Stutzman Introduces Recreational Vehicle Certainty Act of 2014

Press Release

Today, U.S. Congressman Marlin Stutzman issued the follow statement after the recent introduction of H.R. 5658, The Recreational Vehicle Certainty Act of 2014 with U.S. Congresswoman Jackie Walorski.

"For nearly a decade, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Congress have failed to clearly define policy for Recreational Vehicles (RVs)," Stutzman said. "The legislation I introduced with Congresswoman Walorski ends the confusion for RV manufacturers, consumers, and lenders, by simplifying and establishing one clear standard in the law for RVs. Indiana's robust RV industry should not have to fear that Washington bureaucrats will suddenly change the rules on them. The certainty provided by our bill will protect important American businesses and thousands of Hoosier jobs."

"The RV industry currently faces a regulatory nightmare and in the RV Capital of the World -- Elkhart County, this issue could have a substantial negative impact. RV manufacturers currently lack clarity on interpretation of RV classes, forcing them to rely on bureaucratic interpretation," Walorski said. "Since 2008, RVIA has been working with HUD to clarify the definition of RVs and make it crystal clear what an RV is and is not. Since HUD has still not provided this clarity, the industry has continued operating as it always had, until a memo released last month created more confusion about the definition of an RV." Now, the legislation I have co-sponsored with Rep. Stutzman will give Congress an opportunity to once and for all clarify the distinction between RVs and manufactured housing, helping our RV industry in Indiana continue to thrive and succeed."

Background on H.R. 5658 The Recreational Vehicle Certainty Act of 2014

· The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has the authority to strictly regulate the construction of manufactured homes, formerly known as mobile homes.

· Importantly, Recreational Vehicles (RVs), are built by and follow their own successful industry standards.

· This legislation officially codifies a single, simple definition of RVs to ensure that they clearly and consistently remain distinct products from manufactured homes and are not unnecessarily subject to federal regulation by HUD.

· Recreational Vehicles are an estimated $10 billion industry for the country with approximately 80 percent of RVs being manufactured in the state of Indiana.

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