Just A Month Away!
Register NOW! More Than Holding Common Ground The legislative priorities for the Motorcycle Riders Foundation, were determined at the 2023 Meeting of the Minds in Pennsylvania. SMRO leaders and their legislative directors met and collectively decided the direction the MRF would take during the 2024 session of Congress. Bikers Inside the Beltway is more than holding common ground. Since 2009, Bikers Inside the Beltway has grown to demonstrate the collective grassroots voice of the nation’s street-riding motorcyclists. From less than 25 attendees in 2009 to well over one hundred in 2023, Bikers Inside the Beltway is more than holding common ground. In 2023, motorcyclists attending Bikers Inside the Beltway visited all 535 congressional offices. That same orchestrated visit will be part of Bikers Inside the Beltway 2024. Now is the time to plan to attend Bikers inside the Beltway – May 20 & 21, 2024. Event registration is free. However, we request you register early to help us plan the event. Holding common ground takes work and planning. In addition to the MRF “Roadshow” and MRF legislative priorities, interwoven with action from members. Individual members, Sustaining Member partners from SMROs, motorcycle clubs and motorcycling businesses are the driving forces behind the MRF’s victories. Bikers Inside the Beltway will bring the MRF’s legislative priorities to Capitol Hill. MRF legislative priorities include but are not limited to the following:
To ensure that the mission of getting our message to Congress continues to be successful, you must make your hotel reservations now. Also, please consider the following as you make plans to attend Bikers Inside the Beltway:
The MRF Board of Directors will meet On May 20th before our visit to Capitol Hill. Later that day, there will be a Q&A briefing scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at the Embassy Suites, 1900 Diagonal Road, Alexandria, Virginia. Rooms are available through the hotel direct line 703-684-5900 and use reference code MRF. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation’s Bikers Inside the Beltway is more than holding common ground — it is about protecting the future of motorcycling. Thank you for your commitment. Yours in Freedom, Fredric Harrell MRF Director of Conferences & Events SCHEDULE Monday, May 20th MRF Board Meeting @ Embassy Suites - start 8am Lobbying Prep. Session @ Embassy Suites 6-8 pm Tuesday, May 21st Lobby Day @ Congressional Offices (KSU: TBD) Post Debrief Session @ Embassy Suites 6-8pm HOTEL EMBASSY SUITES 1900 Diagonal Rd Alexandria, VA 22314 703-684-5900 Reservation Code: MRF $260 Base Rate Rooms Are Limited! MAKE YOUR CONGRESSONAL APPOINTMENTS NOW! REGISTER FOR BIKERS INSIDE THE BELTWAY 2024 Click to Register JOIN THE MRF TODAY! Click to Join About Motorcycle Riders Foundation The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) provides leadership at the federal level for states’ motorcyclists’ rights organizations as well as motorcycle clubs and individual riders. The MRF is chiefly concerned with issues at the national and international levels that impact the freedom and safety of American street motorcyclists. The MRF is committed to being a national advocate for the advancement of motorcycling and its associated lifestyle and works in conjunction with its partners to help educate elected officials and policymakers in Washington and beyond. All Information contained in this release is copyrighted. Reproduction permitted with attribution. Motorcycle Riders Foundation. All rights reserved. Ride With The Leaders ™ by joining the MRF at http://mrf.org/ or call (202) 546-0983 
MRF Visits Waymo
Latest In Robo-Taxis Last week, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) attended an event in Washington, D.C., hosted by Waymo, a self-driving car company. Titled “Every Mile Together: Waymo Safety Forum and Discussion," this event included a panel discussion with executives for Waymo, the National Safety Council and the Governors Highway Safety Association. Waymo is a subsidiary of Google and is best known for its “robo-taxis.” These vehicles allow riders to hail a car and travel to a destination without a driver. Operating without a driver falls under the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) definition of “Level 4” automation. That NHTSA classification means, “When engaged, the system is fully responsible for driving tasks. A human driver is not needed to operate the vehicle.” An important takeaway from the event was that Waymo agrees with the MRF that current advertisements and the lack of transparency involving this modern technology are unacceptable. Other companies are operating vehicles with Level 2 autonomy. Misleading advertising means consumers are unaware of what tasks that automation level can perform. The Level 2 automation definition states: “Driver is fully responsible for driving the vehicle while the system provides continuous assistance with either acceleration/braking and steering.” The MRF is committed to fighting for the safety of bikers and will collaborate with allies on issues we agree upon. We thank the officials at Waymo for the invitation and for including us in these discussions. As a reminder, Waymo is operating in Phoenix, San Francisco and Los Angeles, with plans to start in Austin, Texas. These vehicles are on the road now and their presence is growing. Waymo will soon begin testing in other locations, so, as always, remain vigilant. Join The MRF About Motorcycle Riders Foundation The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) provides leadership at the federal level for states’ motorcyclists’ rights organizations as well as motorcycle clubs and individual riders. The MRF is chiefly concerned with issues at the national and international levels that impact the freedom and safety of American street motorcyclists. The MRF is committed to being a national advocate for the advancement of motorcycling and its associated lifestyle and works in conjunction with its partners to help educate elected officials and policymakers in Washington and beyond. All Information contained in this release is copyrighted. Reproduction permitted with attribution. Motorcycle Riders Foundation. All rights reserved. Ride With The Leaders ™ by joining the MRF at http://mrf.org/ or call (202) 546-0983 |
New Leadership For
House Motorcycle Caucus This week, the House Motorcycle Caucus announced changes to its leadership team. Congressman Michael Burgess of Texas, who will retire at the end of the year, has stepped down as co-chair of the caucus. Congressman Burgess helped found the caucus in 2009 and has been a tireless champion for bikers. He was the 2018 MRF Legislative Champion of the Year and we wish him well on his retirement! The current co-chair, Congressman Tim Walberg of Michigan, revealed that Congressman Troy Balderson of Ohio and Congressman Donald Norcross of New Jersey will join him as the new co-chairs. Mr. Balderson and Mr. Norcross are longtime members of the House Motorcycle Caucus and strong supporters of biker priorities. The House Motorcycle Caucus has always been a bipartisan group, so we are pleased to see Representative Norcross, a Democrat, join two Republicans as a co-chair. Additionally, the caucus named Freshman Congressman Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin as vice chair. Mr. Van Orden is an avid motorcyclist who made a point to ride his motorcycle to the Capitol for his first day in office! Thank you to all those who will lead and are members of the House Motorcycle Caucus. Remember, this organization and its sister group, the Senate Motorcycle Caucus, exist to educate, legislate and publicize the priorities of bikers on Capitol Hill. Below is a current list of House Motorcycle Caucus members as of Thursday, February 15th, 2024. Don Bacon (R-NE) Troy Balderson (R-OH) Jim Banks (R-IN) Mike Bost (R-IL) Angie Craig (D-MN) Rick Crawford (R-AR) John Curtis (R-UT) Tom Emmer (R-MN) Paul Gosar (R-AZ) Glenn Grothman (R-WI) Andy Harris (R-MD) Dusty Johnson (R-SD) Anne Kuster (D-NH) Doug Lamborn (R-CO) Tracy Mann (R-KS) Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) Donald Norcross (D-NJ) Scott Perry (R-PA) Bill Posey (R-FL) Adam Smith (D-WA) Pete Stauber (R-MN) Bryan Steil (R-WI) Chris Stewart (R-UT) Glenn "GT" Thompson (R-PA) Dina Titus (D-NV) Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) Michael Waltz (R-FL) Joe Wilson (R-SC) Join The MRF About Motorcycle Riders Foundation The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) provides leadership at the federal level for states’ motorcyclists’ rights organizations as well as motorcycle clubs and individual riders. The MRF is chiefly concerned with issues at the national and international levels that impact the freedom and safety of American street motorcyclists. The MRF is committed to being a national advocate for the advancement of motorcycling and its associated lifestyle and works in conjunction with its partners to help educate elected officials and policymakers in Washington and beyond. All Information contained in this release is copyrighted. Reproduction permitted with attribution. Motorcycle Riders Foundation. All rights reserved. Ride With The Leaders ™ by joining the MRF at http://mrf.org/ or call (202) 546-0983 |
