Walden, Latta on Senate's Failure to Pass Self Driving Car Legislation
Statement
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) and Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection Subcommittee Chairman Bob Latta (R-OH) issued the following statement after the Senate failed to pass the bipartisan SELF DRIVE Act during the 115th Congress. This landmark legislation would have established the first national framework for the safe and innovative development of self driving cars in the U.S.
"It is extremely disappointing that the Senate will not be able to finish its work on self-driving car legislation this year. In the House, we passed the SELF DRIVE Act in the summer of 2017 after hundreds of meetings and discussions on self driving vehicles and the many ways this technology could make our roads safer. The SELF DRIVE Act, which passed committee 54-0 and was approved by the House unanimously, serves as an example of how Congress should work in a bipartisan way to deliver results for the American people. Leaving the 115th Congress without getting self driving vehicle legislation across the finish line is more than just a missed opportunity, it threatens to derail efforts for the United States to be the leader in the advancement and development of this potentially life-saving technology," said Chairman Walden and #SubDCCP Chairman Latta.
The leaders continued, "With more than 37,000 American lives lost last year on our roads mainly due to human error, we need to be prioritizing improved safety technologies. Self driving cars have the potential to save lives and drastically improve the mobility of seniors, people with disabilities, and those underserved by traditional public transportation. This technology was pioneered in the U.S, and we believe keeping these jobs here is critically important. Without action, we risk falling behind other countries. After today's frustrating news, we will turn the page and continue our efforts to push for the safe testing, oversight, and deployment of this technology in the new Congress."
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