On March 9th, President Biden signed a Congressionally passed spending bill that funds half of the Federal Government’s operations through the end of September. Funding for the U.S. Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), was included within this bill.
Attached to the spending bill is something called a committee report. The committee report allows Congress to provide further direction to the agencies it funds regarding intent of the law and asks the agency to report on issues of concern. For the second year in a row, the committee report attached to the transportation funding portion of the bill asks NHTSA to report on the issue of motorcyclist profiling. Congress is requesting this again because NHTSA failed to produce the original report requested during the last Congress.
The new language points out the past failure of the required response from NHTSA while again seeking answers on motorcyclist profiling. It states,
“The Committee remains concerned that the NHTSA may be conducting activities that encourage states to adopt legislation, regulations, or other policies that unjustly profile motorcycle riders. In fiscal year 2023, House Report 117-402 directed the NHTSA to report to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations on the extent to which the agency works with states on motorcycle passenger policies. The Committee urges the NHTSA to expeditiously submit the report.”
It’s very frustrating that NHTSA has failed to do what Congress asked. However, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) is thankful that Congress has reinforced the need for this report from NHTSA. Representative Susie Lee (D-NV) has and continues to lead the charge on this issue with NHTSA. Representative Lee is a 2023 MRF Legislative Champion who remains committed to supporting bikers and our priorities. Thank you to Rep. Lee and her fellow lawmakers who have supported our efforts to raise the issue of motorcyclist profiling.
Ride Safe and Ride Free
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