ATSSA The Signal January February 2020

The Signal | January/February 2020 11 Government Relations ATSSA applauds the leadership and commitment of Reps. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) and Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) who chair the Road Safety Caucus, which Congress reinstated in 2019. The caucus was established in 2017 by Reps. Lou Barletta (R-Pa.) and Elizabeth Esty (D-Conn.). Both Barletta and Esty have served on the House Transporta- tion and Infrastructure Committee, as well as the caucus’ current leadership, Pappas and Westerman. “The creation of this caucus is a testa- ment to the commitment by members of Congress to ensure that roadway safety is a top priority of the Transpor- tation and Infrastructure Committee and the Congress as a whole,” said Nate Smith, ATSSA vice president of govern- ment relations. The caucus will work to advocate for the roadway safety infrastructure and transportation industries by bringing key issues to Congress and support- ing legislation that would impact those same issues. “Safe, reliable roadways are the backbone of American infrastructure. While we rarely notice a road’s design or construc- tion unless it’s the cause of traffic delays, updating roadway safety andefficiency is one ofmy toppriorities. I thank Congress- man Pappas for his leadership on this bipartisan effort and look forward to working together to ensure the safety of our roads,” Westerman said. “Whether it’s moving American-made goods across the country or just getting your kids across town, millions of Amer- icans depend on our roads to safely get where they need to go,” Pappas said. “I thank CongressmanWesterman for join- ingme in launching the bipartisan Road Safety Caucus to ensure we are striving to improve the safety of our roads each and every day.” Road Safety Caucus reinstated by 116th Congress Latest launch of Caucus aims to advance roadway safety infrastructure on Capitol Hill According to Smith, ATSSAmembers are looking forward to working alongside Congressional leaders such as Pappas andWesterman tomake roadways safer, reduce traffic fatalities and serious inju- ries, and to keep families and commu- nities safe. “Through investments in roadway safety infrastructure projects such as guardrail and cable barrier, traffic signs, pavement markings, rumble strips, work zone safety devices, and emerging innovative tech- nologies for connected and automated vehicles, Congress has the opportunity to ensure that these men, women and children are able to arrive home safely each and every night,” said Smith.  Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) addresses ATSSA members who attended a recent Legislative Briefing & Fly-In event in Washington, D.C. For more information on the Association’s work to educate decision-makers on the federal and state level, and its advocacy for roadway safety infrastructure policies and funding, visit ATSSA.com/Advocacy.