SEMA Notes Victory in Defeat of Vehicle Scrappage Legislation
Car hobbyists scored a major victory when the U.S. Senate voted to remove old
car scrappage language from the "Energy Policy Act of 2002."
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 14, 2002) 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 Brownbackb'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
http://www.sema.org/
http://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, 202/783-6007 or visit http://www.enjoythedrive.com/san
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