U.S. Congressional Committee Moves RPM Act Closer to Becoming Law

A congressional committee approved the Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports (RPM) Act by a 33-20 vote this week, making it eligible for consideration on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

The RPM Act (H.R. 350) was created to protect motorsports enthusiasts by federally protecting the right to manufacture, sell, distribute, and install performance parts that modify vehicle emissions systems if the vehicle is used solely for racing.

The bill is now being considered by the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

“The RPM Act addresses a problem that did not exist prior to 2015 when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a proposed rule stating that it was illegal to convert street vehicles into racing vehicles if the emission system is taken out-of-compliance from its stock configuration,” according to a SEMA eNews article about the recent House committee vote.

That EPA rule would have also made it “illegal to sell any emissions-related parts for those vehicles. This interpretation was inconsistent with 45 years of previous agency policy, practice, and industry understanding of the law as it applies to dedicated race vehicles,” the SEMA story said.

The proposed regulation would have made it illegal to convert a street-driven vehicle into a race car.

The motorsports community, including the OnAllCylinders staff and our friends at Summit Racing Equipment, have encouraged racing enthusiasts to contact their elected officials to voice support for the RPM Act to protect the sport of racing and the livelihoods of the many people and businesses who would suffer from that proposed law.