U.S. House Subcommittee Approves Changes To 'Lead Law'

A key U.S. House subcommittee has approved legislation to address flaws in the law that effectively bans the sale of kids' off-highway vehicles (OHVs) at the end of the year, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) reports.

On May 12, the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade approved and sent to the full Committee on Energy and Commerce the Enhancing CPSC Authority and Discretion Act (ECADA) of 2011 for further consideration.

The ECADA would exempt kids' dirtbike and all-terrain vehicle (ATV) battery terminals from the lead-content limits of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) of 2008, which is commonly known as the lead law. It may also allow exemptions to the lead-content portion of the law for OHV parts under certain conditions.

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.

"The ECADA is a step in the right direction," said Ed Moreland, AMA senior vice president for government relations. "We are hopeful that the final legislation will fully address the problem with an outright exemption, like the one in H.R. 412, the Kids Just Want to Ride Act."

Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.), author of H.R. 412, the Kids Just Want to Ride Act, said: "I appreciate the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade's continued work to undo the consequences of the overreaching regulations created by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. However, this legislation still does not go far enough in exempting youth-sized motorcycles and ATVs.

"H.R. 412, the Kids Just Want to Ride Act, provides the necessary exemption for these vehicles and is the most common-sense approach to this issue," he continued. "Montanans and folks across the country who enjoy these products are waiting for Congress to show leadership and exempt these products once and for all."

The AMA will conduct an AMA Family Capitol Hill Climb on Thursday, May 26, at the nation's Capitol in Washington, D.C., to help educate lawmakers about the need to change the CPSIA.

The event will promote the future of kids' dirtbike and ATV riding, and scores of young riders and their families are expected to attend. The day will begin with a press event introducing the winner of a video contest to focus attention on the plight of children and families impacted by the CPSIA.

Following a screening of the winning "Kids Just Want To Ride!" video, all attendees will have the opportunity to meet with their congressional representatives to urge support for H.R. 412, the Kids Just Want to Ride Act.

For more information about the Kids Just Want to Ride Act and the AMA Family Capitol Hill Climb, go to AmericanMotorcyclist.com.