The Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act of 2017 (RPM Act, H.R. 350) passed the House Energy and Commerce Committee in early December.

The Senate version of the bill, S. 203, also was scheduled for hearings.

The RPM Act would protect the right to modify street vehicles—including motorcycles—into dedicated racers and the industry’s right to sell the parts that enable racers to compete.

The AMA has been working with the Specialty Equipment Market Association and other organizations to get this important legislation passed.

The RPM Act would clarify that converting vehicles for competition-only use does not violate the federal Clean Air Act.

The Clean Air Act of 1970 established authority for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to regulate motor vehicles used on the highways and prevent modifications that would take those vehicles out of compliance with emission regulations.

However, Congress did not intend for the law to apply to racing vehicles.

For nearly 50 years, this activity was unquestioned. But, in 2015, the EPA published proposed regulations that deemed the conversions illegal.

After an uproar from motorcycle and auto racing enthusiasts and related industries, the EPA withdrew the problematic language from its final rule making in 2016. But the agency maintains the practice of converting street vehicles to race vehicles is unlawful.

When the RPM Act was first introduced in 2016, racing enthusiasts and Americans working in the motorsports parts industry flooded Congress with nearly 200,000 letters in support of the bill.

Contact your representatives and senators and let them know that you support this legislation.