Wisconsin Group Lobbies Congress in Washington DC

by Joe Stanek

This adventure starts with volunteering to represent us and planning the time off work and away from the duties at home and the farm. Then, the next steps are being accepted to go on ABATE scholarship and chosen as the constituent to my home congressional district. Planning a riding schedule to meet our friends and adequate fuel stops was also part of the equation prior to leaving early Sunday morning. Several St Croix Valley Riders met our western group near Lodi. We met the folks from the eastern side of the state at the first travel plaza in Indiana, after making it through Chicagoland. Of course, we rode through plenty of rain going east – we always do, every year.

The Washington DC meeting appointments were very well arranged to minimize redundant long walks between the separate halls of senators and representatives, as well as the schedule made it easy to get to all the legislators. We split into several groups which made it even easier to cover all those representing Wisconsin at the federal level. In all, there was quite a group of us including, Seven & Cathy, Bob Aprill, Dave (SCVR), Dan Hren (SCVR), Dave Dwyer, Gary Klinker, Jim Parker, Tom Fox, Polack, Bill Kingsley, Hardtail, Steve Panten and me. It may have been more than any other state. We cover every Wisconsin office thoroughly.

I started as a participant among our ABATE of Wisconsin group in the meeting with Representative Gwen Moore’s office. We met with her staff. Then I went with another group who was assigned to Representative Ron Kind’s office. We met with his staff. My third stop was to see my own Representative Marc Pocan’s office staff, Sydney Scott – Legislative Correspondent. Pocan is an original co-sponsor to the profiling of motorcyclists’ resolution, so he won our thanks for that. Only three of our state’s representatives were signed onto this action as of visit. Sydney was apprised of our view on the definition of a motorcycle. We asked that her office watch for communications from NHTSA on this topic, which still functions from the Code of Federal Regulations that defined motorcycles in 1966 per Section 571.3 of Title 49. Our third topic with Sydney was to ask for her and the office to watch for autonomous vehicle technology (AV) and especially how it relates to motorcycle traffic. We explained that there were several bills put forth last session that did not pass, and that the House version made no mention of being able to read and react to motorcycles. With foresight, Congress can consider the need to protect motorcyclists from undue transgression by AVs. Our last item for House consideration was asking Sydney to discuss signing onto HR 1024 which addresses consumer education on ethanol use in motorcycles and other small engines. This bill asks for an educational label at the gas pumps related to the effects of ethanol on some engines. I will follow up with Pocan’s office to see when there might be a positive action for this item.

The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) figured out and scheduled an outdoors presentation for the past winners and the new Legislator of the Year Award. It was very well done, and well attended in front of the Capitol Building during perfect weather under a blue sky. Another MRF treat, at least for legislative staff of all levels, was that they were formally invited to participate in a motorcycle simulator experience. Equipment was set up in a reserved meeting room in one of the House of Representatives buildings. This is something fun for them that is available all through the day, creates buzz and is educational. It can help others to understand riding and support our efforts to protect motorcyclists’ safety and freedom.

Most of the Wisconsinite’s group met over at the Senate office building to see our last two legislators, Ron Johnson and Tammy Baldwin. Both were thanked for their support as sponsor or co-sponsor on last year’s senate resolution regarding law enforcement profiling of motorcyclists. It was great to see our two senators jump on this in our favor. Both offices were knowledgeable on the other topics of NHTSA’s definition of a motorcycle and how that relates to autocycles, AV technology and motorcycle awareness, ethanol warning stickers for gas pumps and the need to be ever vigilant on the subject of helmet choice. Joe “Wizard” Stanek