[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4086 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 4086

   To improve data collection efforts with respect to the safety of 
 pregnant women and unborn children in motor vehicle crashes, provide 
 for research and development of appropriate countermeasures, educate 
  the public regarding motor vehicle safety risks affecting pregnant 
           women and unborn children, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            December 6, 2006

  Mr. DeWine introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
   referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL



   To improve data collection efforts with respect to the safety of 
 pregnant women and unborn children in motor vehicle crashes, provide 
 for research and development of appropriate countermeasures, educate 
  the public regarding motor vehicle safety risks affecting pregnant 
           women and unborn children, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Maternal Motor Vehicle Crash Safety 
Act of 2006''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
        Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety 
        Administration.
            (2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
        ``appropriate congressional committees'' means the Committee on 
        Appropriations and Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
        Appropriations and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 
        House of Representatives.
            (3) Biofidelic.--The term ``biofidelic'' means having the 
        property of responding to and being impacted by crash and other 
        external forces in a manner directly consistent with the way in 
        which a live human being would respond to and be impacted by 
        such forces.
            (4) Data linkage system.--The term ``data linkage system'' 
        means an information system that is capable of accurately 
        tracking adverse health effects and birth outcomes for pregnant 
        women who are occupants of a motor vehicle that is involved in 
        a crash and the unborn children of such women, through the 
        connection and analysis of multiple data sources.
            (5) Unborn child.--The term ``unborn child'' means a member 
        of the species homo sapiens, at any stage of development, who 
        is carried in the womb.

SEC. 3. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Injuries are the leading cause of pregnancy-associated 
        deaths in the United States.
            (2) Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of injury 
        deaths in women of reproductive age and the leading cause of 
        injury hospitalizations among pregnant women.
            (3) Studies have indicated that motor vehicles are 
        estimated to account for up to 80 percent of injury related 
        deaths among unborn children.
            (4) Transportation Research Board publications indicate 
        that deaths among unborn children due to motor vehicle crashes 
        are more frequent than several notable fatal childhood 
        injuries, including bicycle related deaths in children aged 0 
        through 15, firearm related deaths in children aged 0 through 
        9, and motor vehicle crash related deaths in children aged 0 
        through 1.
            (5) Studies suggest that approximately 3 percent of all 
        babies born in the United States are involved in a motor 
        vehicle crash while in utero.
            (6) Studies have shown that elevated risks of birth-related 
        threats and obstetric complications following crashes involving 
        pregnant women include--
                    (A) premature childbirth;
                    (B) low birth weight;
                    (C) placental injury;
                    (D) uterine rupture; and
                    (E) amniotic rupture.
            (7) Despite advances in vehicle safety, pregnant women have 
        not received the special attention and consideration needed to 
        understand, reduce, and prevent the risks of adverse pregnancy 
        outcomes related to crashes.
            (8) There is a need for more research and application using 
        anthropometric test devices and computerized modeling systems 
        that represent pregnant women during all stages of pregnancy.
            (9) During pregnancy, the risks of traumatic injury to a 
        woman is shared by the woman's unborn child. Assessing the 
        magnitude and characteristics of those risks through data 
        linkage systems, comparing the risks to other injuries and 
        diseases, and reducing them, are important unmet challenges for 
        improving maternal and child health.
            (10) A better understanding is needed about what can happen 
        during, and after, a pregnant woman is involved in a motor 
        vehicle crash. This includes the effects of a crash on the 
        mother, the unborn child, and the delicate physiological 
        balance between the mother and child that separates healthy 
        from unhealthy pregnancies, including the effects of maternal 
        physiologic adaptations to trauma, fluid loss and shock, 
        effects from maternal stress, effects from diagnostic regimens, 
        medical or surgical procedures, or the wide variety of 
        prescription medicines, and other medication taken by the 
        mother.
            (11) Despite the importance of the health of mothers and 
        unborn children involved in motor vehicle crashes, agencies and 
        data linkage systems responsible for tracking motor vehicle 
        injuries, deaths, and other measures of adverse outcome rarely 
        capture pregnancy status.
            (12) Existing data collection and analysis systems 
        generally do not count unborn children involved in motor 
        vehicle crashes and do not follow them after their birth to 
        ascertain the effects of the crash on long-term neuro-
        developmental and functional outcomes.

SEC. 4. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON IMPROVEMENTS TO THE NATIONAL AUTOMOTIVE 
              SAMPLING SYSTEM CRASHWORTHINESS DATA SYSTEM.

    It is the sense of Congress that the Administrator--
            (1) should continue to include in the National Automotive 
        Sampling System Crashworthiness Data System maintained by the 
        Administrator data related to motor vehicle crashes that 
        involved a pregnant women; and
            (2) should identify other means to advance the current 
        level of understanding regarding the number, nature, and impact 
        of motor vehicle crashes involving pregnant women and their 
        unborn children through data collection, data linkage systems, 
        and analysis systems.

SEC. 5. GRANTS FOR DATA LINKAGE SYSTEMS PROGRAMS.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator shall, in consultation with 
appropriate officials of State agencies or public health organizations, 
carry out a program to provide grants and other incentives, including 
technical assistance to eligible entities for the purpose described in 
subsection (b).
    (b) Purpose.--A grant or other incentive provided under this 
section shall be used to promote the development of data linkage 
systems described in subsection (e).
    (c) Eligible Entity.--In this section, the term ``eligible entity'' 
means an academic, public health, or transportation safety organization 
or a State or local government agency that the Administrator determines 
is appropriate to receive a grant or incentive under this section.
    (d) Application and Award Process.--
            (1) Applications.--Each eligible entity seeking a grant 
        under this section shall submit an application to the 
        Administrator at such time and in such manner as the 
        Administrator may require.
            (2) Awards.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall establish--
                    (A) the criteria for awarding a grant or incentive 
                under this section; and
                    (B) a competitive, merit-based process to select 
                applications to receive a grant or incentive under this 
                section.
            (3) Publication.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall publish in 
        the Federal Register the criteria and process described in 
        paragraph (2).
    (e) Program Structure.--The data linkage systems eligible to 
receive assistance under this section are systems that use the 
following sources:
            (1) State and local vital statistics databases, including 
        birth, infant, and death records.
            (2) State and local crash and driver's license records.
            (3) Other computerized health records as available, 
        including emergency medical services reports and hospital and 
        emergency room admission and discharge records.
    (f) Existing Data Systems.--To the maximum extent possible, the 
Administrator shall integrate the grant and incentive program carried 
out under this section with the existing State specific Crash Outcome 
Data Evaluation Systems carried out by the Administrator to utilize the 
capabilities, linkage expertise, and organizational relationships of 
such Systems to provide a foundation for improving the tracking of 
adverse health effects and birth outcomes for pregnant women who are 
occupants of a motor vehicle at the time of a crash and their unborn 
children.
    (g) Data Security and Privacy.--In carrying out this section, the 
Administrator and any eligible entity selected to receive a grant or 
incentive under this section for a data linkage system shall ensure 
that personal identifiers and other information utilized in that data 
linkage system related to a specific individual is handled in a manner 
consistent with all applicable Federal, State, and local laws and 
regulations and to ensure the confidentiality of such information, and 
in the manner necessary to prevent the theft, manipulation, or other 
unlawful or unauthorized use of personal information contained in data 
sources used for linkage studies.
    (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
        $2,500,000 for each of the fiscal years 2007, 2008, 2009, and 
        2010 to carry out this section.
            (2) Availability of funds.--Funds appropriated pursuant to 
        the authorization of appropriations in paragraph (1) shall 
        remain available until expended.

SEC. 6. SAFETY RESEARCH PROGRAM AND NATIONAL CONFERENCE.

    (a) Safety Research Program.--
            (1) Requirement to conduct.--The Administrator shall 
        conduct a research program as described in this section to 
        promote the health and safety of pregnant women who are 
        involved in motor vehicle crashes and of their unborn children.
            (2) High priority research areas.--In carrying out the 
        research program under this section, the Administrator shall 
        place a high priority on conducting research to--
                    (A) investigate methods to maximize the injury 
                prevention performance of standard 3-point safety belts 
                for pregnant women during all stages of pregnancy;
                    (B) analyze the effectiveness of technologies 
                designed to modify or extend the safety performance of 
                3-point safety belts for pregnant women across a range 
                of pregnancy phases, including technologies currently 
                available in the marketplace;
                    (C) develop biofidelic, anthropometric test devices 
                that are representative of pregnant women during all 
                stages of pregnancy; and
                    (D) develop biofidelic, computer models that are 
                representative of pregnant women during all stages of 
                pregnancy to aid in understanding crash forces relevant 
                to the safety of pregnant women and unborn children 
                that may include the utilization of existing modeling 
                systems developed by private and academic institutions, 
                if appropriate.
    (b) National Conference.--
            (1) Requirement to convene.--Not later than 18 months after 
        the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in 
        consultation with the heads of other appropriate Federal 
        agencies, shall convene a national research conference for the 
        purpose of identifying critical scientific issues for research 
        on the safety of pregnant women involved in motor vehicle 
        crashes and their unborn children.
            (2) Purpose of the conference.--The purpose of the 
        conference required by paragraph (1) shall be to establish and 
        prioritize a list of research questions to guide future 
        research related to the safety of pregnant women involved in 
        motor vehicle crashes and their unborn children.
            (3) Authority to partner with other organizations.--The 
        Administrator is authorized to carry out the conference 
        required by paragraph (1) in a partnership with organizations 
        recognized for expertise related to the research described in 
        paragraph (2).
    (c) Report Required.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the 
appropriate congressional committees a report that describes--
            (1) the research program carried out by the Administration 
        pursuant to subsection (a), including any findings or 
        conclusions associated with such research program; and
            (2) the priorities established at the national conference 
        required by subsection (b), plans for regulations or future 
        programs, or factors limiting the effectiveness of such 
        research.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--For each of the fiscal years 2007, 2008, 
        and 2009, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as 
        necessary to carry out this section.
            (2) Availability of funds.--Funds appropriated pursuant to 
        the authorization of appropriations in paragraph (1) shall 
        remain available until expended.

SEC. 7. PUBLIC OUTREACH AND EDUCATION.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator shall conduct a public outreach 
and education program to increase awareness of the unique safety risks 
associated with motor vehicle crashes for pregnant women and the unborn 
children of such women and of the methods available to reduce such 
risks. Such program shall include making information regarding the 
injury-prevention value of proper safety belt and airbag use available 
to the public.
    (b) Targeted Outreach.--The Administrator shall carry out the 
program described in subsection (a) in a manner that utilizes media and 
organizational partners to effectively educate pregnant women, ensure 
an overall educational impact, and efficiently utilize the program's 
resources.
    (c) Program Initiation and Duration.--The Administrator shall 
initiate the program described in subsection (a) not later than 12 
months after the date of the enactment of this Act, and shall maintain 
such program for not less than 24 months, subject to the availability 
of funds.

SEC. 8. INCLUSION OF SAFETY DATA IN ANNUAL ASSESSMENT.

    (a) In General.--Subject to subsection (b), the Administrator shall 
include a discussion of data regarding the safety of pregnant women who 
are involved in motor vehicle crashes and of their unborn children, 
including any relevant trends in such data, in each of the Annual 
Assessment of Motor Vehicle Crashes published by the National Center 
for Statistics and Analysis of the National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration or an equivalent publication of such Center.
    (b) Report to Congress.--If the Administrator determines that 
including the information described in subsection (a) in the Annual 
Assessment of Motor Vehicle Crashes or an equivalent publication is not 
feasible, the Administrator shall submit a report to the appropriate 
congressional committees not later than 60 days after the date of the 
release of such Annual Assessment or equivalent publication that states 
the reasons that it was not feasible to include such information and an 
analysis of the steps necessary to make such information available in 
the future.
                                 <all>