One of the ways members of Congress shine a light on a specific issue is through the formation of congressional caucuses. Reps. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) and Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) have done exactly that in creating the bipartisan Congressional Road Safety Caucus this year.

One of the first steps came on April 14, when Reps. Tom O’Halleran (D-Ariz.) and Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) introduced the High Risk Rural Roads Safety Grant Program Act in the House. The Act would create a new competitive grant program for local jurisdictions and tribal nations to focus federal funding on rural and tribal road safety projects.

Funded at $600 million annually, this proposal would give a needed boost to targeting safety challenges on these rural and tribal roadways.

Other roadway safety proposals are also being considered on Capitol Hill.

The Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee proposal for a five-year, $304 billion surface transportation bill is a massive win for the roadway safety infrastructure industry with funding for the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) totaling $16.8 billion.

The bipartisan Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act (STRA) released Saturday by the EPW Committee represents a 34% increase over current spending levels.

The legislation represents a bipartisan effort in the Senate to pass a long-term highway reauthorization before the current extension of the law expires Oct. 1. The EPW Committee is expected to consider amendments and vote on the proposal on Wednesday.

ATSSA, along with more than 70 other organizations, sent a letter to President Joseph R. Biden on Wednesday urging him to commit to reaching a goal of zero roadway fatalities by 2050.

“Reaching zero fatalities has been a longtime priority for ATSSA,” said Vice President of Engagement Nate Smith. “Our advocacy work in Washington, D.C. and in state capitals around the country is consistently urging legislators to make progress towards that goal.”

As President-Elect Joe Biden continues to formulate his policy transition teams, there is a focus on transportation and infrastructure issues. There is a strong indication that infrastructure policies will be an early focus of the Biden Administration.

Today, ATSSA submitted our policy priorities to the transition team, focused on roadway safety infrastructure investments.

“For more than 50 years, ATSSA has focused on reducing roadway fatalities and serious injuries on roads throughout the country,” ATSSA President and CEO Stacy Tetschner stated. “We look forward to working with President-Elect Biden and his infrastructure advisors on ensuing that roadway safety is the focal point on any surface transportation proposals and legislation. As the voice of roadway safety, ATSSA and our members are the go-to resource for policy makers at all levels of government, including the incoming administration and future U.S Department of Transportation appointees.”

Join ATSSA Vice President of Government Relations Nate Smith on Tuesday for a Town Hall addressing the impact of the state and federal elections on roadway safety.

Smith will discuss how the Nov. 3 election results will influence roadway safety policies and priorities in 2021 and for years to come, including the question of how our nation continues to respond to COVID-19.

Register now for this online event held Tuesday at 1 p.m. EST.