Protect the HALT Drunk Driving Act
Section 24220 of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (Public Law 117-158), known as the HALT Drunk Driving Act, directs the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to establish a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) requiring passive, advanced drunk and impaired driving prevention technology in all new passenger vehicles. This mandate represents a landmark, bipartisan commitment to saving tens of thousands of lives lost each year to drunk driving crashes — approximately 13,500 fatalities annually in the United States.
A proposed amendment to the FY2027 House Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations bill would defund NHTSA's implementation of this safety standard, effectively halting a rulemaking process that is already underway and that the auto industry has had years to prepare for. Defunding this provision would delay or permanently block the deployment of technology — such as passive breath and touch-based alcohol detection systems — that safety experts and advocates widely regard as the most significant advance in traffic safety since the mandatory seatbelt.
Constituents are urging their U.S. Senators to oppose any appropriations rider or amendment that defunds or delays implementation of Section 24220 of PL 117-158, and to ensure NHTSA has the full resources needed to finalize and enforce the impaired driving prevention technology standard on its statutory timeline.
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Live Call Script
Hello, I am an assistant calling on behalf of a constituent, {{first_name}} {{last_name}} from {{city}}, {{state}} zip code {{zip_code}}. The constituent is calling to urge {{representative_name}} to oppose any FY2027 THUD appropriations amendment that would defund or delay implementation of the HALT Drunk Driving Act — Section 24220 of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Public Law 117-158. This provision directs NHTSA to establish a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard requiring passive impaired driving prevention technology in all new passenger vehicles. Drunk driving kills approximately 13,500 Americans every year, and this technology — already in development — represents the most consequential vehicle safety advance in decades. The constituent is asking {{representative_name}} to: First, oppose any appropriations rider, amendment, or provision in the FY2027 THUD bill that would rescind, limit, or defund NHTSA's authority or funding to carry out this rulemaking. Second, support full and timely funding for NHTSA to finalize the impaired driving prevention technology standard on its statutory schedule. This is a bipartisan public safety issue. The constituent respectfully requests that {{representative_name}}'s office record this position and provide a response on how they intend to vote on this matter.
Voicemail Version
I am calling on behalf of {{first_name}} {{last_name}}, a constituent from {{city}}, {{state}} {{zip_code}}. The constituent is calling to urge {{representative_name}} to oppose any FY2027 THUD appropriations amendment that would defund or delay the HALT Drunk Driving Act, Section 24220 of Public Law 117-158. This bipartisan law directs NHTSA to require passive impaired driving prevention technology in all new passenger vehicles — a standard that could save thousands of lives each year. The constituent asks that {{representative_name}} protect full funding and implementation of this critical safety mandate. You may contact me at {{phone_number}} to discuss further.