119-s415

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 415 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 S. 415

 To establish the position of National Roadway Safety Advocate within 
 the Department of Transportation, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 February 5, 2025

 Mr. Lujan introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
 referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To establish the position of National Roadway Safety Advocate within 
 the Department of Transportation, and for other purposes.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``DOT Victim and Survivor Advocate 
Act''.

SEC. 2. POSITION OF NATIONAL ROADWAY SAFETY ADVOCATE.

    (a) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:

    (1) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the 
 Department of Transportation.

    (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
 of Transportation.

    (3) Stakeholder.--
        (A) In general.--The term ``stakeholder'' means--
            (i) a victim or survivor of a road crash; 
 or
            (ii) a family member of a victim or 
 survivor of a road crash.
        (B) Family member.--For purposes of subparagraph
        (A)
            (ii) , the term ``family member'' shall not be 
 limited to a parent, parent-in-law, grandparent, 
 grandparent-in-law, sibling, spouse, child, or step-
 child of a victim or survivor of a road crash.

    (b) Establishment.--

    (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
 enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish within the 
 Office of the Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy of 
 the Department a position, to be known as the ``National 
 Roadway Safety Advocate''.

    (2) Career position.--The position of National Roadway 
 Safety Advocate shall be filled by a career appointment.
            (c) Purposes of the Position.--The purposes of the position of the 
National Roadway Safety Advocate are--

    (1) to document and communicate recommendations from 
 stakeholders to the Secretary on needs, objectives, plans, 
 approaches, content, and accomplishments of the programs and 
 activities carried out by the Department relating to roadway 
 safety; and

    (2) to serve as a resource and point of contact for 
 stakeholders on relevant roadway safety issues.
            (d) Authority and Limitations.--

    (1) Authority.--The National Roadway Safety Advocate may--
        (A) provide--
            (i) education on Department activities to 
 stakeholders; and
            (ii) means for stakeholders to provide the 
 perspective of the stakeholders on roadway 
 safety issues to the Department;
        (B) explain Department processes, procedures, 
 scientific principles, and technical information to 
 stakeholders in plain language;
            (C) communicate the perspective of stakeholders 
 within Department processes;
            (D) provide aggregated feedback on the regulatory 
 agenda and activities of the Department from 
 stakeholders to the Secretary;
        (E) build relationships with individual 
 stakeholders, through establishing consistent outreach 
 and dialogue for feedback, to enhance the engagement in 
 the mission of the Department;
        (F) publish educational materials for enhancing 
 stakeholder understanding of activities and procedures 
 of the Department in accessible formats and venues, 
 with clear and easy to understand wording, consistent 
 with Department policy, in multiple languages;
        (G) consult with and make recommendations to the 
 Secretary relating to the appointment of stakeholders 
 who may be appropriate for roles in advisory roadway 
 safety committees, in accordance with chapter 10 of 
 title 5, United States Code;
        (H) meet not less frequently than once per quarter 
 with the Secretary to highlight issues, make 
 recommendations for resolving problems and alleviating 
 stakeholder roadway safety concerns, and summarize 
 input from stakeholders on proposed roadway safety 
 initiatives;
            (I) refer questions to the Office of the General 
 Counsel or the Office of the Under Secretary of 
 Transportation for Policy, as appropriate;
        (J) work collaboratively with other offices in the 
 Department that are working to educate and communicate 
 with stakeholders on roadway safety issues; and
        (K) perform such other duties as may be determined 
 by the Secretary.

    (2) Limitations.--The National Roadway Safety Advocate may 
 not--
        (A) provide legal notice, counsel, or 
 determinations of any kind;
        (B) set or delay any agency deadlines;
            (C) make Department decisions;
            (D) create or authorize Department policies, 
 priorities, or activities;
        (E) modify or interfere with any laws, regulations, 
 related policies, practices, or procedures followed or 
 enforced by the Department;
        (F) prevent other Department staff from working 
 directly with stakeholders;
        (G) disclose or discuss any enforcement matters 
 that are under investigation, in litigation, or the 
 subject of a civil penalty investigation or any other 
 pre-litigation or litigation proceeding; or
        (H) disclose or discuss any human resource matters 
 with individuals outside of the Department.

    (e) Report to Office of the Under Secretary of Transportation for 

=== Policy ===
-The National Roadway Safety Advocate shall report within the 
Office of the Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy of the 
Department.

    (f) Support.--The Office of the Under Secretary of Transportation 
for Policy of the Department shall provide necessary funding, 
logistics, and administrative support to the National Roadway Safety 
Advocate as necessary.

    (g) Access to Documents.--The Department shall ensure that the 
National Roadway Safety Advocate has full and timely access to the 
documents of the Department, as necessary, to carry out the functions 
of the National Roadway Safety Advocate.

    (h) Reports Required.--

    (1) Annual report.--Not later than November 15 of each 
 year, the National Roadway Safety Advocate shall submit to the 
 Secretary an annual report--
        (A) highlighting systemic issues relating to 
 roadway safety based on information provided by 
 stakeholders; and
        (B) making recommendations on how to remedy the 
 issues highlighted under subparagraph
        (A) .

    (2) Additional reports.--In addition to the annual report 
 required under paragraph

    (1) , the National Roadway Safety 
 Advocate may submit to the Secretary such additional reports, 
 as determined necessary by the National Roadway Safety 
 Advocate, in accordance with the requirements of that 
 paragraph.
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