Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/798489
VOL. 54 ISSUE 10 MARCH 14, 2017 P47 DON AMADOR'S WASHINGTON REPORT "W hen there is a change in political leadership, including a party sweep, trail ad- vocates have a lot of work building relationships with and educat- ing, new political appointees in the land agencies," explained Don Amador of the Blue Ribbon Coalition. As the off-road motor- cycle industry's all-star land-use advocate, Amador made a recent trip to Washington DC, where he aimed to do just that—lay the groundwork for constructive rela- tions with government figures. Upon returning from his trip, which Amador emphasizes went incredibly well, he filled us in on his venture at the Capitol. "The good news is—in both my visits with the Forest Service and BLM—I think there's a real interest in support for public land recre- ation that's both motorized and non-motorized," said Amador. During his stay in DC, Amador had meetings at the Office of For- est Service with Tinelle Bustam, and at the Department of the Interior with Marshall Critchfield. "Tinelle is their recreation lead, and someone I've known for quite a few years," Amador said. "She's very enthusiastic avout supporting sustainable recreation. I think we have a really good friend there." As for Critchfield, he is an ap- pointee from the Trump adminis- tration, and a new face to land- use issues. But Amador is already looking forward to a constructive relationship with him. "[Critchfield] looks to be in charge of, or overseeing recre- ation on public, BLM lands," said Amador. "He serves currently as a special assistant to Secretary [of the Interior Ryan] Zinke. He doesn't have a lot of experience with the BLM, per se, but he is an outdoor recreationist. He's owned ATVs and motorcycles and he does the whole outdoor thing: hunting, fishing, etc. So I think we have a real ally there." As for President Trump's administration, there are very clear directives that apply to all his appointees and their respective departments. "President Trump's main things are fiscal accountability, regula- tory reform and creating jobs," said Amador. "I think that as we go forward with our legisla- tive proposals, there have to be components of some or all of those elements. Which is easy to do with recreation being the major use of public lands today. The last data I've seen of the economic impact on federal lands is 70 bil- lion a year." A growing threat to recreational land use, aside from the familiar environmentalist groups, is private development. In the name of Trump's priorities—fiscal account- ability, decreasing regulation and creating jobs—it seems like it would be all too easy for the department to yield returns on all three fronts by way of trans- ferring federal lands to states, who could, in turn, lease land to private companies for mining, drill- ing, development, etc. It's some- thing the GOP has been split on supporting, but Zinke is on record as being firmly opposed to the idea. Amador admits he's not wor- ried about the prospect due to the fact that recreational land users BUT WHAT ABOUT THE TARIFF? The "Bikes for Beef Tariff" is still a looming threat in the American off-road motorcycle industry, and is an issue Amador is also remaining very engaged in. The most recent action taken on that front was a letter to the U.S. Trade Representative signed by several members of Con- gress opposed to the U.S. trade dispute with the EU. Is this an instant fix for the tariff issue? Unfortunately, no. But the good news is that the tariff's impact on the American motorcycle indus- try is entering the conversa- tion on the Hill. "It's always huge to have members of congress weigh in on an issue," Amador said. "Off-roaders often say 'what does Congress do for us? Do they even care or know that we exist?' I think that letter shows that they do care and that it does pay off to engage with your members of congress. There were literally thousands of riders that sent letters to their members of congress, and it was that sort of joint effort from BRC, AMA, MIC, local clubs that generated a lot of that interest. And this letter is proof that they will respond to those petitions." Jean Turner