Number: RS22153
Title: Highway and Traffic Safety Programs Reauthorization: Background and Selected Key Provisions in Conference
Authors: Paul F. Rothberg, Resources, Science, and Industry Division 
Abstract: The House and Senate have passed their respective versions of H.R. 3, which reauthorizes federal surface transportation programs, including funding through FY2009 for the highway and traffic safety programs and grants administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). These bills would create a new separate grant program to improve highway safety infrastructure, and revise federal programs or policies seeking to increase safety-belt use rates, reduce alcohol-impaired driving, and strengthen commercial drivers licensing and information systems. A conference committee will attempt to reconcile differences between the House and Senate bills regarding the amounts to be authorized, purposes, and eligibility criteria for various highway and traffic safety grants. Decision makers face the challenge of allocating resources used to advance primarily safety objectives against funds needed to meet other surface transportation needs. This report provides background information on several of the key safety-oriented provisions and issues addressed in these bills.
Pages: 6
Date: May 23, 2005