TMRA2 Legislative Update

Saturday June 23rd at

Hanover’s Draft Haus
108 East Main Street
Pflugerville, Texas 78660
512-670-9617

Map

TMRA2 ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING AGENDA
District Advisor Meeting at 11:00 AM
Pledge of Allegiance
Prayer
Introduction and update from the state office- Terri Williams
District advisor reports –what’s going on with the chapters and/or the political happenings in each area:
DISCUSSION ON WHAT BILLS TO SUPPORT AND WHAT BILLS TO KILL THIS UPCOMING SESSION

Meeting ADJOURNS UNTIL the membership meeting at 1:00PM
Birthday celebration between meetings

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Agenda for the State Membership Meeting
Pledge of Allegiance
Prayer
Discussion of the TMRA2 Task Force-we need more warriors at the capitol and why-Terri, Paul, and, Jerry

Discussion of the bills to work on as listed in the Agenda and a group vote on what to work on.
Active members only can vote.

Special update from the TMRA2 Killeen Chapter, what’s up in the Killeen area.
Motorcycle Safety what needs to be done in the private sector Jerry Rose
Walking and Talking at the Capitol, Paul Landers
Announcing the Winner of the Sputnik award and the Cindy award

Meeting adjourns – Party begins.

AMA ACTION ALERT

U.S. Reps. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) and Tom Petri (R-Wis.) are urging members of the U.S. House of Representatives to sign a letter addressed to the leadership of the House-Senate Surface Transportation Reauthorization Conference Committee to include H.R. 904 in the conference report.

To date, the following have agreed to sign the letter: 1) Rep. Sandy Adams (R-Fla.); 2) Rep. Corey Gardner (R-Colo.); 3) Rep. Tim Griffin (R-Ark.); 4) Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-Ill.); 5) Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas); 6) Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-Minn.); 7) Rep. Lee Terry (R-Neb.); 8) Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.); 9) Rep. Joe Walsh (R-Ill.); and 10) Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.)

As we have reported previously, H.R. 904 would prohibit the Secretary of Transportation from providing grants or any funds to states or local governments to be used for any program to create motorcycle-only checkpoints.

Sensenbrenner/Petri have placed a June 5 deadline to collect signatures. Therefore, time is of the essence and the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is encouraging all members and rights activists to contact their representative and ask them to sign on to the letter.

Because the deadline is Tomorrow, June 5, the fastest way to reach your member of Congress is to call them. Talking points are provided for you to use with this call alert.

Additionally, a prewritten email is available for you to send to your representatives by following the “Take Action” option and entering your information.

All AMA members and anyone else who enjoys two-wheeled freedom are urged to contact their representatives and ask them to sign on to the Sensenbrenner/Petri letter addressed to the leadership of the House-Senate Surface Transportation Reauthorization Conference Committee to include H.R. 904 in the conference report.

Greetings DFW COIR,

We got things warmed up with the Call to Action we initiated a little over two weeks ago with the Conference Committee on the Federal Highway bill language. We have now acquired a specific target.

The US Defenders and COIR are now initiating a National Call to Action to our US Representatives to co-sign a letter by US Representative James Sensenbrenner (WI) to the Highway Bill Conference Committee.

The following actions are requested for all COIR members and Associates (friends, relatives, and anybody else you can grab the attention of):

1) Use the provided tools to get the Phone Number for your US Representative.

2) Call your representative; Give your name and zip code. Request that your Representative act on your behalf and co-sign the letter written by Congressman James Sensenbrenner to the Highway bill Conference Committee members.

3) Report back to your COIR Unit Commander with the name of whom you talked to and what they told you, so that we can get it documented.

It’s as simple as that. If you know who your US Representative is then you can find their phone number on the provided list. If you don’t know, then follow the link at the bottom of the message, and type in your zip code. This should pull up your US Representative’s contact info.

http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/

From MRF

Call to Action – Sensenbrenner Letter

US Representative James Sensenbrenner is asking all Members of the United States House of Representatives to co-sign a letter he is sending to the leadership running the Highway bill conference committee.

The letter urges the leadership to include the language from HR 904, the bill that prohibits any future federal funding of motorcycle-only roadside checkpoints. HR 904 has bipartisan support. Sensenbrenner is asking for signatures before June 5th, so time is of the essence.

The Motorcycle Riders Foundation is asking you to call your Federal Representative and ask them to sign onto the Sensenbrenner motorcycle-only checkpoint letter. Pick up the phone and make this important call, it’s crucial to the future of motorcycling.

With the June 5th deadline, it’s important to contact your Federal Representatives as soon as possible.

You can reach them through the US Capitol switchboard: 202 224 3121

Texas US Representatives

District Name Phone Number
1 Louie Gohmert 202-225-3035
2 Ted Poe 202-225-6565
3 Sam Johnson 202-225-4201
4 Ralph Hall 202-225-6673
5 Jeb Hensarling 202-225-3484
6 Joe Barton 202-225-2002
7 John Culberson 202-225-2571
8 Kevin Brady 202-225-4901
9 Al Green 202-225-7508
10 Michael T. McCaul 202-225-2401
11 K. Michael Conaway 202-225-3605
12 Kay Granger 202-225-5071
13 Mac Thornberry 202-225-3706
14 Ron Paul 202-225-2831
15 Ruben Hinojosa 202-225-2531
16 Sylvestre Reyes 202-225-4831
17 Bill Flores 202-225-6105
18 Shiela Jackson Lee 202-225-3816
19 Randy Neugebauer 202-225-4005
20 Charlie A. Gonzalez 202-225-3236
21 Lamar Smith 202-225-4236
22 Pete Olson 202-225-5951
23 Francisco Canesco 202-225-4511
24 Kenny Marchant 202-225-6605
25 Lloyd Doggett 202-225-4865
26 Michael Burgess 202-225-7772
27 Blake Farenthold 202-225-7742
28 Henry Cuellar 202-225-1640
29 Gene Green 202-225-1688
30 Eddie B. Johnson 202-225-8885
31 John Carter 202-225-3864
32 Pete Sessions 202-225-2231

The text of the letter is below:

Senator Barbara Boxer
Chair
Senate Environment & Public Works Committee
410 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

Senator James M. Inhofe
Ranking Member
Senate Environment & Public Works Committee
456 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

Representative John L. Mica
Chairman
House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee
2165 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

Representative Nick J. Rahall II
Ranking Member
House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee
2163 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Committee Chairs and Ranking Members:

There is broad bipartisan support on Capitol Hill and among motorcycle groups across the country, for efforts by Congress to prohibit the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) from funding motorcycle-only-checkpoints (MOCs). We respectfully request that the House-Senate conference committee support this effort by including H.R. 904 in the surface transportation reauthorization conference report.

This provision would prohibit the DOT from providing funds to state and local governments for the purpose of establishing MOCs. MOCs are a controversial and unproven method of addressing motorcyclist safety and have not been an efficient use of limited federal dollars. The very existence of this program essentially profiles a group of citizens – the motorcycling community – for operating a legal mode of transportation.

In addition, DOT should be prohibited from making funds available for MOCs because there are more effective uses of taxpayer money to address motorcycle safety. DOT should focus on programs to instruct motorcyclists on the importance of proper licensing, rider education, and motorcycle awareness campaigns. These efforts will do more to prevent motorcycle crashes than mandatory checkpoints to inspect helmets and tailpipes.

You may recall that H.R. 904 has more than 40 bipartisan cosponsors. Including this language in the conference report would be a victory for encouraging effective motorcycle safety efforts.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

US Representative James Sensenbrenner

~Suds
Texas Commander, U.S. Defenders/COIR Division

http://usdefenders.org/

http://coctx.org/