MIC Hosts Member Company Representatives on Capitol Hill

The Motorcycle Industry Council hosted its annual Capitol Hill Fly-In late last month. The event is designed to connect MIC member company representatives with their Members of Congress to discuss issues affecting the powersports industry. MIC also took advantage of the opportunity to recognize key Members of Congress with MIC Chairman’s Awards.

Over two days, MIC member company representatives took part in more than 40 meetings with Members of Congress and their staffs from 15 states. Fly-In participants visited Congressional offices representing districts and states where the companies have key facilities. Also participating were members of MIC’s Dealer Advisory Council, who articulated the perspective of retailers in the powersports industry.

MIC’s Senior Vice President, Government Relations, Kathy Van Kleeck said, “The heart of the MIC Capitol Hill Fly-In is the meetings that MIC arranges between industry representatives and their Members of Congress. Our goal is for Members of Congress to be aware of their constituents who are in the powersports industry and to recognize the important economic impact these companies have in the retail marketplace, the creation of jobs and in the recreation economy. The member companies who participated included manufacturers, dealers, aftermarket companies, credit processors, and enthusiast and industry press, so we feel we were able to convey the full breadth of our industry to decision makers.”

Duane Taylor, MIC’s Director, Federal Affairs added, “Combining the voices of MIC members with the voice of our DC-based Government Relations staff on behalf of the powersports industry on a daily basis makes our influence that much more significant.”

This year’s Fly-In also provided an opportunity for MIC to recognize key Members of Congress who have been instrumental in protecting the safety of recreational off-highway vehicle drivers and passengers. The original House and Senate sponsors of the ROV In-depth Examination Act (RIDE Act) were presented with MIC Chairman’s Awards in Capitol Hill hearing rooms. MIC’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, Dennis McNeal, presented Representatives Mike Pompeo (R-KS) and Collin Peterson, (D-MN) and Senators Dean Heller (R-NV) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) with the awards which recognized their “Outstanding Efforts to Protect the Safety of Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Enthusiasts.”

MIC’s General Counsel, Erik Pritchard, said, “Representatives Pompeo and Peterson and Senators Heller and Manchin led the effort to protect ROV enthusiasts, and the industry is honored to present them with MIC Chairman’s Awards.”

For more information: www.mic.org

The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame recently named Marilyn Stemp and Steve Piehl to its board of directors.

Stemp is a pioneering figure in the motorcycle industry, founding IronWorks Magazine with her late husband, Dennis, and becoming the first female editor of a nationally circulated, mainstream motorcycle magazine. She also revived their trade magazine, Iron Trader News; edits the monthly Kiwi Indian News; contributes to several powersports media outlets; and is the founding editor of Sturgis Rider Daily. Stemp is a noted editor and writer of several motorcycle-focused books. Her consistent support for charitable efforts in the industry include the annual Biker Belles Celebration, Las Vegas BikeFest and as campaign chair for the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum’s development plan in 2014. She co-founded the Flying Piston charity events taking place in Daytona and Sturgis each year and is a National Ambassador for All Kids Bike. Stemp was inducted into both the Las Vegas Motorcycle Hall of Fame and the Sturgis Museum's Hall of Fame in 2018, and in 2022 she was recognized as one of the Top 100 Women in Powersports by DealerNews.