RPM Act Introduced Into US House of Representatives

The Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act of 2019 (the RPM Act) has been introduced to the House of Representatives by Patrick McHenry (R-NC) and Raul Ruiz (D-CA). The Act includes five other original sponsors: Reps. Richard Hudson (R-NC), Kurt Schrader (D-OR), Bill Posey (R-FL), Gil Cisneros (D-CA) and Michael Burgess (R-TX).

This bipartisan bill protects the right to convert street vehicles into dedicated racecars, along with the motorsports-parts industry’s ability to sell products enabling racers to compete. If passed, the RPM Act would reverse the EPA’s interpretation of the Clean Air Act as not allowing a motor vehicle designed for street use (whether a car, truck or motorcycle) to be converted into a dedicated racecar.

“SEMA looks forward to working with Congress to enact the RPM Act and make permanent the Clean Air Act’s original intention that race vehicle conversions are legal,” said Kersting. “We thank Representatives McHenry and Ruiz for introducing a bipartisan bill that will protect racing and the businesses that produce, install and sell the parts that enable racers to compete.”

The RPM Act seems to have a good chance of becoming law in 2020. The bill already cleared a number of major legislative hurdles in the previous Congress, including passage by the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee and hearings in the House and Senate.

“I am proud to help protect our nation’s automotive heritage and ensure motorsports enthusiasts across the country can continue the time-honored tradition of modifying stock vehicles for competitive racing,” said Rep. Patrick McHenry.

H.R. 5434 is the House counterpart to the Senate’s version of the bill, S. 2602, which was introduced by Senators Richard Burr (R-NC) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) and currently has 28 bipartisan cosponsors.

“Racing has always been close to my heart from the countless hours I spent with my father at the track,” said Rep. Raul Ruiz. “I am glad to support car owners and race enthusiasts around the country in their passion for racing, working on cars and sharing moments with their sons and daughters under the hood.”

Motorsports competition involves many thousands of participants and vehicle owners every year, both amateur and professional. Sales of racing products make up a almost $2 billion market annually. Most vehicles raced on the estimated 1,300 racetracks operating across the USA are converted vehicles that the EPA currently considers illegal.

It is important that members of Congress hear the opinions of the racing and automotive enthusiast communities about the RPM Act before they make their decision on whether it will become law. To write a letter to your members of Congress, visit www.sema.org/rpm.