By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. House Natural Resources Committee approved four bills to reform aspects of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The bills have been sent to the House floor. The bills would require the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to release data used to make listings of threatened or endangered animals and plants, report how much money is spent on ESA-related lawsuits and place a cap on plaintiff attorney reimbursement fees.  

Despite agreeing that the law is flawed, Republicans and Democrats are generally deadlocked on how to comprehensively update the 40-year-old ESA. Millions of acres of land have been set aside to protect threatened or endangered animals and plants, with few tangible results beyond lawsuits and attorney fees. Scores of off-highway vehicle (OHV) roads and trails have been unnecessarily closed as a consequence. SEMA supports an alternative approach that focuses on establishing and managing smaller recovery zones.    

The current national debate is on whether to extend protection to the prairie chicken and sage grouse. The territory for the birds spans at least 11 western states and millions of acres of federal and private lands. Federal regulators are currently seeking to provide protective flexibility by entering into special conservation plans that will allow continued land access by oil and gas firms, farmers and ranchers. 

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. House Natural Resources Committee approved four bills to reform aspects of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The bills have been sent to the House floor. The bills would require the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to release data used to make listings of threatened or endangered animals and plants, report how much money is spent on ESA-related lawsuits and place a cap on plaintiff attorney reimbursement fees.  

Despite agreeing that the law is flawed, Republicans and Democrats are generally deadlocked on how to comprehensively update the 40-year-old ESA. Millions of acres of land have been set aside to protect threatened or endangered animals and plants, with few tangible results beyond lawsuits and attorney fees. Scores of off-highway vehicle (OHV) roads and trails have been unnecessarily closed as a consequence. SEMA supports an alternative approach that focuses on establishing and managing smaller recovery zones.    

The current national debate is on whether to extend protection to the prairie chicken and sage grouse. The territory for the birds spans at least 11 western states and millions of acres of federal and private lands. Federal regulators are currently seeking to provide protective flexibility by entering into special conservation plans that will allow continued land access by oil and gas firms, farmers and ranchers. 

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. House Natural Resources Committee approved four bills to reform aspects of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The bills have been sent to the House floor. The bills would require the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to release data used to make listings of threatened or endangered animals and plants, report how much money is spent on ESA-related lawsuits and place a cap on plaintiff attorney reimbursement fees.  

Despite agreeing that the law is flawed, Republicans and Democrats are generally deadlocked on how to comprehensively update the 40-year-old ESA. Millions of acres of land have been set aside to protect threatened or endangered animals and plants, with few tangible results beyond lawsuits and attorney fees. Scores of off-highway vehicle (OHV) roads and trails have been unnecessarily closed as a consequence. SEMA supports an alternative approach that focuses on establishing and managing smaller recovery zones.    

The current national debate is on whether to extend protection to the prairie chicken and sage grouse. The territory for the birds spans at least 11 western states and millions of acres of federal and private lands. Federal regulators are currently seeking to provide protective flexibility by entering into special conservation plans that will allow continued land access by oil and gas firms, farmers and ranchers. 

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washignton, D.C., Staff

The House Finance Committee will consider legislation to authorize the Division of Motor Vehicles to issue replica year of manufacture plates for antique vehicles.

Legislation to authorize the Division of Motor Vehicles to issue replica year of manufacture plates for antique vehicles will be considered by the House Finance Committee on Thursday, May 1, 2014. The bill also allows the state to approve for use plates that were issued by the state in the exact year of manufacture of the vehicle. In Rhode Island, an antique motor car is “any motor vehicle which is more than 25 years old.”

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washignton, D.C., Staff

The House Finance Committee will consider legislation to authorize the Division of Motor Vehicles to issue replica year of manufacture plates for antique vehicles.

Legislation to authorize the Division of Motor Vehicles to issue replica year of manufacture plates for antique vehicles will be considered by the House Finance Committee on Thursday, May 1, 2014. The bill also allows the state to approve for use plates that were issued by the state in the exact year of manufacture of the vehicle. In Rhode Island, an antique motor car is “any motor vehicle which is more than 25 years old.”

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washignton, D.C., Staff

The House Finance Committee will consider legislation to authorize the Division of Motor Vehicles to issue replica year of manufacture plates for antique vehicles.

Legislation to authorize the Division of Motor Vehicles to issue replica year of manufacture plates for antique vehicles will be considered by the House Finance Committee on Thursday, May 1, 2014. The bill also allows the state to approve for use plates that were issued by the state in the exact year of manufacture of the vehicle. In Rhode Island, an antique motor car is “any motor vehicle which is more than 25 years old.”

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washignton, D.C., Staff

The House Finance Committee will consider legislation to authorize the Division of Motor Vehicles to issue replica year of manufacture plates for antique vehicles.

Legislation to authorize the Division of Motor Vehicles to issue replica year of manufacture plates for antique vehicles will be considered by the House Finance Committee on Thursday, May 1, 2014. The bill also allows the state to approve for use plates that were issued by the state in the exact year of manufacture of the vehicle. In Rhode Island, an antique motor car is “any motor vehicle which is more than 25 years old.”

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

SEMA News is searching for the best young talent in the automotive aftermarket industry…and we need your input.

We're asking for help finding young leaders, under 35 years old.  They might be working anywhere in the automotive aftermarket business, including manufacturing and design, retail, events and media, or distribution.

They could be budding superstars at an established company, entrepreneurs building their own brands, or innovators who have launched companies that are sure to become big names in the future. What they all will have in common are fresh ideas, enthusiasm, charisma and the drive to succeed.

Know someone? Nominate a candidate for 35 Under 35.

Winners will be chosen based on their business success, contribution to their organization, industry knowledge and community involvement. We'll honor the winners in the September issue of SEMA News and on www.sema.org. 

Nominations are due May 30, 2014. 

SEMA News is searching for the best young talent in the automotive aftermarket industry…and we need your input.

We're asking for help finding young leaders, under 35 years old.  They might be working anywhere in the automotive aftermarket business, including manufacturing and design, retail, events and media, or distribution.

They could be budding superstars at an established company, entrepreneurs building their own brands, or innovators who have launched companies that are sure to become big names in the future. What they all will have in common are fresh ideas, enthusiasm, charisma and the drive to succeed.

Know someone? Nominate a candidate for 35 Under 35.

Winners will be chosen based on their business success, contribution to their organization, industry knowledge and community involvement. We'll honor the winners in the September issue of SEMA News and on www.sema.org. 

Nominations are due May 30, 2014. 

SEMA News is searching for the best young talent in the automotive aftermarket industry…and we need your input.

We're asking for help finding young leaders, under 35 years old.  They might be working anywhere in the automotive aftermarket business, including manufacturing and design, retail, events and media, or distribution.

They could be budding superstars at an established company, entrepreneurs building their own brands, or innovators who have launched companies that are sure to become big names in the future. What they all will have in common are fresh ideas, enthusiasm, charisma and the drive to succeed.

Know someone? Nominate a candidate for 35 Under 35.

Winners will be chosen based on their business success, contribution to their organization, industry knowledge and community involvement. We'll honor the winners in the September issue of SEMA News and on www.sema.org. 

Nominations are due May 30, 2014.