More than 70 industry representatives will head to Washington, D.C., next week for the 2026 Powersports Capitol Hill Fly-In.
This is a press release from the MIC…
More than 70 industry representatives will head to Washington, D.C., next week for the 2026 Powersports Capitol Hill Fly-In, bringing lawmakers a clear message that federal decisions on tariffs, land access, PFAS regulations, trail funding, and vehicle definitions could directly affect businesses, riders, and recreation opportunities across the country.
To date, more than 90 Congressional meetings have been scheduled with House and Senate offices. The May 18–19 Fly-In will include a Tuesday morning breakfast briefing featuring the NHTSA Administrator, five Congressmen, and Washington, D.C., insiders before attendees head into a full day of meetings with Congressional offices.
The Fly-In comes as the industry navigates mounting policy pressures on multiple fronts. Tariffs continue to raise costs for manufacturers, dealers, and consumers, while federal land-use decisions could limit future riding access. At the same time, the industry is pushing back against legislation that could unintentionally restrict youth vehicles, increase regulatory burdens on powersports products, or alter long-standing motorcycle definitions in ways that create new complications for riders and manufacturers alike.
The conversations will center on a common theme of keeping federal policy from making it harder to build, sell, buy, or ride powersports vehicles. On trade, that means opposing additional tariffs and addressing the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement as companies make long-range sourcing and manufacturing decisions.
On the recreation side, attendees will press lawmakers to protect and expand access to federal lands while seeking full funding for the Recreational Trails Program. The RTP is currently capped at $84 million annually, even though the Federal Highway Administration estimates recreational OHV users pay $281 million each year in relevant gas taxes.
Other asks focus on ensuring legislation reflects the realities of powersports products and use cases. The Associations are seeking amendments to exclude youth motorcycles, ATVs, and ROVs from juvenile product PFAS restrictions, noting that certain PFAS uses remain unavoidable in vehicle parts and components. They are also seeking appropriate treatment for powersports products in proposals involving catalytic converters and motorcycle definitions, where overly broad requirements could create new costs, compliance challenges, or access issues for manufacturers and dealers.
“These are all challenges facing our industry today,” said Scott Schloegel, Senior Vice President of Government Relations for the Motorcycle Industry Council, Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association, and Specialty Vehicle Institute of America. “These decisions shape the cost and availability of powersports products, as well as determine whether designated riding areas remain open for the next generation. The Fly-In is one of many ways we help safeguard the future of our industry and the communities it serves, and we’re thrilled to have a record number of members lending their time and voices to that effort this year.”
