Bill > HR851

This bill establishes the position of National Roadway Safety Advocate (NRSA) within the Department of Transportation (DOT), to be filled by a career appointee within 180 days of enactment. The NRSA will serve as a dedicated resource for victims, survivors, and family members of road crashes, with broad responsibilities to communicate stakeholder perspectives and improve roadway safety. Specifically, the advocate may educate stakeholders about DOT activities, explain technical information in plain language, provide aggregated feedback to the Secretary of Transportation, build relationships with affected individuals, publish accessible educational materials, and make recommendations for advisory committee appointments. The position has significant communication and advocacy powers, including quarterly meetings with the DOT Secretary and the ability to refer questions to appropriate offices, but importantly cannot provide legal advice, make departmental decisions, or interfere with ongoing investigations. The NRSA must submit an annual report by November 15th highlighting systemic roadway safety issues and recommendations, and may submit additional reports as needed. The position is designed to ensure that the voices and experiences of road crash victims and their families are systematically heard and considered in DOT's safety policies and procedures.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/851/all-info