California Congresswoman Recognized for Stopping the Lead Ban

For spearheading the effort to stop the ban on youth ATVs and dirt bikes, the Motorcycle Industry Council presented California Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack with the Chairman’s Award for Outstanding Support of Youth Off-Highway Vehicle Riders.

“The powersports industry is fortunate to have champions like Representative Bono Mack on Capitol Hill,” said MIC Chairman Larry Little, who is also the vice president and general manager of the motorcycle group for Marketplace Events. “The Chairman’s Awards are given to acknowledge significant contributions to the powersports industry. She certainly qualifies as she and her staff were relentless in their efforts to correct the unintended consequences of CPSIA.”

For more than two years, the powersports industry was banned from selling youth-sized ATVs and motorcycles because they were unintentionally included in comprehensive legislation known as the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). As a result, youth off-highway vehicles were banned by a law intended to protect children from harmful lead content in toys.

The awards presentation took place at Southern California’s Coyne Powersports, located in the state’s 45th Congressional District, which is represented by Bono Mack. She was first elected in 1998 and is currently serving her eighth term. She became the 42nd recipient of the MIC Chairman’s Award for sponsoring the bill that excluded youth model dirt bikes and ATVs from the lead ban law.

“I am very grateful to receive the prestigious Chairman’s Award from the Motorcycle Industry Council,” said Congresswoman Bono Mack. “To be recognized by an organization that shares my passion for making ‘Made in America’ matter again is truly an honor. The bipartisan CPSIA Reform bill would not have been possible without the cooperation and support of groups such as the MIC, and I am especially grateful for the role they played in this important process.”

The Motorcycle Industry Council exists to preserve, protect and promote motorcycling through government relations, communications and media relations, statistics and research, aftermarket programs, development of data communications standards, and activities surrounding technical and regulatory issues. For more information, visit the MIC at www.mic.org.