By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff
U.S. Representative Darren Soto (D-FL) joined SEMA for the Formula DRIFT event in Orlando, Florida, last weekend. In addition to watching Pro Series drivers qualify, Ryan Sage, president of Formula DRIFT, led the congressman on a tour of the event that included meetings with racers, exhibiting businesses from Florida, and members of the U.S. Air Force. Rep. Soto met with representatives from BC Racing, Drift HQ, and LZMFG along with ProSpec driver Richard Advani and the race team for ProSeries driver Dan Burkett.
U.S. Representative Darren Soto (D-FL) [center] joined SEMA for the Formula DRIFT event in Orlando, Florida, last weekend.
Rep. Soto was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2016 to represent Florida’s 9th Congressional District, which includes all of Osceola and parts of Orange and Polk Counties. The Congressman has been a strong advocate for the Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act (RPM Act), using his positing on the powerful House Energy & Commerce Committee to advocate for the bill’s passage. Rep. Soto is the proud owner of an ’11 Ford Mustang. Prior to running for office, the congressman practiced family law, civil litigation and real-estate law in Central Florida. He served in the Florida House of Representatives (2006 to 2008) and the Florida Senate until he was elected to Congress in 2016. Rep. Soto is running for a fourth term in the House in November.
The RPM Act must be enacted into law to guarantee your right to modify street cars, trucks and motorcycles into dedicated race vehicles, and ensure that the industry can offer parts that enable racers to compete. Lawmakers must continue to be reminded of the importance of passing the RPM Act, as we need your help now more than ever.
Below is a list of things you can do right now to help to pass the RPM Act:
- Call or send a letter to your lawmakers at saveourracecars.com. A letter has already been drafted. It takes less than a minute.
- Invite your lawmakers to tour your business or attend a race—email erics@sema.org to coordinate the invitation.
- Post about the RPM Act on your company’s social media accounts using the toolkit of digital assets or pass out a flyer at your business of events.
- Become a member of SEMA and learn more about SEMA’s Political Action Committee (SEMA PAC). SEMA PAC allows SEMA members to support the lawmakers that stand up for our industry in Washington.
For additional information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.