Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell Appointed to Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee!

Washington DC: Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-CO) was appointed to the influential Transportation Subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee yesterday. The subcommittee has oversight responsibility for the Department of Transportation including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In a phone conversation today, Sen. Campbell said, "This will put us in a good position to watch out for motorcycling and ensure our money is spent well."

Senator Campbell has been a longtime supporter of motorcycling issues and was instrumental in the inclusion of motorcycling issues contained in the Transportation Equity Act for the Twenty First Century, TEA-21. In March 1998, Senator Campbell engaged in a colloquy on the Senate floor along with Senator Carol Moseley-Braun (D-IL) while discussing an amendment to S.1175 the Intermodal Surface Transportation Act II (ISTEA II), the senate version of what became TEA-21. The amendment limited the activities of NHTSA, and their ability to lobby at the state and local levels. The Senator also provided the legislative intent to change NHTSA's mission statement to include accident prevention. Steve Zimmer, Vice President of Government Relations said, "I look forward to working with Senator Campbell in his new capacity dealing with the appropriations process."

The motorcycling Senator from Colorado fills the vacancy on the Transportation Subcommittee left by Senator Lauch Faircloth (R-NC) who failed to gain re-election in November. Senator Campbell also serves as the Chairman of both the Appropriation Subcommittee - Treasury, Postal Service, and General Government; and the Indian Affairs Committee. He is also a member of the Veterans Affairs Committee and the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

The 106th Congress looks promising for Senator Campbell. Starting in November, the Senator won re-election to serve Colorado voters in the U S Senate by a commanding 63 percent of the vote. Despite the Senate's occupation with the impeachment trial of the President, committees are still conducting business and the Transportation Subcommittee is no different. Appropriation bills are annual so regardless of other congressional activity, appropriations bills must be completed. Senator Campbell has sought appointment to the Transportation Subcommittee since 1995 and is very pleased to accept the new responsibility.

For further information contact Steve Zimmer:

Motorcycle Riders Foundation
PO BOX 1808
Washington, DC 20013-1808

202-546-0983 (voice)
202-546-0986 (fax)
steve@mrf.org
http://www.mrf.org (website)

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