S. 415 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Feb 5, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryCreates advocate for road crash victims
This bill directs the Department of Transportation to create a new position called the National Roadway Safety Advocate. The person in this role would listen directly to victims and survivors of road crashes and their families, collecting their insights and recommendations about what DOT's safety programs should focus on. Each year, the advocate would submit a report to DOT summarizing the systemic safety issues that stakeholders have raised and suggesting ways to address them.
How it affects you
If you or someone you know has been affected by a road crash, this creates an official person at DOT whose job is to hear your concerns and pass them along to the department. For the general public, the advocate's annual reports could influence which roadway safety issues get more attention from DOT.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Feb 5, 2025)
DOT Victim and Survivor Advocate Act
This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish the position of National Roadway Safety Advocate to work directly with victims and survivors of road crashes or their families (i.e., stakeholders).
Specifically, the purposes of the advocate are to (1) document and communicate recommendations from stakeholders to DOT on the needs, objectives, plans, approaches, content, and accomplishments of DOT's roadway safety programs and activities; and (2) serve as a resource and point of contact for stakeholders on relevant roadway safety issues.
The bill specifies that the advocate position must be filled by a career appointment.
The bill prohibits the advocate from taking certain actions, such as
• creating or authorizing DOT policies, priorities, or activities; or
• disclosing or discussing any enforcement matters that are under investigation or in litigation.
The advocate must submit an annual report to DOT highlighting systemic issues relating to roadway safety based on information provided by stakeholders. The report must include recommendations on how to remedy the issues.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionS. 415
A BILL
DOT Victim and Survivor Advocate Act
Sponsor: Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) · Introduced Feb 5, 2025 · Transportation and Public Works · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Feb 5, 2025: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.”