[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 77 (Thursday, May 22, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S7053]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DeWINE (for himself and Mr. Lautenberg):
  S. 1139. A bill to direct the National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration to establish and carry out traffic safety law 
enforcement and compliance campaigns, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I rise today, along with my colleague from 
New Jersey, Senator Lautenberg, to introduce a bi-partisan bill aimed 
at reducing the number of vehicle incidents associated with drinking 
and driving.
  Last year, the Nation experienced an increase in alcohol-related 
traffic fatalities for the third year in a row. This increase resulted 
in 17,970 deaths or 42 percent of the 42,850 people killed in traffic 
incidents. Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration show that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of 
death for Americans ages 1 to 35 years of age. In fact, on average, 117 
people die each day from motor vehicle crashes in the United States.
  Our bill--the Traffic Safety Law Enforcement Campaign Act--would 
require States to conduct a combined media/law enforcement campaign 
aimed at reducing these traffic fatalities. Specifically, the law 
enforcement portion consists of sobriety checkpoints in the District of 
Columbia and in the 39 States that allow them and saturation patrols in 
those States that do not. The Centers for Disease Control estimate that 
the sobriety checkpoints proposed in the underlying bill may reduce 
alcohol related crashes by as much as 20 percent. More than 75 percent 
of the public has indicated in NHTSA polls support for sobriety 
checkpoints. In fact, NHTSA has concluded that 62 percent of Americans 
want sobriety checkpoints to be used more often.
  I urge each of my colleagues to join this bi-partisan effort to save 
lives and promote highway safety.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1139

       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 ``Traffic Safety Law 
     Enforcement Campaign Act''.

     SEC. 2. TRAFFIC SAFETY LAW ENFORCEMENT CAMPAIGNS.

       (a) In General.--The Administration of the National Highway 
     Traffic Safety Administration shall establish a program to 
     conduct at least 3 high-visibility traffic safety law 
     enforcement campaigns each year.
       (b) Focus.--The campaigns shall focus on--
       (1) reducing alcohol-impaired driving;
       (2) increasing seat belt use; and
       (3) a combination of reducing alcohol-impaired driving and 
     increasing seat belt use.
       (c) Advertising.--The Administrator may use, or authorize 
     the use of, funds available to carry out this section for the 
     development, production, and use of broadcast and print media 
     advertising in carrying out this section.
       (d) Evaluation and Report.--The Administrator shall 
     evaluate the effectiveness of the campaigns at the end of 
     each year and submit a report to the Senate Committee on 
     Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House of 
     Representatives Committee on Transportation and 
     Infrastructure within 90 days after the end of each year 
     setting forth the findings, conclusions, and recommendations 
     of the Administrator with respect to the program.

     SEC. 3. FUNDING.

       (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
     out of the Highway Trust Fund (other than from the Mass 
     Transmit Account) to the Administrator to carry out this 
     Act $150,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 through 
     2009, of which--
       (a) $48,000,000 shall be used for each fiscal year for 
     nationwide advertising by the Administration;
       (2) $48,000,000 shall be made available each fiscal year by 
     the Administrator to States for advertising;
       (3) $48,000,000 shall be made available each fiscal year by 
     the Administrator to States for traffic safety law 
     enforcement; and
       (4) $6,000,000 shall be available to the Administrator for 
     evaluation of the program under section 2.
       (b) Program Standards.--Within 120 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall promulgate 
     program standards and criteria for the use of funds under 
     subsection (a)(2) and (3) that will ensure the effective and 
     appropriate use of such funds in accordance with this Act, 
     taking into account State efforts, needs, administrative 
     resources, and priorities.
       (c) Apportionment.--The Administrator shall apportion funds 
     under subsection (a)(2) and (3) among the States on the same 
     basis as funds are apportioned among the States under section 
     402(c) of title 23, United States Code.
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