MADD Applauds FY 2013 Senate Spending Bill
Legislation restores highway funding to align with MAP-21
03/12/2013
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Washington, D.C. -- Today Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) applauded federal appropriations legislation introduced by the U.S. Senate which would provide funding for the High Priority Safety Grants Program known as Section 405. This program was authorized as part of the bipartisan federal highway reauthorization legislation which passed the House and Senate last summer. A technical change was needed but not included in last year’s Continuing Resolution which has funded the federal government until March 27.
“The Senate’s legislation represents the fulfillment of a promise to the highway safety community,” said MADD National President Jan Withers. “MAP-21 streamlined and improved highway safety grants through the new 405 program. It is critical that this program is funded.”
The funding provided in the Senate bill is not a funding increase over authorized levels. Section 405 provides performance-based incentive funding for states to address key areas of highway safety that include impaired driving, distracted driving, occupant protection, motorcycle safety, traffic records and improving graduated driver licensing laws.
“We thank the Senate for including this provision in its legislation. Specifically, we would like to thank Chairman Barbara Mikulski, Ranking Member Richard Shelby, Chairman Patty Murray and Ranking Member Susan Collins. MADD now asks that the House and Senate work together to include this provision in the final version of the FY 2013 federal spending bill,” said Withers.
About Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Founded in 1980 by a mother whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver, Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) is the nation's largest nonprofit working to protect families from drunk driving and underage drinking. With the help of those who want a safer future, MADD's Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving® will end this danger on America's roads. PowerTalk 21® is the national day for parents to talk with their kids about alcohol, using the proven strategies of Power of Parents™ to reduce the risk of underage drinking. And as one of the largest victim services organizations in the U.S., MADD also supports drunk and drugged driving victims and survivors at no charge, serving one person every eight minutes through local MADD victim advocates and at 1-877-MADD-HELP. Learn more at www.madd.org or by calling 1-877-ASK-MADD.
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