On January 19th, 2009 the Virginia Coalition of Motorcyclists (VCOM) will give you a chance to have your say. We start Lobby day with a conference on Sunday afternoon, this year it will be January 18th at 12:00 noon at the Holiday Inn Crossroads in Richmond. We will go over the basics of lobbying, address every bill in consideration that affects motorcyclists and the ins and outs of what they will mean if passed. That evening we have an absolutely top notch BBQ dinner prepared by Stuart Newton of Hampton Roads Harley Davidson. This year he is adding beef brisket and mustard based BBQ sauce. Should be the best yet!

The next morning we leave the hotel for the Capital at 8:00 am sharp. We spend the morning talking to Senators, Delegates and legislative aides. When the days session convenes at noon some of us go into the house chamber for introductions while the rest of us head to Penny Lane Pub for an Irish lunch compliments of Tom McGrath and his Motorcycle Law Group.

Don’t miss this opportunity to participate in the process. If you don’t stand up for yourself you can’t expect anyone else to.

Host Hotel is;
Holiday Inn Crossroads (804)359-6061
2000 Staples Mill Rd.
Richmond, VA 23230

Ask for the VCOM rate.

Feel free to contact VCOM with any questions (804)353-3971 or jim@vcomonline.org

HR 1076 is expected to pass favorably, however anything can happen in a markup. In order to ensure swift clean passage we are asking you to contact your Member of Congress IF they are a Member of the Energy and Commerce Committee. That list follows.

This Committee action is the most important legislative activity since the full Senate passed a version of this bill in late winter, 2005.  We thank Chairman Dingell, HR 1076 sponsors, co sponsors and their staff for their attention to this very important matter.

The MRF will keep you informed on any future developments of this legislation.

House Energy and Commerce Committee

John D. Dingell (MI), Chairman

DEMOCRATS
Henry A. Waxman, CA
Edward J. Markey, MA
Rick Boucher, VA
Edolphus Towns, NY
Frank Pallone, Jr., NJ
Bart Gordon, TN
Bobby L. Rush, IL
Anna G. Eshoo, CA
Bart Stupak, MI
Eliot L. Engel, NY
Gene Green, TX
Diana DeGette, CO, Vice Chair
Lois Capps, CA
Mike Doyle, PA
Jane Harman, CA
Tom Allen, ME
Jan Schakowsky, IL
Hilda L. Solis, CA
Charles A. Gonzalez, TX

REPUBLICANS
Joe Barton, TX, Ranking Member
Ralph M. Hall, TX
Fred Upton, MI
Cliff Stearns, FL
Nathan Deal, GA
Ed Whitfield, KY
Barbara Cubin, WY
John Shimkus, IL
Heather Wilson, NM
John Shadegg, AZ
Charles W. “Chip” Pickering, MS
Vito Fossella, NY
Roy Blunt, MO
Steve Buyer, IN
George Radanovich, CA
Joseph R. Pitts, PA
Mary Bono Mack, CA
Greg Walden, OR
Lee Terry, NE

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Ride With The LeadersTM by joining the MRF at http://www.mrf.org/join.php or call 1-202-546-0983

Registration is easy and secure for MRF Regional and Meeting of the Minds conferences. Visit our website at http://www.mrf.org/events.php for further details and registration information.

Send in your nominations and donations for the MRF’s Young Activist Scholarship fund today. For complete details, visit http://www.mrf.org/yascholarship.php.

Sign up today for the MRF’s new roadside assistance program by visiting http://www.mrf.org/mrfroadside.php The program is available to MRF members and non-MRF members.

(c)All Information contained in this release is copyrighted. Reproduction permitted with attribution. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation, incorporated in 1987, is a membership-based, national motorcyclists’ rights organization headquartered in Washington, DC. The first motorcyclists’
rights organization to establish a full-time presence in Washington, DC, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation is the only Washington voice devoted exclusively to the street rider. The MRF established MRFPAC in the early 1990s to advocate the election of candidates who would champion the cause
of rider safety and rider freedom.

The MRF proudly claims state motorcyclists’ rights organizations and the very founders of the American riders’ rights movement among its leading members. The MRF is involved in federal and state legislation and regulations, motorcycling safety education, training, and public awareness. The MRF provides members and state motorcyclists’ rights organizations with direction and information, and sponsors annual regional and national educational seminars for motorcyclists rights activists, as
well as publishing a bi-monthly newsletter, THE MRF REPORTS.