[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 94 (Friday, May 28, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E590-E591]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              INTRODUCTION OF THE VISION ZERO ACT OF 2021

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                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 28, 2021

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Madam Speaker, today I introduced the Vision Zero Act 
of 2021. This legislation passed the House last session in Section 1601 
of the Moving Forward Act (H.R. 2, 116th Cong.) and would make the 
development and implementation of Vision Zero plans eligible for 
federal funding through the Surface Transportation Block Grant program 
and the Highway Safety Improvement Program.
  Traffic fatalities in the United States claimed more than 36,000 
lives in 2019, equivalent to one death every 14 minutes. Traffic 
fatalities are especially common for the most vulnerable road users: 
pedestrians, cyclists, older Americans, and children. Pedestrian and 
cyclist deaths also make up a disproportionate and growing share of 
traffic fatalities. In the past decade, annual fatalities for motor 
vehicles have stayed largely stagnant while pedestrian and cyclist 
deaths have increased by 52 percent and 36 percent, respectively. We 
need a new approach. These are our friends, family, neighbors, and 
colleagues. The only acceptable number of traffic fatalities is zero.
  The goal of Vision Zero is the elimination of all transportation-
related fatalities and serious injuries. In more than 40 urban, rural, 
and suburban communities across the country, residents, activists, and 
elected officials have come together to adopt and implement Vision Zero 
plans. These plans improve safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, transit 
users, motorists, and vehicle passengers. Vision Zero is an innovative, 
multifaceted approach to improve transportation safety by using data, 
new partnerships, safe planning, and community-focused solutions to 
achieve zero traffic fatalities.
  While communities are integrating their Vision Zero plans into 
transportation policy, the federal government has not supported the 
design or implementation of Vision Zero plans. The Vision Zero Act of 
2021 integrates Vision Zero into federal transportation policy to 
prioritize safety, equity, and proper planning.
  Enacting the Vision Zero Act of 2021 will help communities of all 
sizes develop and implement innovative, effective methods to make our 
streets safer for everyone. I look forward to working with my 
colleagues in the House and Senate to enact this legislation into law 
as part of a surface transportation reauthorization bill.

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