US Representatives Patrick McHenry (R-NC) and Raul Ruiz (D-CA) have introduced H.R. 5434, the Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act of 2019 (RPM Act of 2019). The bipartisan RPM Act of 2019 protects Americans’ right to convert street vehicles into dedicated race cars and the motorsports parts industry’s ability to sell products that enable racers to compete.

The USMTS is joining SEMA is urging all racing industry members and enthusiasts to contact their members of Congress and ask them to support the bill. To send a letter to your members of Congress (it takes less than 30 seconds), visit sema.org/rpm.

The RPM Act reverses the EPA’s interpretation that the Clean Air Act does not allow a motor vehicle designed for street use—including a car, truck, or motorcycle—to be converted into a dedicated race car. This American tradition was unquestioned for nearly 50 years until 2015, when the EPA took the position that converted vehicles must remain emissions-compliant, even though they are no longer driven on public streets or highways.

“SEMA looks forward to working with Congress to enact the RPM Act and make permanent the Clean Air Act’s original intention that race vehicle conversions are legal,” said SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting. “We thank Representatives McHenry and Ruiz for introducing a bipartisan bill that will protect racing and the businesses that produce, install, and sell the parts that enable racers to compete."

The RPM Act is well positioned to become law in 2020. The bill cleared several major legislative hurdles in the previous Congress, including passage by the US House Energy and Commerce Committee and hearings in the House and Senate. The bipartisan RPM Act included five other original sponsors: Reps. Richard Hudson (R-NC), Kurt Schrader (D-OR), Bill Posey (R-FL), Gil Cisneros (D-CA), and Michael Burgess (R-TX).

H.R. 5434 is the House counterpart to the Senate’s version of the bill, S. 2602, which was introduced by Senators Richard Burr (R-NC) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) and currently has 28 bipartisan cosponsors.

Motorsports competition involves tens of thousands of participants and vehicle owners each year, both amateur and professional. Retail sales of racing products make up a nearly $2 billion market annually. Most of the vehicles raced on the estimated 1,300 race tracks operating across the US are converted vehicles that the EPA considers to be illegal.

For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.