TMRA2 Legislative Update

Jeremy’s Case Update,
Next Hearing is on January 31st

More Information at the Saturday January 21st DFW Region Meeting

The hearing address is:
204 South Buffalo Street
Cleburne, Texas

Time needed to be in the parking lot:
No Later than 8:15am
This is to insure every can get in.

Remind everyone of the dress code,
Please do not wear anything that will take away from the purpose of being there.
This is about justice being served on behalf of Jeremy’s family, friends, brothers, sisters and his memory,
NOT ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE!

11NR35 – MRF News Release – Senate Committee Passes Highway Safety Bill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
14 December 2011

Contact:Jeff Hennie, Vice President of Government Ralations and Public Affairs

Senate Committee Passes Highway Safety Bill

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Today, the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation passed a sweeping safety bill known as the Motor Vehicle and Highway Safety Improvement Act (S. 1449). The bill passed by voice vote.

Earlier this week, Senator Lautenberg (D-NJ) filed an amendment that would have gutted the popular federal motorcycle education and awareness grants, known as the 2010 funds. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation is pleased to report that Lautenberg did not call that amendment for a vote. Due to an overwhelming response from the motorcycle community, the 2010 grants are safe for now.

Also under attack was the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) lobby ban. This law prohibits NHTSA from using federal money to lobby State legislatures, uninvited. The way S. 1449 was drafted, it removed this lobby ban. Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) introduced a number of amendments to maintain the ban and the necessary amendments were agreed to, by unanimous consent of the full committee.

The one sticking point that remains is at least, the least troublesome. That being said, it is still something that will keep the attention of the MRF lobby efforts. The trouble lies in a provision in S. 1449 that calls out motorcycle helmets in the list of definitions as “motor vehicle equipment”. Previously, the list simply stated: “any device or an article or apparel… that is not a system, part, or component of a motor vehicle”.

The MRF would like to thank all the State motorcycle rights organizations and everyone else who helped with this legislation.

The bill passed today will likely move on to be a part of the larger Highway Bill which could happen in early 2012. The MRF will keep you informed on this issue.

The Motorcycle Riders Foundation reports that the US Senate Committee on Commerce Science and Transportation will be marking up The Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 2011 (S. 1449). This bill governs the National Highway Transportation Safety Administrations activities. This bill has the potential to greatly affect motorcyclists nationwide.

There are three provisions that specifically target motorcyclists.

Call your Senators and ask them to:

Oppose Lautenberg amendment #1. This amendment would alter the motorcycle safety grant program by forcing states to pass mandatory universal helmet laws and drive federal tax dollars to be used to promote the use of helmets. This provision would make it easier for helmet law states to obtain 2010 grant money. This amendment would provide no money for awareness or training.

Support DeMint amendments #1 and #18. These amendments protect the NHTSA lobby ban. Under the proposed legislation are provisions to lift this lobby ban.

Support DeMint amendment #2. The bill, (S 1449) would change the definition of “motor vehicle equipment” to include motorcycle helmets. This would allow States to spend federal money dedicated to “motor vehicle equipment” on motorcycle helmets. The DeMint amendment would keep helmets out of that definition.

Call Now. Time is of the essence. Call you Senators via the capitol switch board at 202 224 3121.

Of key importance are the Senators on the committee you can contact them directly:

Senator Rockefeller-WV 202 224 6472
Senator Kerry-MA 202 224 2742
Senator Lautenberg-NJ 202 224 3224
Senator McCaskill-MO 202 224 6154
Senator Udall-NM 202 224 5941
Senator Begich-AK 202 224 3004
Senator Inouye-HI 202 224 3934
Senator Boxer-CA 202 224 3553
Senator Cantwell-WA 202 224 3441
Senator Pryor-AR 202 224 2353
Senator Klobucher-MN 202 224 3244
Senator Hutchinson-TX 202 224 5922
Senator DeMint-SC 202 224 6121
Senator Wicker-MS 202 224 6253
Senator Blunt-MO 202 224 5721
Senator Toomey-PA 202 224 4254
Senator Ayotte-NH 202 224 3324
Senator Snowe-ME 202 224 5344
Senator Thune- SD 202 224 2321
Senator Isakson-GA 202 224 3643
Senator Boozman-AR 202 224 4843
Senator Marco Rubio-FL 202 224 3041
Senator Heller-NV 202 224 6244

This is of extreme importance. Please call today, Tuesday, December 13th, 2011.

Do not hesitate to contact the MRF should you have any questions. 202 546 0983

To all TMRA2 members, please contact the president right away and ask him to veto S.1867. Here is the contact information: Please keep calling the number until you get through.

E-mail: president@whitehouse.gov
Phone: (202) 456-1414
Fax: (202) 456-2461
Address:
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20500

latest from Senator Rand Paul on S.1867:

http://dailycapitalist.com/2011/12/05/senator-rand-paul-on-the-gutting-of-the-bill-of-rights/

Here is what Judge Andrew P. Napolitano said recently on his show Freedom Watch, about s.1867 “While you were shopping and dining over Thanksgiving, and maybe watching some football games, Big Government Republicans and Democrats were busy shredding the last vestiges of the Constitution … they’re talking about inserting the Army into domestic law enforcement.”
Napolitano then quoted Republican Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC) as saying
“The homeland is part of the battlefield and people can be held without trial whether an American citizen or not.”

Please read the Call of Action below and call immediately:

US Defenders,
Never before has there been such an immediate challenge facing
Americans, our community of motorcyclists must unite as one to face the rampant tyranny that our government is trying to enforce. The US Defenders will have our voices heard!
We are implementing an NATIONAL CALL TO ACTION IMMEDIATELY !!!! Every one of us must let the President know he must VETO this horrible piece of legislation .
Along with signing this imbedded petition, you are urged to contact your US Senators and express your utter dismay and disbelief that they would allow this to happen!

The recent bill SB 1867, voted on and passed through the Senate, is called the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 , pertaining to the detention and imprisonment of US citizens by the US military without trial or jury is not only a threat to every law-abiding citizen in this country but to our US Constitution as well. Our Bill of Rights has been thrown out the window!!!

We must have 100% US Defenders participation from every state, and from every biker that values personal freedom and LIBERTY!

Copy and paste this link to your browser and sigh the petition

https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions#%21/petition/we-people-demand-obama-veto-s-1867-bill-which-views-all-american-citizens-terroristic-threat/S6dkZrsh

Be sure to read the new Warrior. It can be found at

http://tmra2.org/images/warrior.pdf