By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff
U.S. Representative Frank Pallone (D-NJ)—one of the most important and influential lawmakers in Washington, D.C., for helping to pass the RPM Act—strengthened and reaffirmed his support for the motorsports community by attending the Formula DRIFT event in Englishtown, New Jersey, last weekend.
Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman and U.S. Representative Frank Pallone (D-NJ), center, talks to PROSPEC Driver Alex Jagger (left) and Eric Snyder from SEMA during the Formula DRIFT event.
Rep. Pallone is the chairman for the U.S. House Energy & Commerce Committee (E&C), which has jurisdiction over the RPM Act. Chairman Pallone’s participation is significant to the motorsports industry and for helping to pass the bill in 2022.
Rep. Pallone met with PROSPEC drivers from New Jersey, including Ricky Hoffman, Alex Jagger and Matthew Bystrak, who talked about the importance of passing the RPM Act to protect the ability to compete in modified street vehicles. The Congressman watched PRO Series drivers compete at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in racecars that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maintains are not currently legal (the RPM Act would eliminate any uncertainty that street vehicles can be modified for track use).
(Left): Rep. Pallone, Jim Liaw (left) from PRI, and SEMA’s Daniel Ingber (right) and Eric Snyder (2nd from left) meet with exhibitors at Formula DRIFT event in Englishtown, New Jersey.
(Right): Rep. Pallone (left) and Jim Liaw talk to Brian Mabutas, owner of Eat Sleep Race in North Brunswick, New Jersey.
SEMA staff and Chairman Pallone also met with track owner Mike Napp, members of the U.S. Air Force and racing businesses from New Jersey, and the Congressman was honored during the opening ceremonies.
The RPM Act (H.R. 3281/S.2736), is a bill that would protect the future of racing by clarifying in federal law that it is not illegal to modify and convert a street vehicle into a dedicated race vehicle. The House and Senate must pass the RPM Act by January 3, 2023, in order for it to become law during the 117th session of Congress.
Learn more, and contact your legislators at www.saveourracecars.com.