[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 164 (Tuesday, September 22, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S5781]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    REMEMBERING DR. ROLF H. EPPINGER

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to an 
extraordinary constituent, Dr. Rolf H. Eppinger, who passed away on 
August 14, 2020. Dr. Eppinger's outstanding work has saved the lives of 
many Americans and will save many more in the years to come.
  Dr. Eppinger had a distinguished 34-year career with the National 
Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA. There, he performed and 
led fundamental biomechanics research that resulted in the development 
of crash test dummies, the interpretation of their measurements, the 
advancement of the prevention of crash injuries, and the reduction of 
the severity of crash injuries.
  His work has helped save hundreds of thousands of lives and many more 
injuries worldwide. NHTSA has estimated that in the United States, as 
of 2017, more than 50,000 lives have been saved by airbags, 374,000 by 
safety belts, and 11,000 by child restraints. Many times more serious 
injuries were prevented or ameliorated.
  The work of Dr. Eppinger and his team formed the basis for the New 
Car Assessment Programs now in use worldwide.
  Over the course of his career, Dr. Eppinger published more than 120 
technical papers dealing with automotive safety and was the holder of 
two U.S. patents. In addition, he enjoyed sailboat racing and was an 
accomplished watercolorist, pen and ink artist, woodworker, boat 
builder, and general handyman.
  Dr. Eppinger is remembered for his rigorous scientific medical and 
engineering research, integrity, decency, and humility.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in sending our gratitude for Dr. 
Eppinger's outstanding contributions and our deepest condolences to his 
wife Karen, his children Justin and Dwight, his daughter-in-law Kelly, 
and his grandchildren Alice and Hugo.

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