Do you want Congress to pass bills that protect our automotive freedoms and enable the specialty automotive aftermarket to thrive? Do you wish that policymakers in Washington, D.C., understood our industry and the thousands of jobs that it has created in communities throughout the United States? If your answer to those questions is yes, now is the time to get involved with SEMA’s efforts to connect your business with members of Congress.

NHTSA finalized a regulation to implement the SEMA-led Low Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Act. SEMA worked with Congress to amend federal law to enable small auto manufacturers to produce completed replica vehicles under a streamlined regulatory structure that reflects the distinctly different business model of this niche industry. NHTSA’s regulations offer a business-friendly pathway for companies to begin producing up to 325 such replica cars a year. Replicas must resemble production vehicles manufactured at least 25 years ago to qualify—from ’30s roadsters to ’70s musclecars and more.

Kansas—Restoration: The Kansas House of Representatives Transportation Committee passed SEMA-supported legislation to allow the full restoration of antique vehicles, including temporary removal of the vehicle identification number (VIN) when necessary. This bill changes existing law to allow for the removal and reinstallation of a VIN if the removal and reinstallation is reasonably necessary for repair or restoration. Currently, restorers who intentionally remove or alter a VIN, regardless of reason, are guilty of a felony, and the vehicle is subject to seizure and destruction by law enforcement. The bill awaits consideration on the House floor.

RPM Act: SEMA and the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) continue to lead the fight to pass the Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act (RPM Act; H.R. 3281 and S. 2736) into law. The RPM Act, if enacted into law, would clarify that it is legal under the Clean Air Act to make emissions-related changes to convert a street vehicle into a dedicated race car.

Off-Roading at Oceano Dunes: SEMA and its allies in the motorized recreation community are working to protect off-highway vehicle (OHV) usage at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA), which is California’s only OHV park on the Pacific Ocean. It is located about two hours northwest of Los Angeles near San Luis Obispo. Oceano Dunes SVRA became a state park in 1974 and has been under threat of closure for many years, primarily by groups that object to motorized recreation based on environmental arguments that off-roading causes more airborne particulate matter (dust) and/or threatens plants and animals.

The United States and the European Union (EU) have agreed to end a three-year dispute over steel and aluminum tariffs. Effective January 1, 2022, the United States no longer imposed 25% tariffs on steel (sheets, bars, tubes, etc.) and 10% on aluminum and is instead using a quota system for those imports from EU countries. The agreement will also apply to derivative products made in the EU and subject to the tariffs, such as steel bumper stampings. The Trump administration imposed the metal tariffs in 2018 under Section 232 of U.S. trade law, citing that dependence on foreign sources posed a national security threat. Argentina, Australia, Brazil and South Korea were excluded based on quotas, and Canada and Mexico were eventually excluded based on the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement. Although the tariffs have been imposed worldwide, a primary issue to be addressed is global over-production of the metals, especially by China.

President Biden signed SEMA-opposed proclamations to expand the boundaries for three National Monuments, including Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears National Monuments.

The laws and regulations that govern SEMA members do affect the way automotive specialty-equipment products are made, distributed and marketed. The charge of the SEMA government affairs office is to stay on top of all relevant state and federal legislation and regulations and advocate for industry positions to ensure the best possible outcome for SEMA’s membership. The following are a few examples of critical legislative/regulatory issues addressed by the SEMA government affairs team over the past year.

SEMA seeks to enlist industry and enthusiasts in the endless battle to protect a car owner’s right to modify his or her vehicle. During the 2021 SEMA Show, you can boost your industry’s political horsepower by visiting Las Vegas Convention Center room N243 and supporting SEMA’s Political Action Committee (PAC) and the SEMA Action Network (SAN).

The SEMA-backed Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act of 2021 (RPM Act), H.R. 3281, was reintroduced in the House by U.S. Representatives Patrick McHenry (R-NC) and Raul Ruiz (D-CA) and had more than 90 co-sponsors at the time of this issue’s publication. The RPM Act would protect Americans’ right to convert street vehicles into dedicated race cars as well as the motorsports parts industry’s ability to produce and sell products that allow racers to compete.