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Racecar Regulations Reversed After Loudermilk Pressures EPA

Washington, April 19, 2016

With continuous pressure from Representative Barry Loudermilk and others, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has decided to reverse course on a job-killing regulation. If implemented, the new EPA regulation would have seriously stifled business at local raceways in Georgia and across the nation. During a recent Science, Space & Technology Oversight subcommittee hearing, Chairman Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) questioned witnesses on the Environmental Protection Agency’s new regulations targeting amateur racecar drivers and parts suppliers - an industry that supports American small business, manufacturing and technology.

 

Watch the full video HERE

“In addition to the major raceways throughout our country, there are hundreds of smaller local tracks that would have been devastated by this new regulation,” said Rep. Loudermilk. “The Dixie Speedway, in my district in Woodstock, Georgia, is a popular community track that brings in 150,000 visitors each year. If the EPA had used this regulation to dismantle the race equipment manufacturing industry, drivers at tracks like these would have been unable to find many of the parts that they needed for their cars. If local tracks, like Dixie Speedway, were to go out of business, our communities would be the losers.

“I was greatly frustrated by the covert manner in which the EPA attempted to sneak in this new regulation – behind the backs of the American people. The EPA buried this new provision in a proposed rule on medium and heavy-duty trucks, which had absolutely no relevance to amateur auto racing. When we uncovered their scheme, we had to slam the breaks on this new government regulation, so I led the fight to stop it. In addition to shining a light on the EPA’s plan, I am co-sponsoring legislation to protect the racing industry, as well as using the power of the purse to defund their efforts.

“Thankfully, with this pressure, the EPA has decided to scrap their unwarranted regulations – a victory for industry and small business in Georgia and throughout the nation.”

For more information on the hearing, including witness testimony and the archived webcast, please visit the committee website.