SEMA HONORS MEMBERS OF THE CONGRESSIONAL AUTOMOTIVE PERFORMANCE AND MOTORSPORTS CAUCUS IN WASHINGTON
WASHINGTON (May 2002) - Twenty-two Members of Congress from 13 states attended SEMA's sixth annual Salute to the Congressional Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus in the Rayburn Office Building on Capitol Hill, earlier this month. SEMA members, many of whom came to the nation's capitol expressly to honor the members of the caucus, were able to meet their Congressional representatives and their staffs in an informal setting and express their appreciation of the interest these Senators and Congressmen take in the automotive specialty equipment and enthusiast industry. NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace and race promoter George DeBidart made guest appearances at the reception, as did TV show hosts Dennis Gage (Classic Car) and Dave Bowman (Two Guys Garage). Each Senator and Representative who attended spoke to the crowd of automotive enthusiasts. Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-CO) and Representative Sander Levin (D-MI) are co-chairmen of the 82-member bicameral caucus which has representation from 28 of the 50 states. The caucus, formed in 1996, is comprised of "like-minded people with similar interests" in the words of Caucus Chairman Campbell. Senator Campbell hosted a breakfast in the Dirksen Building the morning after the reception. He told the crowd about the basics of the Congressional caucus system, recounted the industry's recent victory that derailed an attempt to provide federal funding for state- operated vehicle scrappage programs, and commented on the changes in government and policy that occurred after the September 11 attack on the United States. Campbell's fellow Caucus member Donald Manzullo (R-IL), chairman of the House Small Business Committee, also addressed the SEMA members, explaining to them how important, and effective, individual business contacts can be for both the companies and congressional representatives. Manzullo said, "You, the SEMA members, are a special interest group, and the contacts you make with us are critically important." Manzullo urged the attendees to let their representatives know their issues and to volunteer to be a resource and expert in areas about which they have concerns. Political gurus Democrat James Carville and Republican Frank Luntz discussed international and national concerns, then answered questions from SEMA members at a private debate held in the Capitol Building immediately before the SEMA reception for the Caucus. SEMA's next D.C. Rally to salute the efforts of the caucus will be held in 2004, according to Chris Kersting, SEMA executive vice president. Linda Spencer, SEMA director of international and government relations, said that SEMA will continue to run its popular year-round program of arranging visits to SEMA member company headquarters by Senators and Congressman. "Our district visits, when a Senator or Congressman or -woman comes to learn about a SEMA- member business, meet its employees, and be introduced to other SEMA members whose companies are located nearby, are exactly what Representative Manzullo told us are so very effective," Spencer said. For more information about SEMA's governmental relations programs, contact Spencer at lindas@sema.org or 202/783-4032. SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association, represents the $26 billion specialty automotive industry. The trade association has more than 5,000 member companies. It is the authoritative source of research data, trends and market growth information for automakers and the specialty auto products industry. The industry provides appearance, performance, comfort, convenience and technology products for passenger cars, minivans, trucks, SUVs and recreational vehicles. For more information, contact SEMA at 1575 S. Valley Vista Dr., Diamond Bar, CA, 91765-3914; call 909/396-0289; or visit <www.sema.org> or <www.enjoythedrive.com>.