Highway and Traffic Safety Programs Reauthorization: Background and Selected Key Provisions in Conference (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
May 23, 2005 |
| Report Number |
RS22153 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Paul F. Rothberg, Resources, Science, and Industry Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
The House and Senate have passed their respective versions of H.R. 3, whichreauthorizes federal surface transportation programs, including funding through FY2009for the highway and traffic safety programs and grants administered by the FederalHighway Administration (FHWA), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA), and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). These billswould create a new separate grant program to improve highway safety infrastructure,and revise federal programs or policies seeking to increase safety-belt use rates, reducealcohol-impaired driving, and strengthen commercial drivers licensing and informationsystems. A conference committee will attempt to reconcile differences between theHouse and Senate bills regarding the amounts to be authorized, purposes, and eligibilitycriteria for various highway and traffic safety grants. Decision makers face thechallenge of allocating resources used to advance primarily safety objectives againstfunds needed to meet other surface transportation needs. This report providesbackground information on several of the key safety-oriented provisions and issuesaddressed in these bills.
