[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 81 (Wednesday, May 26, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S4444]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. UDALL of New Mexico (for himself and Mr. Bingaman):
  S. 3428. A bill to designate the Memorial of Perpetual Tears, which 
honors victims of driving while impaired, as the official National DWI 
Victims Memorial; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. President, today I introduce the 
National DWI Victims Memorial Designation Act of 2010, which is 
cosponsored by my colleague Senator Jeff Bingaman. This legislation 
would designate the DWI Victims Memorial of Perpetual Tears in 
Moriarty, New Mexico, as the National DWI Victims Memorial.
  Opened in 2008, the DWI Victims Memorial of Perpetual Tears is the 
Nation's first and only memorial of its kind. The Memorial Perpetual 
Tears helps raise awareness of the devastation caused by driving while 
impaired, DWI, crashes by recognizing their victims, educating the 
public, and encouraging preventive measures. The memorial aims to give 
comfort to the innocent victims of drunk driving and raise awareness of 
the devastating toll of DWI deaths on our nation's roadways. Located on 
a four-acre site next to Interstate 40, the Memorial of Perpetual Tears 
attracts passersby in addition to those who travel specifically to 
visit the memorial.
  The National DWI Victims Memorial Designation Act of 2010 would 
require that any reference to this memorial in a law, map, regulation, 
document, record, or other official paper of the United States 
government refer to the site as the National DWI Victims Memorial. As a 
Senator from New Mexico, I am proud to seek such an official 
designation for the DWI Victims Memorial of Perpetual Tears. It is 
fitting that such a national memorial should be located in the State 
that once led the Nation in DWI fatalities and now leads the way in 
drunk driving prevention.
  Compared to 20 years ago, our roads are much safer today. Yet even as 
the overall number of people killed on our roadways has declined, drunk 
driving still accounts for one third of all traffic fatalities 
nationwide. In 2008, drunk driving killed about 12,000 Americans, 
including 143 people in my home State of New Mexico. That is an average 
of 32 people killed every day by drunk driving. This unacceptable death 
toll is all the more shocking when you consider that each one of those 
deaths was preventable.
  Although other communities have established remembrance gardens and 
monuments honoring drunk driving victims, the DWI Victims Memorial of 
Perpetual Tears is unique. The memorial resembles a veterans cemetery 
with markers representing the most recent 5-year period of deaths in 
New Mexico attributed to DWI. The memorial includes a site dedicated to 
victims of DWI nationwide. The Memorial of Perpetual Tears gives 
further recognition to innocent victims of DWI nationwide by displaying 
Victim Tribute books in the memorial visitor center. The Victim Tribute 
books include stories and pictures submitted by injured victims and 
family members of those killed in DWI crashes.
  The Memorial of Perpetual Tears is a testament to the hard work and 
dedication of local volunteers who have made this memorial possible. 
Sonja Britton, the mother of a DWI victim, saw the need for a memorial 
to those killed by drunk driving on our Nation's roadways. For years, 
she rallied support and found many local residents and others 
nationwide who were willing to help. Mike, Mary, and Ralph Anaya and 
their family provided key support by donating prime real estate next to 
Interstate 40 to give the memorial a fitting location. Thanks to the 
efforts of so many, the Memorial of Perpetual Tears today provides a 
focal point where families can gather to mourn the loss of loved ones 
as well as join with others to promote DWI awareness and prevention.
  Having a National DWI Victims Memorial gives us another resource in 
the fight to end drunk driving. I share Sonja's vision that one day we 
will have no more senseless deaths caused by DWI crashes. As she says 
most eloquently, ``My dream will be realized when this mission is 
achieved and when our loved ones will no longer be injured or killed by 
alcohol-related traffic crashes. We must stop this carnage.''
  Working together, we can make Sonja's dream a reality.
  I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation and to join 
Senator Bingaman and me in celebrating the work of the volunteers who 
have made the DWI Victims Memorial of Perpetual Tears possible.
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