50 Lawmakers Now Support The Kids Just Want To Ride Act
Legislation that would exempt kids' dirtbikes and all-terrain
vehicles (ATVs) from the "lead law" that effectively bans them at
the end of the year is gaining momentum on Capitol Hill, the
American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) reports.
There are now 50 co-sponsors to H.R. 412: The Kids Just Want to
Ride Act, which was introduced by Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.) The
bill seeks to exempt kids' off-highway vehicles (OHVs) from the
Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) of 2008, which is
also known as the lead law.
The CPSIA bans the making, importing, distributing or selling of
any product intended for children 12 and under that contains more
than a specified amount of lead in any accessible part. It also
requires all children's products undergo periodic testing by
independent laboratories approved by the Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC), which is responsible for implementing the
law.
The CPSC has delayed enforcing key portions of the law until after
the end of the year. Unless the CPSIA is changed by then, the sale
of child-sized dirtbikes and ATVs will effectively be banned.
"As a motorcycling enthusiast myself for many years, I fully
respect the importance of improving the safety of kids who ride
off-highway motorcycles and ATVs," said Rep. Reid Ribble (R-Wis.),
one of the latest co-sponsors. "But this is just another example of
regulations creating the exact opposite effect of their original
intent. This law actually makes kids less safe by eliminating
appropriately sized off-highway motorcycles and ATVs, and forces
young riders onto larger and more powerful machines not designed
for them.
"I'm proud to support the Kids Just Want to Ride Act and know that
it will keep youth-sized motorcycles and ATVs available for safe
and responsible use as they are intended," Ribble said.
Rep. Jeff Landry (R-La.), another co-sponsor, said: "The Kids Just
Want to Ride Act will fix the illogical mandate of the Consumer
Product Safety Commission and will once again allow our children to
safely enjoy outdoor recreational vehicles. I am proud to be a
co-sponsor of this common-sense legislation to protect our youth
while working to create jobs."
Ed Moreland, AMA senior vice president for government relations,
thanked lawmakers for their bipartisan backing of the bill. He
noted it's important to get as many co-sponsors as possible to
increase the bill's chances of passage.
Moreland urged all concerned riders and parents to contact their
federal lawmakers to ask for support.
The easiest way to contact lawmakers is through the Rights section
of the AMA website at AmericanMotorcyclist.com.
In addition to Ribble and Landry, the latest co-sponsors of the
Kids Just Want to Ride bill include Reps. Michele Bachmann
(R-Minn.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Joe Courtney (D-Conn.), Mark
Critz (D-Pa.), Lynn Jenkins (R-Kan.), John Kline (R-Minn.), Tom
Latham (R-Iowa), Pete Olson (R-Texas), Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind.),
Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) and Joe Wilson (R-S.C.).
For more information, go to http://capwiz.com/amacycle/go/HR412.
