Ernst helps to co-found motorcycle caucus in Senate

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst is co-founding a caucus in the Senate aimed at representing the interests of motorcycle riders and manufacturers.

Ernst, R-Iowa, and Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., announced the formation of the Motorcycle Caucus on Tuesday and said they would be the co-chairs.

In a statement, Ernst said she has fond memories of riding motorcycles through Iowa. She added, 'I am thrilled to have the opportunity to encourage thoughtful discussions and solutions on behalf of motorcycle riders and manufacturers through my new role was co-chair of the Motorcycle Caucus.”

Ernst said that across Iowa, motorcyclists have expressed interest in safety, infrastructure and energy efficiency issues.

Ernst holds an annual fundraiser called the Roast and Ride, in which she and others ride their motorcycles. And in her 2014 campaign, one of Ernst's campaign ads featured her riding a motorcycle (with helmet and leather jacket) to a shooting range.

Organizations such as the newly founded Motorcycle Caucus are common in Congress, and they're increasing.

A Congressional Research Service report this year said there were 800 at the end of last year, with the vast majority of them in the House of Representatives. The number in the Senate, though, has grown from 89 at the end of 2014 to 97 at the end of last year.