[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 40 (Monday, October 9, 2000)]
[Page 2297]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on Congressional Action on a National Blood Alcohol Content 
Standard To Combat Drunk Driving

October 3, 2000

    Congress took a courageous step today to save lives by keeping drunk 
drivers off the roads. This morning, House and Senate conferees approved 
a Transportation spending bill that includes a critical measure to help 
set a nationwide impaired driving standard of .08 blood alcohol content 
(BAC). This commonsense nationwide limit will save an estimated 500 
lives a year and prevent thousands of injuries.
    Our progress on .08 BAC marks a new milestone in our ongoing effort 
to crack down on drunk driving. It is the result of years of hard work 
by safety advocates across the country. I applaud Mothers Against Drunk 
Driving and the more then 400 young people visiting Washington today who 
have put a national spotlight on this critical safety measure. I also 
want to commend the tireless efforts and leadership of Senators Frank 
Lautenberg and Richard Shelby, Representatives Frank Wolf and Nita 
Lowey, as well as U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater. Today's 
remarkable achievement shows that when we work together, we can make 
America's streets and highways safer for all.