On May 1, 2006 a group of folks from ABATE of VA visited Washington DC to lobby our representative on motorcycle related issues happening at the federal level. Here is Sharon's report:
ROAMING THE HALLS OF CONGRESS…(and the streets of DC!)
Our group, Steve Stacy, Shag Meade, Castro Phillips, Wes Clevinger, Andy Keaton and me, started out with a meeting at the MRF office with Jeff Hennie, MRF’s Legislative Coordinator. Jeff had unfortunately broken his foot and did not accompany us to the capitol buildings, but he did provide us with packages of information to give to each of Virginia’s Congressmen and Senators. Jeff reviewed the current issues that we would cover in each of our meetings and we felt prepared to go and ask for support for the items on our agenda.
It was a sunny day and we hiked a few blocks to our first meetings. Things went well at the Longworth Building, Andy and I wrapped up our first meetings in less time than expected, then had time to regroup before our appointment with our Congressman Eric Cantor, in another building. Gene and Jack Spare joined us after walking for over an hour from the parking garage. They met with a rep from Jo Ann Davis’s office and secured an appointment to meet with Congresswoman Davis in person later that afternoon.
The Coalfields/Lonesome Pine group met with Senator George Allen and Congressman Boucher’s aides, while Andy and I met with aides from Congresswoman Davis and Congressman Goode’s offices. We were able to get together for our meeting at Eric Cantor’s office. All in all, our presentations were well received, I believe.
The issues we covered were HIPPA, the Health Insurance Portability Protection Act, which would prevent insurance companies from discriminating against motorcyclists, and the Right to Repair Act that would force dealers to share computer diagnostic information with vehicle owners and other mechanics. We also discussed the proposed EPA regulations that severely restrict older motorcycles that do not meet current emissions standards.
A non-motorcycle related topic that was brought to our representatives’ attention is the flag burning issue. Apparently bills are introduced each year in the name of the Second Amendment that ask to legally burn the American flag. Our group spoke out against this and I was glad to hear that Eric Cantor agrees with our point of view.
All in all, it was certainly a learning experience! We did not know our way around Washington and we weren’t familiar with the metro rail system. We learned that traffic in Washington is chaotic, but everyone we met was friendly. The Congressional buildings are monuments of beauty in themselves, the architectural details are incredible. Walking around inside really gives you a feeling of stepping back in time.
This was an adventure I highly recommend to anyone who ever has the chance to visit Washington and meet with our lawmakers. The aides were all surprisingly young, but seemed educated and qualified. We’re already making plans to do this again in the future, only next time we know we’ll need more than one day.
Report submitted by Sharon Keaton
ABATE of Virginia
Virginia Freedom Riders
