FW: [Cycle eNews] NCOM ISSUES URGENT CALL TO ACTION 1

Wednesday, December 14, 2011 9:48 AM

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 From: cycle_news-bounces@aimncom.com [mailto:cycle_news-bounces@aimncom.com] On Behalf Of AIM/NCOM Cycle eNews Mailing List 

NCOM ISSUES URGENT CALL TO ACTION

Your Immediate Action Needed to Curb National Helmet Law & Protect Motorcycle Safety Programs

 The National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM) joins with the AMA and the MRF in issuing an URGENT Call to Action regarding proposed amendments to S.1449 the "Motor Vehicle and Highway Safety Improvement Act of 2011” that would call for a National Mandatory Helmet Law for all motorcyclists and could jeopardize funding for Motorcycle Safety programs across the country.

 Your prompt action is necessary to derail this federal threat to motorcyclists’ rights, as the hearing on these amendments is scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday, December 14, 2011 by the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee.

 This federal highway funding measure will decide the future of the national transportation program, and of particular concern to riders are three amendments that would urge states to pass helmet laws and redirect motorcycle safety funds to promoting helmet use.

 Please act immediately by contacting your U.S. Senators at the Capitol Hotline (202) 224-3121, especially if their name appears on the list of committee members below, and ask them to:

 1.  OPPOSE and Vote “NO” on Lautenburg Amendment #1 that would alter the motorcycle safety grant program to promote helmet laws by penalizing states that do not have compulsory helmet laws in place by redirecting their federal highway funds and making it more difficult to apply for safety grants.

 2. SUPPORT and Vote “YES” on DeMint Amendments #1 and #18 that would remove language in the bill to lift the current ban on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) from lobbying states to enact universal helmet laws for all riders.

3. SUPPORT and Vote “YES” on DeMint Amendment #2 to delete the words “motorcycle helmet” from the bill’s modified definition of “motor vehicle equipment”, which would otherwise encourage states to spend federal money to promote helmet use.

 Your immediate attention to this nationwide Call to Action is crucial to avoiding another federal helmet law battle and consequentially a future helmet fight in your own statehouse, so call your own two U.S. Senators and the following members of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee TODAY!

 Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) – (202) 224-3324

Senator Mark Begich (D-AK) – (202) 224-3004

Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) – (202) 224-5721

Senator John Boozman (R-AR) – (202) 224-4843
Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) – (202) 224-3553
Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) (202) 224-3441
Senator James “Jim” DeMint (R-SC) – (202) 224-6121
Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) – (202) 224-6244 

Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-TX) – (202) 224-5922

Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI) – (202) 224-3934

Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA) – (202) 224-3643
Senator John Kerry (D-MA) – (202) 224-2742
Senator Amy Klobucher (D-MN) – (202) 224-3244 

Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) – (202) 224-3224

Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) – (202) 224-6154
Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR) – (202) 224-2353
Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) – (202) 224-6472
Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) – (202) 224-3041
Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) – (202) 224-6253
Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) – (202) 224-5344
Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA) – (202) 224-4254
Senator John Thune (R- SD) – (202) 224-2321

Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) – (202) 224-5941