Rehberg's "Kids Just Want To Ride' Act Passes House

Press Release

Denny Rehberg attends a Kids Just Want To Ride rally outside of Billings, MT

Montana's Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today praised the House Passage of legislation regarding the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) which included his legislation to end enforcement of an overreaching prohibition of lead in youth-sized ATVs, off-highway motorcycles and snowmobiles. Rehberg's bipartisan Kids Just Want to Ride Act was added to a larger piece of legislation sponsored by Rep. Mary Bono Mack (CA-45). It ensures federal regulators won't force children to ride more dangerous adult-size off-road vehicles. It also protects jobs throughout the country by allowing dealers to continue selling and repairing the safer youth-sized ATVs, motorcycles and snowmobiles.

"Today, we took a critical step to permanently correct a regulation that was putting our kids at risk and destroying jobs," said Rehberg, a rancher from Montana. "Whether it's riding a 4-wheeler on a ranch in Jordan, a weekend snowmobile adventure with the family in Cooke City or a youth motocross race in Helena, kids are safer riding youth-size machines. Ending this regulation lets dealers sell and service these safer machines just makes sense, and it creates jobs, too."

In 2008, Congress passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) in response to public alarm over the lack of production standards in children's products. Unfortunately, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which is responsible for enforcing the CPSIA, refused to exclude ATV, motorcycle and snowmobile engines, brakes, wheels and suspension parts from the CPSIA despite the fact that it's very difficult for children to physically handle these parts.

In response to concerns that children were going to be forced to ride more dangerous off-road vehicles intended only for adults, Rehberg fought for and succeeded in getting a temporary delay of enforcement from the CPSC. But the year-long stay of enforcement is not enough, so Rehberg introduced the bipartisan Kids Just Want to Ride Act to solve the problem legislatively.

"This is wonderful news for families around the nation who enjoy responsible motorized recreation," said Rob Dingman, president and CEO of the American Motorcyclist Association. "It is vital that legislation clear the full Congress and be signed into law by President Obama not only because it will allow families to enjoy riding together, but also so that children aren't forced to ride adult-sized machines that they may not be able to ride safely."

Source