Here's something I just received from SEMA. It doesn't sound good. Pass the
word.
SPECIAL ALERT - December 14, 2001
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U.S. SENATE BILL THREATENS VEHICLE HOBBY
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SEMA Members Urged to Take Action
For the first time in many years, Federal legislation (S. 1766) threatening
the vehicle hobby industry has been introduced.
S. 1766 includes a provision (Section 803) that would FEDERALLY fund state
scrappage programs for vehicles more than 15 years old -- that means popular
vehicles ranging from '60s era muscle cars up through later model vehicles
such as Buick T-Types and Grand Nationals, Mustang SVOs and GTs, Z-28
Camaros and Corvettes would be in danger. Those low-performance "sister"
vehicles like Buick Regals with interchangeable parts to GM Grand Nationals
would certainly be destroyed. The street rod industry will not be immune
either, as late-model engines, suspension equipment and accessories (such as
the suspension parts found on Ford Mustang IIs) often used to modernize
these popular vehicles will also be lost to the crusher.
SEMA members are strongly urged to take action to defeat S. 1766. Here are a
few simple things members and their employees can do to help:
* Send a letter on your company letterhead to your U.S. Senators opposing
Section 803 of S. 1766. The letter need not be long. Simply express how S.
1766 will affect you, your company and the automotive hobby. For more tips
on writing your legislators, consult the SEMA document "How to Lobby Elected
Officials." This guide is available at <http://www.enjoythedrive.com/san> To
find out who your U.S. Senators are, call the SEMA Washington, D.C., office
at 202/783-6007, or visit
<http://www.enjoythedrive.com/legislative/contact_legislator.asp>
* Personal letters from employees of SEMA-member companies to their U.S.
Senators opposing Section 803 of S. 1766 are encouraged. Again, letters can
-- and should -- be brief (see notes in item above) and include personal
reasons why the bill would affect their lives and careers. Contact the SEMA
Washington, D.C., office at 202/783-6007 for help or information.
* Share the alert on S. 1766 found at
<http://www.sema.org/fedleg/fedredhot/scrappage1201.html> with as many
people as possible, including your customers. Communicate with them the
potential harm Section 803 of S. 1766 could have on the vehicle hobby, and
urge them to get involved by writing letters as well.
The SEMA Washington, D.C., staff is monitoring and actively lobbying S. 1766
on Capitol Hill. SEMA members are asked to send copies of their letters to
the SEMA Washington, D.C., office for their records. Members are also
encouraged to contact the staff if they have any questions or need
assistance in their efforts to oppose this legislation. SEMA's Washington,
D.C., staff can be reached at 202/783-6007; fax is 202/783-6024.
A Federally funded scrappage program is too big an issue for each and every
SEMA member not to get involved!
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