Kids Just Want to Ride Act Gaining Momentum
Kids Just Want to Ride Act Gaining Momentum
H.R. 412 was introduced Jan. 25 by Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.) to exempt youth off-highway vehicles form the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, the Lead Law. The CPSIA bans the sale of products for kids that contain lead, a material commonly used in parts such as battery terminals and tire valve stems on youth motorcycles and ATVs.
The new bill has garnered bipartisan support with both Republicans and Democrats co-sponsoring H.R. 412.
The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act is an important law with many provisions that help protect our children against toys with lead they may put in their mouth or ingest, says Mike Ross (D-Ark.). However, the law did not create a necessary exemption for youth-model motorcycles and ATVs, which do contain some lead in the engines and battery compartments and which children are highly unlikely to put in their mouths.
Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) points out the CPSIA may actually make it more dangerous for children who may ride adult-sized vehicles because youth models are not allowed.
Banning children from using appropriate child-sized off-highway vehicles prevents kids from using the proper vehicles that were designed to keep them safe, says Kinzinger. As a cosponsor of the Kids Just Want to Ride Act, we must eliminate any risk that pushes children toward riding oversized vehicles that are nearly impossible for a young rider to safely control.
H.R. 412 is currently in the hands of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
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