[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 153 (Thursday, September 28, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1870]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            NATIONAL HIGHWAY SYSTEM DESIGNATION ACT OF 1995

                                 ______


                               speech of

                       HON. JOSEPH P. KENNEDY II

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 20, 1995

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2274) to 
     amend title 23, United States Code, to designate the National 
     Highway System, and for other purposes.

  Mr. KENNEDY of Massachusetts. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support 
of the Lowey zero tolerance amendment to the national highway bill. At 
last, we have an amendment which will provide a Federal standard for 
making driving laws consistent with drinking laws. By restoring 
sensibility to our impaired driving laws, zero tolerance provisions 
make it illegal for underage persons to drink any amount of alcohol and 
then drive.
  Driving inexperience and risk-taking behavior often leads teens to 
dangerous driving situations. If alcohol is introduced in the equation, 
it often becomes a deadly mixture. Research shows that young drivers 
are particularly susceptible to impaired judgment when driving under 
the influence of even small amounts of alcohol. A survey of 
Massachusetts teenagers who admitted consuming five or more drinks 
showed they were twice as likely to drive 20 miles over the speed 
limit, run red lights, and make illegal turns--and many without wearing 
their seat belts.
   As of May 1995, 32 States and the District of Columbia have 
established lower blood alcohol contents [BAC's] for youthful drivers. 
Such provisions should be indiscriminately applied across all State 
lines, sending a clear message to our Nation's teens: If you are under 
21 years old and are driving with any level of blood alcohol 
consumption, you will be considered intoxicated and your driver's 
license will be temporarily revoked.
  Each year for the past decade, between 2,400 and 5,400 youths aged 15 
to 24 were killed in alcohol-related crashes. If this amendment were 
adopted, it is estimated at least 375 single vehicle night fatal 
crashes would be prevented each year. These are more than just 
numbers--these are lives.
  I applaud my colleague from New York, Ms. Lowey, for her leadership 
in offering this amendment. I believe the time has come for us to 
engage in a national debate over the merits of formulating a new 
comprehensive alcohol policy. To that end, I am planning to offer a 
comprehensive alcohol bill in the coming weeks and would encourage my 
colleagues to lend their support. One provision of this bill parallels 
the ideas conveyed in the amendment we are debating today--establishing 
a national zero tolerance law for underage drinking drivers.
  Responsible legislating can be manifested in various forms. Passing 
the Lowey zero tolerance amendment is the responsible thing to do. I 
urge my colleagues to adopt this amendment.

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