[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 108 (Thursday, June 11, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S2931]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO LEE AXDAHL

 Mr. ROUNDS. Mr. President, today I recognize Lee Axdahl for 
his years of leadership to the State of South Dakota and our Nation as 
a strong advocate for highway safety.
  Lee has always been a leader. Before becoming involved in highway 
safety, he had a successful career in radio broadcasting where he won 
numerous broadcast journalism awards, owned several radio stations, and 
served as president of the South Dakota Broadcasters Association.
  Lee got his start in highway safety in 2007 when he began working at 
the South Dakota Office of Accident Records as the statistical program 
manager. In 2010, when I was working as Governor of South Dakota, I 
appointed Lee to serve as director of the South Dakota Highway Safety 
Office. He was subsequently reappointed by Governors Dennis Daugaard 
and Kristi Noem.
  Under Lee's leadership, South Dakota has experienced record-low 
traffic fatality levels, including a 22-percent decline in 2019. Under 
his leadership, the State of South Dakota has secured a record five 
highway safety programming commendations in its most recent National 
Highway Traffic Safety Administration Management Review.
  Over the years, Lee has worked to implement the State's award-winning 
``Grim Reaper'' public awareness campaign and advocated for expansion 
of South Dakota's innovative 24/7 sobriety program to reduce impaired 
driving. He also modernized South Dakota's crash reporting abilities by 
adopting an electronic system, which has improved data submission 
periods from more than 4 months to less than 7 days.
  Lee's impact on highway safety has extended beyond South Dakota. He 
has served on the board of directors and executive committee of the 
Governors Highway Safety Association--GHSA--most recently having served 
as its treasurer. In this role, he has mentored new highway safety 
directors from other States by offering insight into the successes of 
South Dakota. Additionally, he has served as the Federal 
Reauthorization Subcommittee chair for the GHSA, where he improved the 
Nation's transportation policy in the FAST Act.
  I commend Lee Axdahl for his service to South Dakota and our Nation. 
I wish him the best in his future endeavors.

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