date: Durbin (D-IL),
Feingold (D-WI), Stabenow (D-MI), Ensign (R-NV), Graham (R-SC).

Representatives listed in State and District order, including name and
date signing on to HR 1076:

SPONSOR:  Rep Burgess, Michael [TX-26] – 2/15/2007

Rep Young, Don [AK] - 3/7/2007
Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] - 9/4/2007
Rep Ross, Mike [AR-4] - 1/16/2008
Rep Renzi, Rick [AZ-1] - 12/6/2007
Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7] - 3/28/2007
Rep Miller, George [CA-7] - 12/12/2007
Rep Eshoo, Anna G. [CA-14] - 1/28/2008
Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] - 3/13/2007
Rep Udall, Mark [CO-2] - 3/22/2007
Rep Putnam, Adam H. [FL-12] - 7/10/2007
Rep Wexler, Robert [FL-19] - 1/28/2008
Rep Deal, Nathan [GA-9] - 10/9/2007
Rep Braley, Bruce L. [IA-1] - 4/18/2007
Rep Loebsack, David [IA-2] - 10/15/2007
Rep Boswell, Leonard L. [IA-3] - 3/28/2007
Rep Latham, Tom [IA-4] - 3/29/2007
Rep King, Steve [IA-5] - 4/24/2007
Rep Simpson, Michael K. [ID-2] - 5/7/2007
Rep Jackson, Jesse L., Jr. [IL-2] - 4/24/2007
Rep Roskam, Peter J. [IL-6] - 3/23/2007
Rep Davis, Danny K. [IL-7] - 7/13/2007
Rep Schakowsky, Janice D. [IL-9] - 9/27/2007
Rep Kirk, Mark Steven [IL-10] - 3/23/2007
Rep Weller, Jerry [IL-11] - 3/27/2007
Rep Costello, Jerry F. [IL-12] - 3/6/2007
Rep Biggert, Judy [IL-13] - 5/1/2007
Rep Johnson, Timothy V. [IL-15] - 8/3/2007
Rep Manzullo, Donald A. [IL-16] - 4/17/2007
Rep Shimkus, John [IL-19] - 3/20/2007
Rep Hill, Baron P. [IN-9] - 11/15/2007
Rep Moran, Jerry [KS-1] - 9/20/2007
Rep Jindal, Bobby [LA-1] - 9/4/2007
Rep Frank, Barney [MA-4] - 12/6/2007
Rep Gilchrest, Wayne T. [MD-1] - 7/10/2007
Rep Bartlett, Roscoe G. [MD-6] - 7/10/2007
Rep Cummings, Elijah E. [MD-7] - 9/17/2007
Rep Allen, Thomas H. [ME-1] - 2/27/2007
Rep Michaud, Michael H. [ME-2] - 5/14/2007
Rep Stupak, Bart [MI-1] - 2/15/2007
Rep Ehlers, Vernon J. [MI-3] - 2/28/2007
Rep Camp, Dave [MI-4] - 3/23/2007
Rep Walberg, Timothy [MI-7] - 2/28/2007
Rep Rogers, Mike J. [MI-8] - 1/15/2008
Rep Miller, Candice S. [MI-10] - 7/10/2007
Rep McCotter, Thaddeus G. [MI-11] - 2/15/2007
Rep Walz, Timothy J. [MN-1] - 3/19/2007
Rep Kline, John [MN-2] - 7/13/2007
Rep Ramstad, Jim [MN-3] - 3/19/2007
Rep Bachmann, Michele [MN-6] - 12/17/2007
Rep Peterson, Collin C. [MN-7] - 6/6/2007
Rep Oberstar, James L. [MN-8] - 4/16/2007
Rep Emerson, Jo Ann [MO-8] - 7/13/2007
Rep Butterfield, G. K. [NC-1] - 10/31/2007
Rep Etheridge, Bob [NC-2] - 4/16/2007
Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] - 3/28/2007
Rep Price, David E. [NC-4] - 4/18/2007
Rep Mike McIntyre [NC-7] – 2/7/08
Rep Hayes, Robin [NC-8] - 7/10/2007
Rep Myrick, Sue Wilkins [NC-9] - 11/15/2007
Rep Miller, Brad [NC-13] - 6/12/2007
Rep Terry, Lee [NE-2] - 3/21/2007
Rep Smith, Adrian [NE-3] - 10/3/2007
Rep Smith, Christopher H. [NJ-4] - 12/6/2007
Rep Rothman, Steven R. [NJ-9] - 4/16/2007
Rep Payne, Donald M. [NJ-10] - 9/24/2007
Rep Berkley, Shelley [NV-1] - 10/9/2007
Rep Bishop, Timothy H. [NY-1] - 3/9/2007
Rep Fossella, Vito [NY-13] - 6/28/2007
Rep Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [NY-20] - 4/17/2007
Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-22] - 3/20/2007
Rep Kuhl, John R. "Randy", Jr. [NY-29] - 3/27/2007
Rep Gillmor, Paul E. [OH-5] - 3/13/2007
Rep Tiberi, Patrick J. [OH-12] - 9/4/2007
Rep Ryan, Tim [OH-17] - 7/10/2007
Rep Space, Zachary T. [OH-18] - 7/30/2007
Rep Fattah, Chaka [PA-2] - 7/16/2007
Rep English, Phil [PA-3] - 4/16/2007
Rep Altmire, Jason [PA-4]- 11/15/2007
Rep Gerlach, Jim [PA-6] - 10/15/2007
Rep Pitts, Joseph R. [PA-16] - 6/12/2007
Rep Holden, Tim [PA-17] - 7/10/2007
Rep Murphy, Tim [PA-18] - 5/14/2007
Rep Platts, Todd Russell [PA-19] - 3/23/2007
Rep Davis, David [TN-1] - 9/17/2007
Rep Gordon, Bart [TN-6] - 7/30/2007
Rep Blackburn, Marsha [TN-7] - 10/3/2007
Rep Hall, Ralph [TX-4] – 2/13/08
Rep Conaway, K. Michael [TX-11] - 5/3/2007
Rep Carter, John R. [TX-31] - 10/24/2007
Rep Boucher, Rick [VA-9] - 8/3/2007
Rep Larsen, Rick [WA-2] - 4/17/2007
Rep Baird, Brian [WA-3] - 7/10/2007
Rep Dicks, Norman D. [WA-6] - 7/19/2007
Rep Ryan, Paul [WI-1] - 4/24/2007
Rep Baldwin, Tammy [WI-2] - 6/12/2007
Rep Kind, Ron [WI-3] - 3/9/2007
Rep Moore, Gwen [WI-4] - 10/15/2007
Rep Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [WI-5] - 3/29/2007
Rep Petri, Thomas E. [WI-6] - 2/27/2007
Rep Obey, David R. [WI-7] - 2/28/2007
Rep Kagen, Steve [WI-8] - 2/15/2007

==========================================================
To subscribe or unsubscribe from this mailing list, visit
http://www.mrf.org/subscribe.php

Ride With The LeadersTM by joining the MRF at http://www.mrf.org/join.php
or call 1-202-546-0983

Registration is easy and secure for MRF Regional and Meeting of the Minds
conferences. Visit our website at http://www.mrf.org/events.php for
further details and registration information.

Send in your nominations and donations for the MRF's Young Activist
Scholarship fund today. For complete details, visit
http://www.mrf.org/yascholarship.php.

Sign up today for the MRF's new roadside assistance program by visiting
http://www.mrf.org/mrfroadside.php The program is available to MRF members
and non-MRF members.

(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.