By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

An appreciation for the automotive hobby began early for former U.S. Representative David Valadao (R-CA). He grew up racing and riding off-highway vehicles on sand and on his family’s dairy farm with his brothers. He is a lifelong resident of California’s Central Valley and is still actively involved in the family’s two dairies and farms. Prior to being elected to Congress, Rep. Valadao served in the state legislature where he was enlisted in the SEMA-supported State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus. Rep. Valadao is running to reclaim his former U.S. House seat in 2020.

Learn more by visiting the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website.

Watch the video below to learn more about former Rep. Valadao, an advocate for the Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports (RPM) Act. Send a letter asking your legislator to support the RPM Act and protect the future of motorsports.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

An appreciation for the automotive hobby began early for former U.S. Representative David Valadao (R-CA). He grew up racing and riding off-highway vehicles on sand and on his family’s dairy farm with his brothers. He is a lifelong resident of California’s Central Valley and is still actively involved in the family’s two dairies and farms. Prior to being elected to Congress, Rep. Valadao served in the state legislature where he was enlisted in the SEMA-supported State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus. Rep. Valadao is running to reclaim his former U.S. House seat in 2020.

Learn more by visiting the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website.

Watch the video below to learn more about former Rep. Valadao, an advocate for the Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports (RPM) Act. Send a letter asking your legislator to support the RPM Act and protect the future of motorsports.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

An appreciation for the automotive hobby began early for former U.S. Representative David Valadao (R-CA). He grew up racing and riding off-highway vehicles on sand and on his family’s dairy farm with his brothers. He is a lifelong resident of California’s Central Valley and is still actively involved in the family’s two dairies and farms. Prior to being elected to Congress, Rep. Valadao served in the state legislature where he was enlisted in the SEMA-supported State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus. Rep. Valadao is running to reclaim his former U.S. House seat in 2020.

Learn more by visiting the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website.

Watch the video below to learn more about former Rep. Valadao, an advocate for the Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports (RPM) Act. Send a letter asking your legislator to support the RPM Act and protect the future of motorsports.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

SEMA-opposed legislation (H.B. 2373/S.B. 6156) in Washington that would have significantly restricted eligibility of collector vehicles and horseless carriages failed to pass as the legislature adjourned for the year.

SEMA-opposed legislation (H.B. 2373/S.B. 6156) in Washington that would have significantly restricted eligibility of collector vehicles and horseless carriages failed to pass as the legislature adjourned for the year.

Under existing law, a collector vehicle must be at least 30 years old, while a horseless carriage must be at least 40 years old. If passed, collector vehicles would have been required to be at least 40 years old, while horseless carriages would have been defined as being manufactured prior to 1916. The bill would also have restricted the issuance of year of manufacture plates and considerably increased registration fees.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website.

For details, contact Christian Robinson at stateleg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

SEMA-opposed legislation (H.B. 2373/S.B. 6156) in Washington that would have significantly restricted eligibility of collector vehicles and horseless carriages failed to pass as the legislature adjourned for the year.

SEMA-opposed legislation (H.B. 2373/S.B. 6156) in Washington that would have significantly restricted eligibility of collector vehicles and horseless carriages failed to pass as the legislature adjourned for the year.

Under existing law, a collector vehicle must be at least 30 years old, while a horseless carriage must be at least 40 years old. If passed, collector vehicles would have been required to be at least 40 years old, while horseless carriages would have been defined as being manufactured prior to 1916. The bill would also have restricted the issuance of year of manufacture plates and considerably increased registration fees.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website.

For details, contact Christian Robinson at stateleg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

SEMA-opposed legislation (H.B. 2373/S.B. 6156) in Washington that would have significantly restricted eligibility of collector vehicles and horseless carriages failed to pass as the legislature adjourned for the year.

SEMA-opposed legislation (H.B. 2373/S.B. 6156) in Washington that would have significantly restricted eligibility of collector vehicles and horseless carriages failed to pass as the legislature adjourned for the year.

Under existing law, a collector vehicle must be at least 30 years old, while a horseless carriage must be at least 40 years old. If passed, collector vehicles would have been required to be at least 40 years old, while horseless carriages would have been defined as being manufactured prior to 1916. The bill would also have restricted the issuance of year of manufacture plates and considerably increased registration fees.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website.

For details, contact Christian Robinson at stateleg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a final rule to encourage companies, trade associations, colleges, unions and other entities to establish industry-recognized apprenticeship programs (IRAP). The apprenticeships will be paid positions that provide trainees with on-the-job training and classroom education. The initiative is intended to expand the pool of available workers given the fact that the U.S. currently has many more job openings than skilled workers. IRAPs will use industry-driven approaches in providing pathways for workers to gain skills and start careers.

In 2017, President Trump issued an Executive Order directing the DOL to institute such a program. The DOL program seeks to reduce red tape and overly rigid requirements for administering apprenticeship programs. It is intended to encourage a market-based approach while operating within DOL standards for training, structure, and curricula. Federal funds may be available to supplement the program but have not yet been appropriated by Congress.  

View the IRAP fact sheet. 

The DOL will be presenting a webinar on Thursday, March 26, from 2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m. (EDT) to discuss key elements of the program and provide information on next steps if interested in pursuing IRAPs.

Register now.

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a final rule to encourage companies, trade associations, colleges, unions and other entities to establish industry-recognized apprenticeship programs (IRAP). The apprenticeships will be paid positions that provide trainees with on-the-job training and classroom education. The initiative is intended to expand the pool of available workers given the fact that the U.S. currently has many more job openings than skilled workers. IRAPs will use industry-driven approaches in providing pathways for workers to gain skills and start careers.

In 2017, President Trump issued an Executive Order directing the DOL to institute such a program. The DOL program seeks to reduce red tape and overly rigid requirements for administering apprenticeship programs. It is intended to encourage a market-based approach while operating within DOL standards for training, structure, and curricula. Federal funds may be available to supplement the program but have not yet been appropriated by Congress.  

View the IRAP fact sheet. 

The DOL will be presenting a webinar on Thursday, March 26, from 2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m. (EDT) to discuss key elements of the program and provide information on next steps if interested in pursuing IRAPs.

Register now.

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a final rule to encourage companies, trade associations, colleges, unions and other entities to establish industry-recognized apprenticeship programs (IRAP). The apprenticeships will be paid positions that provide trainees with on-the-job training and classroom education. The initiative is intended to expand the pool of available workers given the fact that the U.S. currently has many more job openings than skilled workers. IRAPs will use industry-driven approaches in providing pathways for workers to gain skills and start careers.

In 2017, President Trump issued an Executive Order directing the DOL to institute such a program. The DOL program seeks to reduce red tape and overly rigid requirements for administering apprenticeship programs. It is intended to encourage a market-based approach while operating within DOL standards for training, structure, and curricula. Federal funds may be available to supplement the program but have not yet been appropriated by Congress.  

View the IRAP fact sheet. 

The DOL will be presenting a webinar on Thursday, March 26, from 2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m. (EDT) to discuss key elements of the program and provide information on next steps if interested in pursuing IRAPs.

Register now.

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

SEMA has submitted recommendations to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on ways to improve regulatory enforcement by the federal government. While the comments focus on certain actions taken by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), SEMA noted that the enforcement practices are likely applicable to other federal government agencies.  

The comments considered the manner in which government agencies initiate, investigate, purse and attempt to resolve enforcement actions of alleged regulatory violations. For example:

• SEMA objected to instances in which companies were provided insufficient notice of their legal rights when responding to government investigators, as well as misleading statements, inconsistencies in enforcement and aggressive settlement tactics. 
• SEMA criticized the fact that agency enforcement policies are usually not published for public comment and do not consider alternatives that are the least burdensome possible on small businesses. 
• SEMA expressed concern that federal enforcement officials have appeared unannounced at company facilities to conduct regulatory compliance inspections. The officials fail to inform company representatives of their rights, including the right to require a subpoena and to postpone a visit so that company officials can consult with legal counsel. 
• SEMA questioned the need for unscheduled visits since the agency seems to be using the element of surprise as an investigative tool. Rather, most agency inquiries could simply be answered through written correspondence. Further, SEMA urged that agencies be required to inform a company on the status or closure of an inquiry within a fixed period of time, such as 30–60 days.
• SEMA objected to formal investigations that are overly broad, requiring small businesses to supply a significant amount of irrelevant material. The fishing expedition approach forces the company to make significant financial expenditures in order to respond.
• SEMA protested settlement discussions in which government officials first threaten large fines that would place the company in bankruptcy before eventually accepting lower settlements. The negotiations leave the defendant intimidated and willing to accept a reduced penalty rather than pursue its case in court. In the process, the company is saddled with large attorney and accounting fees.  

SEMA recommended that the OMB issue guidelines or directives requiring government enforcement procedures take small business size into consideration. The ultimate enforcement goal should be to identify and rectify any noncompliant activities in a fashion that focuses on compliance rather than fines collected.

Read SEMA’s comments.

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