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WASHINGTON, DC—Congressman Paul D. Tonko (NY-20) cheered the advance of provisions he authored as part of his comprehensive limousine safety legislation included as part of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that President Biden signed into law today.

These provisions were championed by Tonko alongside the families who lost loved ones in a tragic limousine crash in Long Island and families of the victims of the Schoharie limousine crash that took the lives of 20 people on October 6, 2018. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) spoke on the triumph of this legislation and the courageous advocacy of the families during his remarks today at the White House.

“The families who lost their loved ones to a preventable limousine crash have shouldered the burdens of grief and responsibility without federal resolution for too long,” Congressman Tonko said. “I was honored to work beside these families as they turned their unimaginable pain into a resounding call for reform—guiding the development of lifesaving, commonsense legislation to get unsafe limos off the road and raise the bar on safety nationwide. The passage of these limo safety measures is a testament to their strength and commitment. I am proud that after three years pushing for these provisions, they have at last been enshrined in law to ensure no family ever has to suffer this heartbreaking loss again.”

The infrastructure legislation included provisions from Tonko’s SAFE Limos Act (Safety, Accountability, and Federal Enforcement of Limos Act of 2021) and the Take Unsafe Limos Off the Road Act, which were supported by Senator Schumer along with Congressman Antonio Delgado (NY-19) and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). The legislation covers:

• Impoundment: Establish a program to provide funding for states to impound unsafe vehicles;
• Safety Belt Standards for Limousines: Requires each new limousine to have lap and shoulder belts that meet minimum safety requirements for each designated seating position. Require the Secretary of Transportation to evaluate the feasibility of retrofitting existing limousines with lap and shoulder belts and seat systems that meet minimum safety requirements;
• Seating System Standards for Limousines: Require each new limousine to meet safety requirements for seat strength and integrity;
• Safety Research: Conduct formal research and rulemaking on limo side-impact protection, roof crush assistance, and airbag systems;
• Evacuation Research and Rulemaking: Conduct formal research and rule making on how to evacuate limo passengers more easily and safely in emergency situations;
• Disclosure: Mandate limo operators conspicuously share their vehicle inspection history with prospective customers;
• Limo definition: Create a formal definition of a limousine in federal statute, making it easier to create safety standards for this type of vehicle; and
• Annual Inspection: Mandate that the Department of Transportation (DOT) establish a mandatory annual inspection regime.

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