South Asheville News

U.S. Congressman Chuck Edwards (NC-11) on August 16, 2023 introduced H.R. 5210, the Maintaining Our Tactical and Operational Response (MOTOR) Act, to help state and local first responders maintain their ability to save lives through effective water rescues. Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) is the co-lead of this bipartisan bill.

The MOTOR Act will extend the emissions exemption for non-approved two-stroke marine engines to state and local emergency response teams and public safety agencies that are responsible for responding to domestic and national security dangers.

Current regulations prevent state and local emergency response agencies from using two-stroke outboard marine engines that are not emissions-compliant, despite the fact that the last emissions-compliant 2-stroke engines stopped being produced domestically in 2020. Federal agencies, however, are exempted from this rule.

Two-stroke outboard marine engines are critical for swift-water rescue and are therefore essential to protecting the public by improving domestic response and strengthening America’s homeland security.

“Western North Carolinians have experienced catastrophic flooding over the last several years, and the MOTOR Act will make sure that our state and local emergency response and public safety teams have every tool necessary to successfully carry out water rescues and save lives,”said Rep. Edwards. “If federal agencies are offered exemptions so that they are equipped with these critical engines, it is only reasonable that state and local responders and agencies receive them as well so that they can keep our citizens safe.”

“Wildfires are growing in intensity and frequency throughout the country and in California 19th Congressional District,”said Rep. Panetta. “With the bipartisan MOTOR Act, we ensure our first responders have every tool at their disposal to quickly and efficiently fight these deadly, destructive blazes. As we work to improve our response to coastal fire emergencies, this legislation is essential to our ability to save lives and livelihoods.”

Original source can be found here.