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A message from the SEMA
Government Affairs Team
Update
3-14-02
"SCRAPPAGE IS DEFEATED ON U.S. SENATE FLOOR!"
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Car hobbyists and related businesses scored a major
victory yesterday when the U.S. Senate voted to approve an amendment
sponsored by Senator
Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-CO) to remove old car
scrappage language from the "Energy Policy Act of 2002."
The vehicle scrappage provision (Section 822 of S. 517) would have
created a new U.S. Department of Energy bureaucracy to federally fund
state-run scrappage programs for vehicles over 15 years old. Under
the program, owners who turned in vehicles for crushing would have
received a cash payment and a credit toward purchasing a newer vehicle,
in an ostensible attempt to improve the overall fuel economy of the
country's vehicle fleet. The scrappage provision would have denied
automotive aftermarket businesses the availability of older cars
necessary to market products and services. It also threatened vehicle
enthusiasts nationwide with the loss of valuable parts and parts-cars
for repair, restoration, and customization projects.
"SEMA is very indebted to the efforts of Senator Ben Nighthorse
Campbell, co-chair of the Congressional Automotive Performance and
Motorsports Caucus for introducing the amendment to eliminate
scrappage," said SEMA Director of Public Affairs Brian Caudill.
Without his, and principal co-sponsor Sen. Sam Brownback's (R-KS),
exceptional effort and support, this victory would have been impossible.
We are very lucky to have fellow automotive enthusiasts in the
Senate."
"Also, this victory would not have been possible without the
literally thousands of phone calls, faxes, e-mails and letters to U.S.
Senators that SEMA member businesses and SEMA Action Network vehicle
clubs and individual enthusiasts were able to muster," said
Caudill. "SEMA sincerely thanks everyone for their
dedication, hard work, and willingness to protect the vehicle hobby.
This experience is a testament to the powerful connection between the
specialty aftermarket automotive industry and the American vehicle
hobbyist community."
SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association, represents the $25
billion specialty automotive industry. The trade association has more
than 5,000 member companies. It is the authoritative source of research
data, trends and market growth information for automakers and the
specialty auto products industry. The industry provides appearance,
performance, comfort, convenience and technology products for passenger
cars, minivans, trucks, SUVs and recreational vehicles. For more
information, contact SEMA at 1575 S. Valley Vista Dr., Diamond Bar,
Calif., 91765-3914; call 909/396-0289; or visit www.sema.org
or www.enjoythedrive.com.
The SEMA Action Network (SAN) is a nationwide partnership of vehicle
clubs, members of the specialty auto parts industry and individuals who
want to protect their hobby. SAN is dedicated to help stamp out
legislative threats to the automotive hobby and pass favorable laws. For
more information, contact Brian Caudill at 202/783-6007 or visit
www.enjoythedrive.com/san.
Update
3-6-02
As most of you
are aware, SEMA and the SEMA Action Network (SAN) have been actively
opposing legislation, Section 803 of U.S.
Senate Bill 1766 (S. 1766), that would
federally fund state run scrappage programs. At
this time, the bill and section number have been changed to Section
832 of S. 517.
SEMA continues to fight legislation - Section 832 of the Energy Policy
Act of 2002 (S. 517) - that would federally fund state-run scrappage
programs for vehicles over 15 years old. At press time, at least
one U.S. Senator
had pledged to introduce an amendment to remove the scrappage language
from the bill. We are hopeful that this effort will be successful.
SEMA would like to thank hobbyists nationwide for the many letters,
faxes, emails and phone calls to Senate offices in opposition to
scrappage. No question, they have had a positive effect! Now is
not the time to let up. If you have not contacted your U.S.
Senators to oppose scrappage, please do so. For more information
on the
federal scrappage legislation, head on over to
http:/www.enjoythedrive.com/san.
Update 3-3-02
Unfortunately, despite the section
and number changes, the message remains the same: Section 832 of
S. 517 STILL seeks to federally fund state run scrappage programs for
vehicles older then 15 years.
We would like to thank all those who have contacted their U.S. Senators
in opposition to scrappage. For those of you who have not done so
yet, our updated alert is attached and posted below.
URGENT FEDERAL SCRAPPAGE ALERT
U.S. Senate Bill Would Fund Scrappage Programs Nationwide
A
bill (S. 517), authored by Senator Tom Daschle (D-SD), has been introduced
in the U.S. Senate containing a provision (Section 832) that would
federally fund voluntary state scrappage programs for vehicles over 15
years old.
Owners who turn in vehicles for crushing would receive a
“minimum” payment and a future credit toward purchasing a newer
vehicle, all in a misguided attempt to improve the overall fuel economy of
the country’s vehicle fleet.
Oppose
the Use of U.S. Taxpayer Dollars for Scrappage
•
Section 832 of S. 517
would federally funded state scrappage programs.
It threatens enthusiasts nationwide with the loss of valuable parts
and parts-cars for repair, restoration, and customization projects.
•
Section 832 of S. 517
would give states that don’t currently operate scrappage programs an
extra incentive to create a program due to generous federal funding.
•
Section 832 of S. 517 does
not require states to determine if scrapped vehicles are being replaced by
more fuel-efficient vehicles.
•
Section 832 of S. 517
ignores the fact that cars turned in for scrappage often barely run or are
rarely driven second or third vehicles that have a minimal impact on
overall fuel economy.
•
Section 832 of S. 517 will
diminish the availability of affordable transportation and repair parts to
low-income drivers as more and more older cars are crushed.
•
Section 832 of S. 517 does
not guarantee that low-income individuals will be able to afford to
purchase new vehicles – let alone more fuel efficient vehicles – with
the money provided by scrappage programs.
Contact
Your U.S. Senators to Oppose Section 832 of S. 517.
Protect American vehicle
enthusiasts and low-income drivers. To find out who your U.S. Senators
are, call the SEMA Washington, D.C. office at 202-783-6007 or access this
information via the Internet at www.enjoythedrive.com/legislative/contact_legislator.asp.
For assistance in turning this
alert into a letter to your Senators, consult the SEMA document "How
to Lobby Elected Officials." This
guide is available at www.enjoythedrive.com/san.
Please provide a copy of your letters to SEMA
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