The Motor Vehicle Right to Repair Act of 2005 (HR 2048) was introduced by Congressman Joe Barton (R-TX) and Edolphus Towns (D-NY). The legislative intent of this measure is to offer protections for the American motor vehicle owner by making it illegal for the manufacturer of the motor vehicle to withhold information necessary to diagnose service or repair the motor vehicle.

The rapid advancement in braking, ignition, security and safety technology has resulted in more sophisticated diagnostic tools and equipment that manufactures are reluctant to make available to the shade tree mechanic or vehicle owner. Without access to the same training and tools made readily available to those within the dealership network, many small shops are being forced to turn away work. In fact in a survey of aftermarket automotive technicians, over fifty percent of them have turned away one to six jobs a month.

We have formally committed to support HR 2048 because we believe that safeguarding individual ownership rights is an absolute must. Access to accurate information when it comes to repair or upkeep of a vehicle is essential to the safety and well being of the entire American motoring public. HR 2048 aims to guarantee that individual owners and repair shops have access to aftermarket parts and the same tools and training offered to those within the dealership network.

The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) new emissions standards will cost thousands of jobs and businesses in the American motorcycling community. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) and motorcyclists nationwide repeatedly asked the EPA to consider establishing a reasonable, non-catalyst forcing emissions standard for highway motorcycles that even the smallest of bike makers can meet, while enabling motorcyclists to refine their machines to improve rideability and safety.

The MRF is fighting to safeguard rider options and small businesses. In addition to SMROs and individual motorcyclists, we need key members of the motorcycle small business community to join us in this critical fight to save motorcycling in America. That's why the MRF is working hard to develop its small business supporters into a network of motorcycle small business advocates. We are striving to inform, train and organize this network into a strong, flexible grassroots fighting force to tackle new legislation and regulation, and to build alliances with key friends in Congress. We are already making a difference. With the EPA scheme on the streets, we are already holding talks with the first small business members of our team and getting them in touch with high-level Washington officials and Members of Congress.