Hagerty Meets Hobby Supporter Senator Nighthorse Campbell

U.S. Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, well-known for his support of the collector car hobby and Co-Chair of the Congressional Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus,was honored at a “thank you” fundraiser during the annual Specialty and Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show, Thursday, November 7th. McKeel Hagerty, President of Hagerty Insurance, attended the event and was able to thank the senator directly for his support of pro-hobby legislation and also discuss Hagerty and its customers’ legislative efforts across the country. “It was encouraging to meet a legislator so clearly supportive of our hobby particularly in a town (D.C.) that seems to constantly attack our rights to own and operate historic vehicles. He inspired me to increase Hagerty’s hobby legislative efforts to protect our customers and other hobbyists’ rights.”

In March 2002, Senator Campbell spearheaded a successful effort, thanks in great part to SEMA’s committed legislative work, to defeat old car scrappage language from the Energy Policy Act of 2002. The vehicle scrappage provision would have created a U.S. Department of Energy bureaucracy to federally fund state-funded scrappage programs for vehicles more than 15 years old! It threatened vehicle enthusiasts nationwide with the loss of valuable parts and parts-cars for repair, restoration and customization projects. Without SEMA and Senator Campbell, this victory would have been impossible.