Members of the New York State Snowmobile Association along with other state snowmobile associations participated in a DC Fly-in in Washington, DC, May 1 to advocate to federal legislators about the importance of snowmobiling in the United States. Forty-eight snowmobile leaders across the country attended multiple meetings to discuss regional issues pertaining to the economic impact of the sport and to promote full funding of the Recreational Trails Program .
Speakers included members the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association, American Chemical Council, Bureau of Land Management, the Motorcycle Industry Council and the National Forest Service.
Members of the NYSSA Board of Directors visited numerous house and senate leader offices to promote Senate bill number S811 which was introduced by Senator Amy Klobachar and would secure full funding of the recreational trails program. If this bill passes the senate, it would ensure that gas taxes collected from off road recreational users would be dedicated to recreational trail program grants. Approximately 30% of these funds go towards motorized recreation including snowmobiling.
At this time, there is no matching bill in the House of Representatives but both NYSSA and ACSA are hopeful that it will be sponsored by members of Congress.
The New York State Snowmobile Association consists of 223 volunteer-based snowmobile clubs which maintain over 10,600 miles of trails throughout New York State. The snowmobile program in New York is completely self-funded through snowmobile registration fees collected from riders. The New York State Snowmobile Association is largest snowmobile association in the world consisting of over 85,000 members.
David Sprague of Walton and Rosanne Warner, president of the New York State Snowmobile Association, attended.
