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S. 415 119th Congress Senate

DOT Victim and Survivor Advocate Act

Official title: A bill to establish the position of National Roadway Safety Advocate within the Department of Transportation.

Introduced: February 5, 2025 Introduced by: Ben Ray Luján Democratic · New Mexico See on congress.gov
Transportation and Public Works
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 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 5, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Feb 5, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
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What's happening now February 5, 2025

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

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.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 851 DOT Victim and Survivor Advocate Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Lobbying activity 13

Registered lobbyists who named this bill in their disclosure filings. Source: federal Lobbying Disclosure Act filings.

Bodies those filers lobbied

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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 415: DOT Victim and Survivor Advocate Act. 119th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/119-S-415/
MLA
"S. 415: DOT Victim and Survivor Advocate Act." 119th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/119-S-415/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 415, 119th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/119-S-415/.
Markdown link
[S. 415: DOT Victim and Survivor Advocate Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/119-S-415/)
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