associations' members and staff
about their own passion for pow-
ersports and the $50.9 billion
industry's
impact on their states
and on the U.S. economy.
"Riding, recreation, and being
outdoors is a bipartisan issue,"
said Scott Schloegel, senior vice
president of government rela-
tions for the MIC, ROHVA and
SVIA. "We
saw that with the
passage of the EXPLORE Act,
and we need to be diligent in
communicating how legislation
and government actions affect
our industry and the enthusiasts
who love our products."
The two-hour breakfast brief
-
ings moved quickly. By 10 a.m.,
the first of 95
meetings—with
offices representing 29 states—
began.
"The Fly-In establishes a
singular voice about the impact
and strength of our industry,"
said Jon-Erik Burleson, CEO of
Troy Lee Designs. "Competitors
aligned on topics from tariffs, to
VOLUME 62 ISSUE 17 APRIL 29, 2025 P29
RTP [Recreational Trails Pro-
gram], and land access, coming
together
as the powersports in-
dustry to advocate for the things
our
enthusiast customers need."
"And for congressional mem-
bers and their staff to sit down
with
constituents to discuss the
issues that are affecting them, it
can make a difference," said John
Hinz, CEO of KTM North America.
TARIFFS
The tariffs issue was front and
center during the Fly-In. Power
-
sports members stressed that
U.S.
businesses and consumers
ultimately pay these taxes as
fees are passed down. Many also
noted that there are no American-
made alternatives for key safety
products like helmets.
"These indiscriminate tariffs
directly raise the price of safety
equipment meant to save lives
and protect people. Motorcycle
helmets have not been manufac
-
tured in the U.S. for many years,"
said Stan Demas, president of
Schuberth
North America.
Other powersports leaders ex-
pressed the need to ensure there
was more time
to build the proper
structure to move more manufac-
turing back to the U.S.
RECREATIONAL
TRAILS
PROGRAM
Powersports
enthusiasts pay
$281 million in fuel taxes, but the
Recreational Trails Program, which
provides money to states to de
-
velop and maintain recreation trails
for
motorized and non-motorized
users, is funded at only $84 mil
-
lion. Senate bill S.811, which the
powersports
associations support,
seeks to better align RTP funding
Sen. Gary Peters addresses the
Powersports Capitol Hill Fly-In
group in Washington, D.C.
