Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., announced provisions based on her legislation to improve passenger safety and combat distracted driving have passed the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee.
Provisions championed by Klobuchar are included in the Surface Transportation Investment Act — comprehensive, long-term surface transportation legislation that now heads to the Senate floor.
“When drivers take their eyes off of the road, they endanger themselves, other drivers, and pedestrians,” Klobuchar stated in a news release. “This legislation will help keep our roads safe and ultimately save lives. Now that it has passed the Commerce Committee, I will work to get it voted on by the full Senate and signed into law.”
Klobuchar successfully included provisions from the Safe to Drive Act in the Surface Transportation Investment Act. This will ensure more states are able to access critical funding to enforce distracted driving laws by expanding grant eligibility for states that implement laws banning non-navigational mobile device viewing, such as streaming videos or video calls on cell phones while driving. It will also provide funding for educational programs on the dangers of distracted driving.
Additionally, the following amendments filed by Klobuchar passed in the Surface Transportation Investment Act:
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The creation of a chief travel and tourism officer at the U.S. Department of Transportation.
A mandate for the secretary of transportation to coordinate with the U.S. Department of Justice to produce a report on human trafficking violations in commercial vehicles.
An amendment to the transportation workforce outreach program to expand the program to include veterans.
