Senators introduce new lead law amendment
U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) have introduced an amendment to a small business program reauthorization bill that would exempt youth ATVs and dirt bikes from a federal lead law.
The amendment to S. 493 was introduced Monday, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) and the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA). It comes in response to the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), which bans lead in products intended for children ages 12 and younger, including ATVs and dirt bikes. The powersports vehicles may contain lead in batteries and brake calipers.
“MIC applauds Sens. Klobuchar and Tester’s leadership on this issue and looks forward to working with them and their staff to ultimately and finally stop the ban,” Paul Vitrano, MIC’s general counsel, said in a press release. “MIC also encourages all enthusiasts to contact their senators and let them know they support this amendment. Enthusiast and industry response on this issue has resulted in well over 1 million messages to Congress, but now is the time to intensify efforts and support this realistic solution. With Sens. Klobuchar and Tester championing this issue in the Senate, we are making real progress.”
Along with the new amendment, the MIC and AMA also support the Kids Just Want to Ride Act, a bill introduced in the House of Representatives by U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.) that would also exempt youth ATVs and dirt bikes from the CPSIA.
