Obama Signs Lead Law-exemption Bill
Friday, August 12, 2011 | 8:10 PM
Share
Comment
Email
PrintObama signs lead law-exemption bill for kids' off-highway vehicles
PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- In a victory for families who enjoy responsible motorized recreation, President Barack Obama has signed into law a bill to allow the sale of kids' off-highway vehicles (OHVs) to continue, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) reports.
On Aug. 12, Obama signed into law H.R. 2715, introduced by Reps. Mary Bono Mack (R-Calif.) and G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.). The measure exempts kids' OHVs from the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) of 2008, known as the lead law.
The CPSIA, which went into effect on Feb. 10, 2009, banned the making, importing, distributing or selling of any product intended for children 12 and under, including kids' dirtbikes and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), that contained more than a specified amount of lead in any accessible part that might be ingested.
H.R. 2715 cleared the House by a 421-2 vote on Aug. 1 just before lawmakers went into their summer recess, and earned Senate approval by unanimous consent the same day.
The new law is a victory that is the result of nearly three years of intensive efforts by the AMA and its partner organization, the All-Terrain Vehicle Association (ATVA), their members and millions of advocates of responsible OHV recreation.
"Federal legislators deserve a lot of thanks for their tireless efforts, especially U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.), U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and all the other lawmakers who supported an exemption," said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. "Hundreds of thousands of parents, kids and motorcycling club members responded to AMA calls for action to contact their elected officials and their efforts, along with all those volunteers who circulated petitions and took other actions, brought this issue to the attention of Congress and turned the tide in our favor.
"I'm sure that those letters, emails and telephone calls to Congress had a major impact in convincing lawmakers to exempt OHVs from the lead law," Dingman said. "I'm also convinced that the AMA Family Capitol Hill Climb held on May 26 played a major role, since it put a human face on the issue by showing lawmakers the kids and families who are suffering because of the CPSIA.
"I want to thank Racer X magazine, Doublin Gap Motocross Park, Mason Dixon Riding Association 6 and 7, Tomahawk MX Park, the Middle Atlantic Motocross Association, Budds Creek Motocross Park, High Point Raceway, and advocates such as the Yentzer family and Moto-Patriot Nancy Sabater, who brought youngsters to Washington, D.C., for the AMA Family Capitol Hill Climb to lobby their lawmakers," he said.
Dingman also thanked other organizations and individuals that worked diligently on the effort, including the Motorcycle Industry Council and Specialty Vehicle Institute of America, which represent the motorcycle and ATV industries; the motorcycle enthusiast and trade media; Sean Hilbert, president of Cobra Motorcycles, which makes kids' dirtbikes; the Coombs family and Tim Cotter of MX Sports, which has conducted the famed AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship featuring thousands of promising young riders for the past 30 years, and Kirk "Hardtail" Willard, president of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation.
"I want to extend a very special thanks to Malcolm Smith, a member of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame, who brought a lot of attention to the unfairness of the lead law when he hosted a media event at Malcolm Smith Motorsports and sold some youth OHVs as a symbolic gesture to protest the law," Dingman said.
The AMA has been at the forefront of the fight to exclude child-sized motorcycles and ATVs from the CPSIA since early 2009. The association has participated in news events to focus media attention on the issue, lobbied on Capitol Hill, and organized campaigns to encourage riders and parents to contact their federal lawmakers and key decision-makers to exempt kids' OHVs from the CPSIA.
As a result, every single member of Congress, as well as members of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), has received powerful statements from members of the AMA and ATVA.
The AMA magnified these efforts through its "Kids Just Want to Ride" campaign. To read more of what the AMA has done in its efforts to exempt kids' OHVs from the CPSIA, go to http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/Rights/KeepKidMotorcyclesAndATVsLegal.aspx.
Aimed at children's toys, the CPSIA ensnared kids' dirtbikes and ATVs because trace levels of lead can be found in parts such as batteries and brake calipers. Other children's products were also affected by the CPSIA, such as books, clothes and microscopes.
The CPSC, which is responsible for implementing the CPSIA, delayed enforcement of certain parts of the law until the end of this year, granting a reprieve for child-sized dirtbikes and ATVs. That gave those concerned about the law time to change it before the reprieve ended.
About the American Motorcyclist Association
Since 1924, the AMA has protected the future of motorcycling and promoted the motorcycle lifestyle. AMA members come from all walks of life, and they navigate many different routes on their journey to the same destination: freedom on two wheels. As the world's largest motorcycling rights organization, the AMA advocates for motorcyclists' interests in the halls of local, state and federal government, the committees of international governing organizations, and the court of public opinion. Through member clubs, promoters and partners, the AMA sanctions more motorsports competition and motorcycle recreational events than any other organization in the world. AMA members receive money-saving discounts from dozens of well-known suppliers of motorcycle services, gear and apparel, bike rental, transport, hotel stays and more. Through its support of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, the AMA preserves the heritage of motorcycling for future generations. For more information, please visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com.
Did you like this article?
Check out HIGH/LOW
in our Latest issue of Racer X available now.
Each of the five major manufacturers had its ups and downs during the 2013 Monster Energy Supercross campaign. Page 118.
Look for the verified symbol 
Impulse Studios
well done, Chiefs
well done, Chiefs
Who were the 2 opposed ?
He is still a worthless piece of Liberal crap. Even though I do believe he could beat Ryan Hughes on an EnduroX course.
wow, first thing obama has done that i approve of, i guess even a blind squirrell finds a nut occasionally
only thing that (dont have words/names for the FILL IN THE BLANK),,did right,guess its a re-election bid,,but who cares LET THE KIDS RIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Congress and the Senate both overwhelmingly approve of dirt bikes, but that worthless usurper still wants to try to take credit as if he thought of it first. It would be so fun to roost him with a sand paddle in rocky soil.
Congratulations to all off-roaders, I can't believe the gall of lawyers and politicians to try to rob our families of quality time together.
Congress and the Senate both overwhelmingly approve of dirt bikes, but that worthless usurper still wants to try to take credit as if he thought of it first. It would be so fun to roost him with a sand paddle in rocky soil.
Congratulations to all off-roaders, I can't believe the gall of lawyers and politicians to try to rob our families of quality time together.
Now I see how people double-post. They hit "Submit," then nothing happens. They hit it again and it double-posts.
Can somebody please post the names of the two politicians that voted in favor of the lead law !!!! Everyone should no there names so we dont vote for them on un knowingly .
They should have disabled comments for this thread; just saying...
i knew a bunch of goons would find something negative to say. Give credit where its due
Some people just don't know when to be grateful and shut the hell up!
As expected, HR 2715 is signed into Law and still there are a few sniveling fools out there who biitch, moan and add some negativity to the conversation.
Racer-X, you should have turned the comments section 'off' for this one.
OHIO House of Representatives Democrat DENNIS J. KUCINICH and ILLINOIS House of Representatives Democrat BOBBY RUSH voted 'NO' against passage of the "Lead Law Bill" HR 2715.
I've sent each of them a letter asking what particular part of HR 2715 was unacceptable. If they respond, I'll be sure to post it here.
why gripe about politicians when they do something RIGHT ? oh ,there not on your TEAM. isn't doing the right thing the TEAM we want.
also thank you racer x ,malcolm and ALL those whos efforts helped this to happen.
Yo wasssuuuuup. Jus signed dat der bill, an now im off to mcdonalds to sample dat new burger dey´s got. It be called, fri chikin `n watermellon. MmmmmmMmmmmm.
Obama is a half-white, half-black and all dumbass Anti-American Liberal. In the future we need to stop allowing Welfare rats to vote for elected officials. All the welfare rats do is vote for the politician that will give them more of your money. If you need Government assistance to manage your pathetic life, you do not need to be voting on someone that will effect my life. What party do the Welfare Rats vote for? take a guess.
Thank you everyone for the time and commitment to Solve this issue..Malcom Smith,the Coombs,the AMA and everyone who DID something.. As for the Haters....and ignorant posters here..Wake up..,read something and Learn,
It was a Republican President that signed the lean bill into law (Bush). After this long fight Obama signs the bill with the exemption and people on here insult his race, his politics. and want to "roost" him in the face.
No wonder communities are wanting to close motocross tracks. Seems there are a number of motocross riders with less class and brains than the Welfare Rats.
To the AMA and everyone involved in the repeal exemption, a job well done!
What do you know! 2 Democrats voted against the law.
Thanks Mr. Prez. for helping the motocross industry. leave it to a man of color to get things done.
Finnally that idiot bama singed something worthwhile and yes he has to say he takes credit for it? For those of you who want to know who voted what I have not checked yet but I think the AMA website will give you all of the answers.
In case you have not figured out I did not vote for bama I have zero respect for him and his commie cronies..
PS: @ Jairtime... and people on this site have called you a raclst im not, I just dont like bama period.
Also a note to all I hope you did your part and wrote to your stae congress to help get this done? I know I did as I am a Charter AMA 6 digit AMA member.
Thanks to everyone who had a hand in getting this bill pushed thru. Now let's ride!!
Thank you KG!
If Obama was a Republican and everything else was the same, the same big mouths on here hating would be singing his praises. I think its great he reversed a bill that dumb Republican Bush signed into law. Now the kids can ride new bikes again.. A bill that was sponsered by two Democrats by the way.
@JohnR290, well said, if an outider read these post, they could use the idiot comments on here to close all tracks and say its breeding hatered and violence. It would not be good to people who want to keep riding areas open for sure. It makes all moto fans look like dumb rednecks.
WOW ! So now the KKK benchrace MX, Tea party idiots!, . . never trust anyone to feed your dog who things a staving man needs a tax break and a hand gun to turn their life around. IDIOTS!
@bd200, this is the 1st time i agree with you...lol. Well said! i guess you just bite the had that feeds you
@ JohnR290 & bd200,
Great comments, guys. Good to see some more civility & brains responding appropriately to the good accomplished with the passage into law of HR 2715.
If we, as a Motocross community, don't take the 'high-road' by being grateful (and a bit humble) about issues like this one that has come back in our favor, we may lose some more ground (literally) in other areas..., like our never ending struggle to ride -where we want and when we want, outdoors in America.
It only takes a few offensive, loose cannons to bring us down several notches in the eyes of those who would like to take more land, rights, etc., away from riders and racers everywhere.
Come on, everybody- use your heads.
Those opposed to dirt bikes are just looking for reasons to brand us a bunch of loud-mouthed idiots. Some of you are making it really easy for their case against us, bringing it to them on a silver platter with your inappropriate comments.
Those of you having such hateful thoughts in your heads: keep 'em to yourselves and keep 'em off the blogs. Take that anger and go grind out some practice motos..., blast through some berms..., run your tanks dry.
As someone a lot wiser than any of us once said, "If you've got nothing good to say, then don't say anything at all."
Congress and the Senate approved it, the unqualified Kenyan usurper sucks and knows better than to step on the off-road community.
@jairtime
17+ hours ago you condemned the President and called him a 'usurper'.
6+ hours ago you thanked 'The Prez' for helping the Motocross industry, while 'backhanding' him with the label 'man-of-color' getting it done.
Now, (a few minute ago) you're back to old 'racist' self.
Do you have amnesia, selective memory..., or are you just plain stupid?
You're a menace to the Motocross community.
jairtime keep your confederate flag crackhead smoking racist mouth shut. sad to see the MX community has low lives as you.